I am currently a sophomore in college and have lived on campus since the day I became a Wildcat last fall. I applied to be an RA last year and I got it! Truthfully, being an RA has provided me with so much more than I expected. All I can say is if you’re interested and you know you’ll have the time, APPLY. I have been a Resident Assistant for a few months, and it has become a part of who I am. However, when I first applied to become an RA, I was unsure of what that specifically entailed and if I should be an RA or not.
I asked my residents what questions I should address when creating this article, and I was sure to include those in the bunch. I hope you enjoy and more importantly, I hope you apply to be an RA! UNH RA applications close December 18th. To learn more, visit https://www.unh.edu/housing/work-here/resident-assistants.
What parts of being an RA do you believe you will take with you after you graduate?
I believe being an RA has already impacted me so much. I have learned better ways to communicate, which is something I have personally been working on and believe I have gotten better at. Another skill I have learned by being an RA is the ability to be flexible. With my terrible luck, almost nothing goes smoothly and I have had to adapt and overcome certain situations as an RA which is something I didn’t think I was capable of prior to accepting this position. I have also met a multitude of amazing people here on campus. This includes all of the amazing ResLife faculty and staff, all of the super busy RHDs, and all of the other tenacious RAs I have had the pleasure of chatting or working with. Special shoutout to the Sawyer Hall staff for being the absolute best this year!
What are the downfalls of being an RA?
Although it is particularly hard for me to become comfortable with confrontation, speaking to residents about prohibited conduct and potentially putting them through the conduct system through Housing is never a fun task. However, I would say that the perks definitely outweigh the downfalls. The main downfall to being an RA is always having the weight on your shoulders that you are, in fact, an RA and you should always be available for your residents which can be a lot sometimes. When I need alone time or time to study, it becomes more difficult because of my duties as an RA and it could be disrupted for tasks as easy as checking in on residents or hanging up some flyers. There is a lot that goes into having a floor that looks and feels welcoming on the backend that a lot of people don’t realize. The flyers? Put up by your RA. Out of order signs? Your RA made, printed, and posted those. The bulletin boards? Your RA brainstormed, put together, and posted those every month. Newsletters? Your RHD created it and your RAs put them in the bathroom stall sleeves. Had an incident or needed help? Your RA is your go-to.
What are your favorite parts of being an RA?
There are so many benefits to being an RA I don’t even know where to start. Being an RA has allowed me to become a better version of myself. I take my job at UNH very seriously and being an RA has not only become one of my main responsibilities, but it has also become something I am particularly passionate about. I love leaving little candies on the doors of my residents’ rooms to find after a long day of classes. I love putting up flyers and boards to make the hall feel like home. I want everyone to feel like they belong and being an RA, I can provide that for my residents. All UNH RAs are provided with a single dorm room that is specifically designed for RAs. UNH also provides RAs with a meal plan and they cover room and boarding costs. My ultimate favorite part of being an RA is that I get to help first year students transition to the college life. I personally had a very difficult time my freshman year and change does not sit well with me. I think that’s why I make such a well-rounded RA. I can use my own personal experience to help others and I try my very hardest to do so.
Are you going to be an RA next year? Why or why not?
I have reapplied to be an RA next year and I have no doubt I will love it just as much as I do this year. Being an RA forces me to push myself out of my comfort zone. I want to continue to better myself as a person and I also want to continue growing professionally. Being an RA also requires a lot of speaking with different groups of people, which I also enjoy a lot and look forward to having the pleasure of doing next year.
How many hours a week do you work? What are your responsibilities?
Being an RA is certainly not for the weak. RAs have crammed schedules to begin with, let alone adding classes, course work, extra curriculars, jobs, sports, or anything else busy college students spend the majority of their time doing. If you’re great with time management, welcome aboard, but if you’re not- you’re going to have to learn sooner rather than later. Every week, RAs meet with their RHD in a 1:1 meeting, and they also attend an all staff meeting every week for a couple of hours. RAs are responsible for holding one social a week, and putting up new boards every month. Newsletters need to be distributed every two weeks, and RAs are required to stay until the very end of finals in order to check people out and check rooms for safety hazards such as furniture being too close to the furnace and the equivalent.
How do you manage a life outside of being an RA?
Being an RA is time consuming to say the least, but managing a life outside of being an RA is definitely a necessity. If you have no escape, you just might lose your marbles. I have some good friends back home as well as some good friends here that I can spend some time with to destress and get a break from the weight of being an RA. Every week, I plan my schedule to a tee to ensure I make time for everything I am a part of. As a Pre-Med STEM major who is an RA and somehow manages to make time for several student orgs, time management is key to success. For more information about time management, check out my article from last year here: https://www.hercampus.com/school/unh/time-management-tips-for-the-girl-boss-in-you/
All of that being said, if you are good with time management and think you would like the role, 100% APPLY! Being an RA has taught me so much already and I am so excited to see what next semester, let alone next year has in store for me as a UNH RA. Applications close 12/18! Don’t wait!! Apply now!