WAICU RA Conference - Make yourself a better RA!

So what exactly makes a great RA!?

Is it a certain quality or characteristic?  Is it prior experiences, such as being a camp counselor or an Eagle Scout? Is it the training that we provide, or maybe even the supervision that can make an ill-equipped young paraprofessional successful if they didn’t have what it takes?  Is it older students who can separate themselves from peers and not succumb to peer pressure? 

Here are some thoughts about what I think makes a good RA.

1. Recognize that experience does matter. Some level of leadership experience can vastly support one RA being distinguished from a peer whom may want them to “turn the other way.” 
2. Live by a good set of ethical standards. While developmentally knowing the difference between right and wrong is essential, knowing how to respond to those grey areas is even more applicable because so much of what an RA experiences requires snap judgments. Quick responses in the moment happen every day and how an RA responds will either turn community members away, or it will draw them into their residents as a confidante and supporter.
3. Posses a good attitude. There is nothing like a peer leader who is genuinely excited about the position on a team as attitude is something the person brings with them every time they are in your company. A good attitude doesn’t mean one just accepts what is said (though that would be nice). Instead the RA with a good attitude is present and attentive and willing to help in a variety of roles whenever the situation warrants.
4. Proactively request feedback so they can improve. RAs who ask, "How did I do?" or "Is there anything that could have been different?” are often the type of people for whom I would want to work. These people are forward-thinking about their ability to improve their work. We should all strive for an approach where there always is room for improvement.
5. Be able to challenge peer attitudes and behaviors when needed. It is never easy putting oneself in a position to appropriately challenge teammates. The RA position lives in a fishbowl with the people they are asked to take responsibility for on a daily basis. Because this difficult challenge exists, being able to provide feedback to one’s colleagues is necessary to make the team better even if that means offering a simple note of "nice job of handling that incident," or "can I follow up with you about that conduct incident from last night?" It is valuable for one to hear about how they were perceived for handling a specific situation. 
6. Demonstrate the ability to facilitate individual conversation. If a RA candidate can’t make eye contact or speak with confidence and conviction when engaging a peer, I don’t believe they will be a successful RA. RAs should practice this skill in advance; first during the selection process (if they can’t do it there, they may need more experience before being hired), and then often during training. A good way to do that is have them share a meal with a different peer or professional staff member during training and receive feedback afterwards about how they were perceived. Dialogue is the core basis for the development of a community. If an RA can’t perform that task, the RA will be hard pressed to offer programmatic opportunities, handle roommate conflicts, or encourage involvement in their community.

Obviously, all these qualities don't just magically appear. It's something that takes work, time, and dedication! One way to improve these qualities would be to attend the 2015 WAICU RA Conference at St. Norbert. This year it is Saturday, November 14th starting at 9am. You get a t-shirt, lunch, and the best part: you get to hang out with each other (which you probably haven't had the chance to do since Fall RA training) and other RAs from several different schools! If you are interested and would like more information please let one of the Pro-staff members know. We'd love to have you along!

Thanks for all your work so far this year!
-Jill :)