Dear future RA,
Congratulations, you are now a part of the resident adviser (RA) family! All your hard work and ambition got you accepted to be a leader on campus. It takes a special person to become an RA you obviously were hired for a reason. Get ready for an interesting year with new experiences to come! It is hard to believe but this is my third and final year of being a RA. As I approach my last year of being a RA I have been doing some reflecting. I am currently in week two of RA training. School will be started in a week in a half; boy time goes by fast. It is hard to believe that in nine months I will be a college graduate! Through my years of experience I have some tips on taking on this new role:
1. Manage your time
As you start this new role, you will realize how much time you will be spending working this job. I would suggest to keep a planner and a google calendar to keep track of school work and RA programs, and anything else needed to plan for in your busy life!
This planner saved my life; the Passion Planner!
2. Connect with your co RA's
What you will soon come to realize is that your co workers are in the same boat as you! They understand what you are going through anything from late nights studying to dealing with bizarre incidents with residents. I have made some lifelong friends in former RA clusters.
3. Keep your old friends around
Once school starts it can become extremely hectic balancing school, being an RA, and maintaining a social life. Yes, you will make wonderful new RA friends, however, make sure to maintain friendships outside of being a resident adviser!
4. Complete as much planning and decorating for your residents ahead of time
Complete as much work as you can get done before school starts, such as door decorations, bulletin boards, and planning for future programs. This way you will avoid those late nights of getting no sleep because you are completing all your RA duties before it is due the next day. Trust me, I have been there before and I have learned a thing or two from it!
5. DON'T give out your phone number
Although sometimes you feel obligated to give out your phone number; don't do it. I did this one year and I got call after call and text after text asking for favors such as letting them into the building. Your residents can call the RA on duty, knock on your door, or shoot you an e-mail instead.
Being a RA is very different and unique from any other job. You will learn many life skills from this job. If you have patience you will have smooth sailing through your first year of being an RA.
Best of luck!
From an RA who understands!
