From Hillary Clinton to Adam Sandler, some of the most famous people were once those people that made the living on-campus experience worthwhile. I have always been a planner and planned my entire college career and being a residential advisor (RA) was never on my itinerary. Like most, I didn't know what it meant to be an RA. The only thing I knew was that they were supposed to be someone to go to if you ever needed anything. However, I soon discovered there is much more to the residential advisor position that many never see.
Last year, my RA mentioned that she felt that I would be a great RA. Frankly, until she mentioned it I had not even thought about it. I did not know what qualities I possed that made her feel that I would be a good fit for the position. I decided that I should at least look into it. I did my research in what the job entailed but I still didn't quite get it. I soon learned that it would come to mean much more to me.
You see while I was applying last year my grandma got really sick. We began to see the end of her time with us approaching. And I started to think about the impact she made on my life. I realized that she was what made a home, home. As weird as it sounds this is what made me want to be an RA. I wanted to be what my grandmother was to me at home, on campus. Someone that my residents could go to but also someone who created the happy and healthy environment to live in. I wanted to make this place home for my residents and make them feel important because I know how the opposite feels.
I have always been shy and reserved. I can confidently say I did not find my place on campus until this year. And I knew I was not the only one who felt this way. That there had to be someone else like me, and if I could do anything to be someone for that person, I wanted to be. That is when I decided I wanted to be an RA.
Yeah, we do a lot of paperwork, we make bulletin boards and report incidents but we are also that safety net for our residents. We are the leaders in our hall communities. You never know what some people are going through, and you are the person to be there for them. College is one of the most vulnerable times for a person. The first time away from home, family and friends. The first time taking care of yourself. If there is no one else, your RA should be someone to lead you on the right path.
