Becoming a Resident Advisor (RA) was one of the best decisions that I made in college. It has given me the opportunity to really focus on bettering myself, and has allowed me to fill in gaps in my social awareness. As a part of this job, I was required to go through a few weeks of paraprofessional training. This training program has definitely given me the knowledge and skill to serve and support students and navigate difficult conversations.
In addition to training, I have worked with amazing people, and I have learned so many invaluable skills from them that I will carry with me to my future. Empathy and communication are two things that I have learned from my supervisors and peers that have the power to make people feel that their voices are heard.
A question that I am often asked is how much of a time commitment being an RA really is. While that answer varies from person to person, I believe that in order to be a great RA, a lot of time has to be put into checking-in on residents, building a strong community, and planning ways to expose them to new opportunities on campus.
When I think about my residents, above all, I want them to say that they felt respected. A key element to achieving this outcome is acknowledgement of diversity (of identity, thought, and experience) and acceptance of ideals that are different. Without acceptance, a community would quickly break down into cliques, and the environment would no longer play a positive role in student success. Diversity in residence halls stems from the fact that each resident has had different experiences. As an RA, I love to plan bonding activities. During these activities, residents have an opportunity to talk to each other, introduce different ideas to other residents, and build a floor community.
I also hope that all of my residents would say that they feel supported. College is a very new environment for many students, and it can be a little lonely. It is important to me that every resident feels that they have someone to go to when they need support. This is why I take the time to personally check-in with residents to address their concerns by helping or directing them to the appropriate resource on campus. I want my residents to know that I care about them and their success.