Top Ten Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming An RA

As we look back over this past semester and get ready for finals, many of you may be discovering some things that you had wish you had known before becoming an RA. Some of you are first year RA's that are getting the hang of things, but just as respected as our returning RA's who had the advantage of knowing what to expect in terms of time commitment. So as we bring this year to a close, take a look at this list and see which things you have learned this past semester, and things you can expect for next semester!

10. Not every student is going to appreciate the things you do for them, and sometimes they will judge you unfairly.

9. That I would have to deal with situations where I did not end up agreeing with the outcome.

8. Never ever be afraid to introduce yourself to anyone.

7. . The situations that are often the most difficult to deal with are not the conduct related incidents involving alcohol or marijuana, but are the drama related incidents like roommate conflicts, a resident who doesn’t shower, etc.

6. “You will be overworked and underpaid.”—Will Keim, motivational speaker. This one requires a little bit of explaining. While sure a lot of the things we ask you to do seem laborious and tedious, and many times you calculate how much you are working compared to how much you are making, this never takes into account the people you are meeting, or experiences on staff or with residents you are having. Enjoy this time because while fiscally, the bottom line is not equal to your paycheck, you can never again have the experiences you will have as an RA. Live it up!

5. Residents only seem to need to study when you try to get them to come to one of your programs.

4. You need to remain impartial on controversial issues when interacting with your residents and the decisions they are trying to make.

3. Leave the past in the past! Start fresh and go with the flow.

2. Communication with your staff and supervisor is essential. (Jessica, Jill, M, Nate, Zach, Maggie, and Kari can all get behind this one!)

1. Nine months goes so fast, but being on staff can be one of the most fulfilling experiences you will have ever have! Anyone can tell you that being an RA will be the most fulfilling position you will ever serve. This is true, but only when you earn it! You will get out what you put into this position, and while sometimes that takes a lot, you have got to just keep going!