It's the dead of summer in the Baltimore heat, and time for the resident assistants to come back to school for Fall Training.

This is my first year as a resident assistant, and I am excited and nervous to fit into this role. Training has been hard. The days seem never ending as they blur into each other. When I called my parents this week I had to look at the schedule we were given to be able to explain how much we had done in the past few days. It feels like summer camp, but a summer camp where we learn how to create a community based on support and mutual respect. We do, however, do arts and crafts.

I don't know what I was expecting when I came back to school for training. But somehow, that doesn't actually matter. Whatever I thought has been blown away, my expectations shattered. The days are long and full of sessions about topics that are not always the easiest to deal with, but every step I take I can feel myself becoming more acquainted with the expectations of this job and the idea that in less than a week, what has felt like a weird and very stressful summer camp, will now feel more like my real life. The days are passing so quickly. I have residents moving in tomorrow! My job is actualizing itself in a very terrifying way. I don't think any amount of training can prepare you for being an RA, but at the same time, what do I know? I haven't actually been an RA yet! But tomorrow, it all starts.

One of the biggest tasks an RA has, is to build a community with their floor. That's what has been told to us from the beginning of training. Community is key. But looking back at training, which isn't over yet, this experience would not be the same without the returning RAs to help us newcomers build that community within our staff alone. Even though this isn't an open letter, it is more of a reflection, I do want to shout out to the other RAs in my area. I am so glad that we are already a community, and I am so excited to start this year because I know that you all have my back.

Reflecting on training and looking at all of my fellow RAs, there is one common thread that binds us. As different and unique as we all are, I don't think I've met a more empathetic group of individuals in my life. Every person I've talked to has been so conscious of everyone else's feelings and believes so deeply in inclusivity and creating a community at Loyola that we are all members of. That is something I think we can all be proud of. So, while I'm nervous for the year, I can't wait for it to start.