For the past 13 weeks, thousands of resident advisers across the country have experienced more than a handful of stories about their workplace. Whether it's the vomit in the middle of the lobby or the classic resident-on-resident conflict, being an RA is interesting, to say the least. Here are 13 things every RA knows to be true after 13 weeks on the job.
1. Scheduling around the football games/social events/everything
"I'll trade you the Texas A&M game for the Miss. State and Kentucky game" was a frequent phrase. When you're an RA, you revolve around your job, not the other way around.
2. "Hi! Where are you an RA at?!"
During training, when you're surrounded for two weeks with nothing but RAs, networking is #MajorKey. The RA family is strong, and you can instantly become friends with someone even when that's the ONLY thing you have in common
3. Move-in Day (Part 1)
*Wakes up* *Stretches arms and yawns* *Sunlight pouring in, birds chirping* "THE RESIDENTS ARE COMING TODAY, THIS IS IT. TODAY IS GONNA BE LITTTTTTT."
4. Move-in Day (Part 2)
"Sorry ma'am, you have to use the stairs." "No sir, he cannot have a life-sized Nick Saban that breathes fire in his room, that's a health and safety violation." "Down the hall, on the left." (Smile more, Garrett, make sure you're smiling). "IT'S 2 P.M. PEOPLE, THE NEXT WAVE IS COMING! POSITIONS, PEOPLE, POSITIONS."
5. Move-in Day (Part 3)
"Crap it's that really cute RA that I'm totally crushing on I hope they look past the sweat, the messed up hair, the panting, the smell, the tears, the......"
6. The floor meeting
"I mean, I'm gonna be the hip RA, so I should probably crack a joke before starting. No, I should play bad cop and make sure they know that this dorm means business. You know what, I'm just gonna keep it short and sweet."
7. The first call
This is it. This is the moment I have spent three weeks training for. Alcohol bust? Resident's fighting in the lobby? I'm prepared. Okay. You got this. "RA on-call, this is Garrett... Oh... a lockout..."
9. The second call, the third, the fourth, the fifth...
It has been the longest and most successful relationship I have ever been in. From the first night to now, it's always there for me. Whenever she calls at 3 a.m., I answer. Whenever she tells me her problems, I rush to save the day.
9. The incidents
The class of 2020 really likes to have fun. It turns out that sometimes they like to do that illegally. Locked out? We all make silly, innocent mistakes. Passed out in the lobby? We gon' have to work on this bud.
10. The residents
So many names. So many names. Must befriend them all. Must befriend them all.
11. Bulletin Boards: Expectation v. Reality
"I'm feeling a very autumn vibe with contrasting colours and a tone that implicitly conveys 'Comfort. Acceptance. Transition." *Cuts out F-A-L-L and 5 pumpkins on the stencil press*
12. Programs for daysssss
"MY program will be very lit, you should totally come. It's very educational and informative, but also exciting and fun. ...Yes they'll be free food."
13. The other RAs
Obviously the best for last. While the primary job is to provide the best possible environment for the residents, having fun with the coworkers turned into lifelong friendships.
Being a resident adviser in 2016 is not an easy job. It's a 24-7 commitment, you're always on the clock. There are times when you cannot stand the residents, or even your coworkers. But, at the end of the day, we all live in the same community, under the same roof. Even if it's just for a year, we're family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. While being an RA has it's setbacks, the benefits definitely make up for it.
