Getting involved on your campus should be a priority for all college students, and all college campuses provide a plethora of opportunities to do so. Students can get involved in clubs, with student government, and in student life. However, a great route to follow when looking to get involved on your campus is through residence life by becoming a resident advisor, or RA. Resident advisors are a strong link between students and the college institution. Overall, they provide support, ensure residential safety, and foster personal and professional development. They regularly work duty shifts at night to make sure that the residence hall stays safe. They also plan social programs, design bulletin boards, and make door tags and decorations, which are all meant to make the residence hall feel more like home. RAs are also average college students who have classes just like their residents do.
I officially became an RA in August 2015 and I have loved every single second of it. The resident advisor position has provided an amazing opportunity for me to develop my communication and leadership skills while I continue my college education. Here are 10 huge reasons why you should apply to be an RA at your college or university.
1. You may get your first taste of applying for a job.
Applying for a job may not necessarily be a new concept or experience for you, but the application process is structured just like any other professional job application process. At my college, I had to fill out an application, go through a professional interview, and participate in a group evaluation process. I also had to shadow a current RA and complete an array of tasks with them. Specifically, I had to shadow a duty night, design a bulletin board, and plan and implement a program. Many organizations may require you to go through multiple interviews and more complicated exercises, so the complex process of becoming an RA may be more beneficial to you then you realize.
2. The compensation can get pretty sweet.
RAs are responsible for a lot of tasks, so it is expected that they are compensated in some way. Compensation typically differs from institution to institution, but commonly RAs receive a scholarship toward their room, a scholarship toward their board, or a money stipend. At my college, I have a free single room and I have a small stipend that I get in the form of a check every two weeks. For me, the compensation is extremely helpful, but I believe that the best reward of all is the experience. On a side note, I highly discourage anyone from becoming an RA simply because of a free room. RAs are still responsible for a wide variety of work. If you apply for the position for the wrong reasons, you will face a ton of unnecessary stress.
3. You learn valuable lessons in residential safety, which can be applied to other aspects of your life.
RAs receive a fair amount of training to be prepared for every worst-case scenario that could happen in a residence hall (and let's admit: college students can get pretty creative). RAs typically learn how to keep students safe around alcohol, be able to spot signs of drug abuse, be able to effectively communicate with a victim of sexual assault, how to notice suicidal tendencies, how to navigate through a burning building, as well as many other situations. Some institutions even ensure that RAs receive training in first aid and CPR. Obviously, all of these skills learned in RA training could be applied to situations in real life. Suppose you end up at a party over the summer and your friends have a little too much to drink. Your training will kick in and you will be able to make sure your friends make it home safe and wake up the next morning unharmed.
4. You develop true teamwork skills.
Resident advisors commonly work together in staffs, where they will have to plan programs and learn to work together in case of an emergency. Being able to work in teams is an important skill to have in the workforce, and being on an RA staff will give you plenty of exposure to team building and effective communication among your team members. Working with an RA staff is one of my favorite aspects of the position. We all receive the same training and deal with the same issues normally seen in residence halls. When you have a tough duty weekend, you always have your staff that know exactly what you are going through.
5. You develop true leadership skills.
As an RA, you are considered a leader for the group of students that you supervise in your residence hall, even if they do not realize it. Many of them just go to their classes and just keep living their lives, but when they need something, you are often their go-to person. Some will go to the RA for basic questions about places on campus or certain polices, while others may ask for advice on a problem or help with a personal issue. Being a resource for your residents and creating a community within your hallway truly develops your leadership skills.
6. You get plenty of opportunities to be creative (or at least try).
Most RAs are required to design bulletin boards and door decorations that either educate residents or promote a sense of community within the floor. Do a quick Google search on "RA boards" or "RA door decs" and you will get an idea of what they do. RA boards and door decorations give you the opportunity to put your creativity to the test. Some RAs really thrive on bulletin boards and produce some great work, while others (like me) just enjoy the opportunity to pretend to be creative.
7. You get exposure to event planning through programming.
RAs commonly have to plan programs for their residents. These programs are designed to get residents together to socialize, work together, or learn something new. Programming involves working with other RAs, working with a budget, designing advertisements, and figuring out other logistics of basic event planning. Before becoming an RA, I didn't have the first idea about how to organize a get-together. By the time I completed my first program, I felt like an expert on event planning (for a college student).
8. You get PLENTY of experience with conflict resolution.
Unfortunately, a big part of being a resident advisor is enforcing policy and solving problems between residents, both of which involve tons of conflict resolution. RAs are well trained in approaching a resident in violation, but there are always special residents who take anger to new levels when the RA approaches them. This may be a turn-off for you, and may even seem scary, but working in the real world involves dealing with many out-of-hand individuals. Being an RA definitely helps develop your conflict resolution skills. Also, roommates rarely get along perfectly and some even get into intense arguments and confrontations. As an RA, you are trained really well in mediating an argument between two other people, which could definitely be useful later in life.
9. Being an RA looks great on your resumé.
With all of the benefits of the position discussed thus far, being able to slap "resident advisor" on your resumé is a supreme advantage over competing job applicants. Obviously, being an RA in college does not guarantee you a job, but the number of skills that you develop within the position may give you the added push you need to get hired. Being an RA shows that you enjoy helping people, have experience working in groups, and understand the importance of being a part of something larger than yourself: a community.
10. Knowing that you helped a resident-in-need is a great feeling.
Whether a resident is having a bad day, facing a family loss, or struggling with a personal issue, helping them out and giving them the resources they need is a great feeling. The main reason I became an RA was to be a resource for students. College is stressful for everyone, and when times get tough for residents, I try to be as available and approachable as possible for them. Out of all aspects of the position, I really enjoy helping out those in need. I also enjoy working with my staff, but making a resident's terrible day better is a truly awesome feeling.
If you enjoy helping people and enjoy the opportunity to be a leader, you should seriously consider applying to be a resident advisor at your college or university. Yes, it can be a lot of work. Yes, dealing with angry residents is never fun. Yes, duty nights can run late. However, these are some of the very few cons of being an RA. The feeling of helping others is great, and the knowledge that you are making a difference on your campus is priceless.
