A Day in the Life of an RA

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Posted In: News

You see them everyday in the dorms, they are always there if you have questions or concerns and their job is to make sure you are safe. Residence assistants have what seems like the overwhelming job of watching over a hallway full of college undergraduates. So what motivates these students to take on the task?

“I had a really positive experience with my RA last year and it seemed like something I wanted to be a part of,” commented sophomore and Miley RA, Richelle Goulette, “You meet 43 new girls and each one brings something different. It is a really positive experience to know that many people that look up to you for guidance.”

Richelle, or Shell as she likes to be called by her residents, is a Pre-Med major and finds the most challenging part of her job to be managing her time. It is easy to see why by looking at an average, daily schedule for an RA. Goulette gets up and goes to classes in the morning and then comes back to the dorm to be available to her residents. She has her class schedule posted on her door so that residents know when she can be reached.

Many girls will come to her with questions during these times. After a coffee run at 7 o’clock, Shell and the other RA’s on duty meet in the lobby at 8pm to do a round of the building.

On rounds the RA’s go through each hall and make sure no one is doing anything they shouldn’t be. They do about three to four rounds and depending on how loud the night is they might do more. When they are not patrolling the building they have to be in their rooms with their doors open so they are available to residents.

The RA’s are on duty from 8PM-Midnight on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Thursday’s they are on until 1AM and Friday’s and Saturday’s until 2AM.

“Some nights go pretty late. It is very time consuming,” says Goulette. The job description doesn’t stop there. RA’s are also required to have a certain number of activities and programs planned for their residents. So far this year Shell has held rock painting, pumpkin painting, a food drive, Miley Month Madness, Secret Snowflake, and most recently Origami Night for a valuing culture program.

RA’s are required to plan life-skill programs, valuing culture programs, building community projects, design informational bulletin boards and hold floor meetings when necessary.

Goulette explains the importance of these programs, “Most students’ time is spent outside the classroom so it is important to have activities planned to bring everyone together and teach life skills for outside the classroom.”

Before Goulette was able to become an RA she had to go through a lengthy interview process after filling out an application in the spring of her freshman year. After your application is reviewed you are called back for group and individual interviews.

The committee that selects from the candidates looks for leadership, and someone who works well with people and is capable of handling tough situations. Shell was one of 17 chosen from a pool of 60-70 applicants.

After being selected the RA’s attend two-week summer training, winter and spring training, and new RA’s have a class as well.

Of course this work is not completely done out of the charity of one’s heart. The RA’s do receive compensation for their work in the form of free room and board and a stipend every other week. The job looks good on a resume because it shows responsibility and leadership and the opportunity to meet so many new people are additional benefits.

Although Goulette loves being an RA and is planning to do it again next year, there are some downfalls.

“You always have to be positive for all your residents, even if you are having a bad day you have to put your life aside for them,” explains Shell.

One of the most important aspects of being an RA is to be available and helpful to the residents so they feel comfortable coming to you with concerns or questions.

“I think Shell is a very good RA because she is really friendly and very approachable,” says freshman resident Brittany Gomes.