After almost a month of getting to know my co-workers, learning how to work front desk, grasping terms such as RA on Call and Hall Director on Call, making door decs. into the wee small hours of the night, and spending a week with my residents, I am starting to understand why I wanted to become an RA. Sure, the opportunity to cut room and board was an enticing invite, and the free meal plan doesn't hurt either; but in reality, those mean nothing when it comes to the great opportunity I get to make a positive difference, hopefully, in the lives of both my residence and the the people I am so fortunate to work with.
RAs have a great opportunity, an opportunity to guide, and possibly even mentor, the new or returning students of their school. It's a lot of work, I know, but when has anything worth while not been. As RAs we should try to help our residence in positive and constructive ways. The other day my resident approached me about some worries he had about living away from home. He almost left a week in. I could have brushed him off. I could have told him to figure it out on his own. I didn't do that, of course, because that's not my job to turn my residents away when they want guidance. And yes, there are going to be times when an issue might be too much for me, alone, to handle; however, I at least should have an open mind and try. That's why my door is always open for my residence if they want to hang out, talk, or just say hi.
When a new student comes to school not knowing anyone, it is the RA's opportunity to introduce that resident with another in hopes that that resident will not continue to be lonely. When a resident is going through a break up, their RA should be there to help them get through it (maybe even buy them a tub of ice cream). The point is that the job isn't just to check out pool sticks and make sure quiet hours are regularly enforced. It's about making lasting connections with people who probably look up to you. It's about being a good role model. And I know it can be difficult, especially when a resident doesn't want any help. That's okay. What matters is that the RA is at least trying to help that resident, trying to bring them happiness, trying to make their college experience a bit less frightening than it already is.
I already know that it's going to be difficult to make a difference with my residence. I can't just throw a couple programs and assume everything is alright. I have to be willing to take time out of my day to make sure that theirs is going well; and if it's not, I'm going to take even more time try to and change that. At the end of the day, I know it will be worth it.
