Dear RA,
We were introduced at our first mandatory floor meeting when you showed us an inappropriate clip of Step Brothers. We wanted desperately to think you were cool, and we were going to get away with everything. As first years, we didn’t know if you were going to be our mom, our friend, or our warden. It didn’t seem fair, but we avoided you for a while until we were able to figure it out.
I know it's a thankless job. In your case, you were granted 48 freshman girls who were testing the copious amounts of freedom we had just received. We've used you and abused you. We've kept you up too late when you've had exams in the morning and didn't bother to respect your courtesy hours. But through it all, you didn’t complain. You took all our attitudes and hardships and used that as a reason to love us more than ever. It's time for you to know exactly what we've all been avoiding telling you.
1. You're smarter than we give you credit for.
We honestly thought you were going to be oblivious. We forget that you're only a few years older than us and you were once a rebellious freshman, too. If we were coming back to the dorm with a bunch of boys at 3:00 a.m. on a Saturday night wearing next to nothing, you knew we weren't getting a head start on our group project, no matter how many times we tried to convince you. But when we made bad decisions, we knew that we can always run to your room and vent about how we drank too many “juice boxes.”
2. We appreciate you spending hours making those cute door decorations.
We know you don't like to do anything involving crafts, and you probably felt horrible that we immediately ripped off your creations to hang up our holiday decor. We hope you know that we hung them up in our room because we really did like them.
3. You’ve been there for the good and the bad.
I was in your room when I found out I passed an important math exam and when my grandmother died. You were there through my best, and definitely through my worst. Your broken futon has begun to feel like home and a place to run to in our times of distress and happiness. Every time something happened, you were there with a huge hug and a bottomless supply of candy. Thank you for saving the blue M&M’s for me even though you love them too. You’ve made college feel like home.
4. Someone has to do it and we're glad it's you.
RA, even though we don't always tell you, we wouldn't want anyone else. You’ve praised us for our accomplishments, dealt with someone pooping in the shower (I wish that wasn’t a real situation), and made us laugh when you “Hit the Quan” in front of your boss. I couldn’t imagine going through my first year without you by my side through everything.
Love,
Your thankful resident
