Why did you decide to become an RA, and what about it holds significant meaning for you?

I wanted to become an RA because I had such a great experience with the two RAs that I had. I also feel that it is a great experience for anyone to have. It teaches you a lot about yourself and how to communicate with others. The most significant part of being an RA is knowing that you are impacting your residents lives and helping them transition into college much easier than they would on their own. I am finding a lot about this experience rewarding, because I am learning how to manage my time better, and communicate better. This experience is helping me to grow as a person.

How do you view your role as an RA? Advocate? Coach? Friend? Counselor? Ally?

My role as an RA covers a full perspective of relationships and descriptive qualities. I have had to step into many shoes and often learn to wear two shoes at the same time, which, you can imagine, can be quite difficult. I am learning as much from my residents as I am teaching them and looking forward to watching them grow. Some of my roles include counselor, tutor, sometimes just an ear to listen, mentor, role model, cheering section, teacher, facilatator, administrator, and sometimes weathervane, to point students in the right direction. I step into all these roles whole-heartedly and never become distracted. When they need me I am there. This is my third year living in the Residence Halls, but my first year as an RA, and I have always enjoyed the environment that is created. There are always people around, or doors open where you can go talk and get to know someone you may not have met otherwise. It is always interesting watching residents react; throughout the whole year they are still meeting new people nearly every day.

What are concerns that freshmen come to you with most often? How do you handle them?

The concern that I get most frequently from residents is that they are unsure of how to go about studying. All of my residents are fresh out of high school, and may come from an environment where they never had to study. This is a difficult concept for them to grasp at times, because it is not something they have had to do before. When they come to me with these issues I supply them with study tips, help them choose a strategy that will help them study, and help them implement that strategy so they can decide whether or not it works. I also remind them that it may take them a few attempts to find the strategy that works for them, and while one strategy may work for one class, it may not work for the other. I try to encourage them to be persistent and not give up, because this is so new that it will take time.

What element of life in the res life halls do you think parents would find most surprising?

I think parents would be surprised about how open the community is. Many parents tell students to get involved, meet people, and things of that nature, but the truth is, it’s not hard to get them out of their rooms and into the community. Even people who may have been considered "shy" in previous times are coming out of their shells and becoming part of the community.

What’s your favorite thing about it?

My favorite part about being an RA is getting to know all of my residents. There are so many different background stories, thoughts, dreams, hopes, and personalities that make our community. I love learning more and more about them and I try to learn something new about them everyday, and check up on the things that they are telling me.