Working for Residence Life is one of the greatest opportunities a college student can be a part of. It looks great on a resume, saves money on housing, and teaches some very important life lessons. Although Residence Life is one of the greatest parts of the college experience, it provides unique challenges to the brave and mighty who decide to become an RA.
1. Your Dream Floor
We all have imagined the perfect beginning to our year in Residence Life. The whole floor is best friends, you want to spend all your free time together, and we don't have to file a single incident report. I mean, that's realistic, right?
2. Reality
...Until you're at the first mandatory floor meeting and everyone looks at you like this.
3. Underage Shenanigans
When the freshman roll in at 2 am and you know what's up.
4. Bulletin Boards
How you feel when your bulletin board has been up for five minutes and already has a penis drawn on it.
5. Marijuana
Take one step on your floor and you can smell the marijuana. Nice.
6. Programming
You've spent a significant amount of time planning and preparing for your program. And then no one shows up.
7. Roommate Conflicts
When you mediate a conversation between two roommates and their true feelings start coming out.
8. Quiet Hours
When it's 10:01 and the room down the hall hasn't turned down their music.
9. Ghost Residents
When you haven't seen your resident in weeks and you want to make sure they're still alive.
10. The Alarm
When your alarm goes off after duty night and you realize you have to get up.
11. When The Year is Over
...and you realize how much you loved it all.
Through all the late nights, tired mornings, failed and successful programs, you did it. You loved how much it changed you and knowing you made an impact on your residents. Through all the ups and downs, it was worth every moment.
