There is something about working in reslife (that's resident life for you civilians) that really takes a certain kind of person. Perhaps it is because of the constant requirement to be friendly and excited, that SpongeBob can pretty much some up every thought an RA (resident assistant/ adviser for the n00bs) has had at least once during the semester.
But let's start with training...
Eight hours straight each day for two weeks of mandatory training. How to fill out paper work, how to program, what resources are available to residents, who to call in case of emergencies, and so much more. It leaves you a little fried.
And you are totally pumped for freshmen move-in day
The day you have been anticipating for two weeks. The big day. All their smiling faces and you are going to make this experience awesome and amazing.
But they are totally not feeling the mandatory meeting about university policies
"I don't make the rules. I enforce them" is your go-to line to explain all the eye-rolls you get about guest policy and living on campus guidelines.
You are still totally pumped for your first program though
But unless you have free food or some type of prize, it's nearly impossible to get people your meticulously thought out safe-sex program. We're trying here, people!
But when you do have food, they come in swarms
Nothing compares to when you are on duty for the weekend though
"Hey! Do you wanna go out this weekend?" Alas no, dear friend, for I cannot leave this building for the next 48 hours.
And it wouldn't be a duty night without needing to do a million things at one time
"Yes, I know I need to go on tour, but someone locked themselves out of their room, someone wants ping pong equipment, and for whatever reason every person and their cousin wants to sign a guest in."
When you have to call your duty partner to break-up a party
Okay, I know we say we don't like documenting or writing people up, but sometimes there is a definite adrenaline rush when you have to break up a really obvious party in a dorm room.
Or you see a member of your staff going through that duty night struggle
When it's halfway through the semester and your AC/RHD is questioning your lack of decor
I'm trying, here. The white streamers are ghosts. It's a Halloween theme? I don't know.
Finally it's Thanksgiving break and you need to have a mandatory meeting
And no matter how hard you tried throughout the semester to recognize your residents, for whatever reason you always see new faces when you have a mandatory meeting. Maybe it's the word "mandatory" that frightens them enough to emerge from their room?
But like that one resident that seems too cool for you laughed at one of your jokes
But the best of all is when a resident comes to you specifically
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And you are able to help them through a rough patch, and you get the fulfilling feeling of knowing you're helping make someone else's life a little worth it. Even if it's just casual conversation.
It's the little things that make it all worth it.
When you are constantly seen as the "rule enforcer" it's tough for your residents to realize that you are a person, too. We know that policies are a little annoying, but we also know that everything is to make sure that residents have a super awesome campus experience.
