When I began college, never did I ever see myself becoming an RA. I went through my freshman year not entirely taking advantage of all my school had to offer. Joining organizations was never my thing because I never wanted to push beyond my comfort zone.
So, I kept to myself and hung out with the few college friends I had. As the year wore on, I found myself longing to be back home, states away from my university, with my family and friends. Don't get me wrong, I loved my school, but I never felt truly at home.
Until I became a Resident Assistant.
I applied for the job on a whim, my only motivation being the fact that I could subtract the cost of room and board from my out-of-state tuition. As I went through the interview process, I realized I wanted this job more than anything. When job offers were sent out and I was rejected, I was crushed. I had already begun to picture myself at the front of a hall, helping residents with their problems and scouring Pinterest for the best bulletin boards. And just like that, the dream slipped away and I was left to figure out what I was going to do the following year.
A week later I got a phone call from one of my RECs on campus stating that a spot had opened up for me to be an RA in one of the dorms on campus. I was elated, I was getting my chance to actually be someone on campus.
Since then, this job has been more than I ever could have expected. It's a lot of work. I know that sounds obvious, but you never know how much work something truly is till you're dropped into the middle of it. Sure, there are those frustrating moments when you're on duty and four or five incidents happen and you think wow this really sucks as you type up incident reports until the early hours of the morning.
But I would never trade being an RA for the world.
Through this job, I have made friends that will last me a lifetime. My freshman year, I had friends that never cared for me and would leave me to fend for myself when things got difficult. My RA friends are some of the best people I have had the pleasure of meeting. They stick with me through everything and are so helpful.
As an RA, I have been introduced to people from all different walks of life. My residents are so great. They participate in programs and appreciate the things the RA staff does for the building. Being a part of a staff has helped me come out of my shell. When in big groups, I used to sit in the back and let others take the lead, never offering my input or suggesting things. I had never been comfortable with doing so. My staff is extremely friendly and, from day one, have been able to participate in discussions without fear of judgment from my peers. I have a group of people who act as a strong support system when needed and encourage me to step out of my comfort zone. This position has given me a family here in Virginia when mine is six hundred miles away.
So, to anyone who is debating whether or not to apply to be an RA; do it. The experiences you will have and the people you will meet make all the stress and frustration worth it. There will be nights where you question if you can handle this, but you can and you will.
As cheesy as it sounds, it will change your life. It changed mine. It has been the best decision I have made in my college career and it will be yours too.
