If you’re residing in campus housing, you have your friendly neighbors and peers that you live with and then of course, the RA or Resident Assistant. Moving in freshman year, it’s normal to fear the RA at first being that they are the ones that can get you in to trouble. Your RA is also the unbiased friend that will help you through roommate complications, school stress, and those other tricky times during the semester. Being a regular student and not so familiar with Residence Life, people like me, often, do not realize how much being an RA requires! I sat down with Sam String, a sophomore RA in Lannon Hall for a short preview of what it means to work as a Resident Assistant and what it demands!
1.When did you decide that you wanted to become an RA?
“I became an RA because I wanted to help students and be a role model for them.”
2. What is the hardest part about being an RA in sophomore dorm?
“The hardest part would be dealing with residents my own age, and trying to seem like I am bigger, better, or have more authority than them.”
3. What is your favorite part about being an RA?
“I love planning programs for my residents. It is great putting in an effort to plan, then seeing residents attend, enjoy, and sometimes learn something because of the efforts I put in.”
4. What advice would you give to someone who is considering becoming an RA?
“I would say they should make sure it is exactly what you want to do, and make sure you have no ulterior motives for doing it. At the end of the day, you will be helping students, and that should be why you want to do it.”
