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When I was asked to write this column, I was told to write something about the importance of a Resident Assistant (RA) can hold for a freshman in the residence halls.
The more I thought about it, the more I thought that isn’t me.
Back in late January, I wrote a column about being an RA in McConnell Hall and how the community has impacted me in so many ways. I wrote how community is everything in the residence halls, and I still believe it still is.
The COVID-19 outbreak and the residence halls making some transitions taught me something about being an RA; we genuinely care for our residents. I honestly didn’t think I would care this much when I applied for this job, but here we are.
The fact is, RAs are important for all residents regardless of their year in school and major. People just assume RAs are mostly a resource for freshmen, but they aren’t.
I think RAs need their residents just as much as residents need them.
An RA’s role is to create a safe learning environment for residents to learn in. While following protocol, RAs patrol the halls at night to make sure people are safe, they conduct interactions with residents to make sure they are doing well, and they put on events in the residence halls.
These seem like tasks freshmen need in order to thrive in the residence halls, but I’ve learned recently it’s not just them who need this. It’s upperclassmen too.
When I decided to become an RA, all I wanted was to work with freshmen. When I was assigned to McConnell Hall, an upperclassman dorm, I was in pure shock. I was nervous they wouldn’t need me, and I wouldn’t be valuable to them. I was wrong, however.
Being an RA isn’t just being there for your residents, it’s taking on a responsibility that will gain you valuable skills. As far as I’m concerned, everyone needs to experience being an RA at least once.
But before someone gets to that point, they need to live in the residence halls. I did, and I have since I was a freshman.
There are many communities on campus where an RA can fit in. This includes Wallace Residence Center, the Living Learning Communities (LLCs), McConnell Hall and Theophilus Tower. The Tower is a freshman-only option. I remember living there as a freshman and loving it. I met my best friend there and so many other amazing people I will never forget. It involved a lot of interacting with people on different floors, but that’s what made living there interesting. There was always something to do.
Then I decided to live in the LLCs for two years, which was a completely different experience. I felt more on my own in an apartment setting while at the same time being close to classes and services on campus. I got to have my space but was able to be as social as I wanted to.
Now, I’m finishing up my senior year in McConnell Hall as an RA.
It’s fun seeing housing on the other end, learning how everything works, but my residents make it all worth it.
The tasks I’m assigned to do from housing aren’t just tasks, there’s more to it than that.
Recently, there have been some changes because of COVID-19. Campus housing is taking precautions. My residents and I would go to The Hub every night to eat dinner together before all this happened. Now, our nightly dinners aren’t the same anymore. We can’t sit in The Hub anymore. Instead, we are asked to leave with food in to-go containers. The lounges are also closed to prevent clustering, just like how public areas are limited off campus. This is a big change for my residents.
My community thrives on social interaction, so it made me nervous about what these changes would do to the community. Every hour of the day, they are usually together in the lounge socializing and even working on homework together.
The lounge being closed hasn’t changed anything. They are still looking for ways to spend time together, and this virus is not going to stop them from smiling and persevering in their classes. It’s not stopping the growth of this community.
If anything, it has just challenged them.
That shows how lucky I am to have such great residents. I’m glad I became an RA this year because I wouldn’t have met such incredible people who have taught me so much.
One thing is for sure, I’m going to miss them next year.
Lindsay Trombly can be reached at [email protected]