Whether you love us or hate us, your Resident Advisor plays a crucial role in your college experience. Although we may drive you crazy sometimes (and vice versa), we really do want the best for you. Ever wonder what we’re thinking? Here are 22 secrets your RA wished you knew:
1. We know what it’s like to be a freshman, too. Trust us, we’ve been in your shoes.
2. We are students first. We are not your mom or babysitter, and we don’t have time to be. You are old enough to look after yourself.
3. We can either be your best friend or a nightmare… the choice is yours.
4. We don’t want to be at the first floor meeting, either. It’s mandatory for us, too!
5. We make you participate in awkward icebreakers because we had to endure them at some point, as well.
6. We are required to provide a certain number of programs per semester, we’re not just trying to torture you.
7. It actually hurts our feelings when you tear down or vandalize our door decs and bulletin boards. Those take a long time to make for you.
8. Doing rounds while on duty are like a race; we time ourselves to see how fast we can get them done.
9. We don’t sit in our room with a master key waiting for you to get locked out. Go find the RA on duty to let you in.
10. If we have to unlock your door for you when you’re locked out and we see your roommate sitting there inside your room, we immediately get angry at you.
11. Don’t bother complaining to us about the dining hall food because this is at least our second year (probably more) of eating there, and yes, we already know it’s terrible.
12. For everyone’s sake, please try to work out your own roommate issues before coming to us. We’re all adults, so act like it.
13. The real reason you get caught doing whatever you’re doing is because you’re being loud, not because we spy on you.
14. We’re not stupid… we know what weed smells like.
15. If we have to make the decision of either writing you up or losing our job, we’ll choose writing you up every time.
16. We are not in the residence hall 24/7. We have other obligations, just like you do.
17. If you see us out at a party or a bar, don’t freak out. Say hello and move on. We have social lives, too!
18. We are responsible for cleaning up bodily fluids, so please control yourself.
19. Ask us for advice about classes, internships, apartments, clubs and organizations... anything you want! Most of us are juniors or seniors so we have plenty of college experience.
20. Although it may not seem like it now, the little problems that you come to us about probably won’t be a big deal next year, or even next month; but we will listen to you and tell you that everything will be fine.
21. If you or a friend are having more serious issues, please come to us and tell us. We are trained to help you find the assistance you need, and we really do care about you.
22. Being an RA is a very difficult, full-time job. However, it’s extremely rewarding and we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
