Why is it that when watching any college movie or television show, audiences see Resident Advisors placed in a sickly green and monstrous light? They are always depicted as drill sergeants, seeming to find deep satisfaction in writing their residents up. They seem to find ways to get everyone in trouble, taking in everyone's misery like it's a drug.

I watched this depiction many times, so when I moved in to my dorm, I only expected the worse from my RA. Evil. Cruel. Calculating. Finding a way to expel me because my phone got a loud text during quiet hours. It was going to be prison.

Until I actually met my RA, and realized one very important lesson. RA's are people too. Actually, they are students too. Yeah, my RA turned out to be the coolest person I have ever met. I think of him as one of my most trusted friends now. Why?

He wanted to be my friend. Yes, I know he is in charge. I know he holds the power. But it is not the first thing I think of when I talk to him. Because I can talk to him about anything. And surprisingly, he can talk to me about whatever he wants to, as well. He is not writing notes to rat to the RD about me. He just wants to be there for me. He wants to be there for the whole hallway. He wants us to trust us. And we do.

He made me laugh. Yeah, I realized that RA's are crazy too. In my case, I have an extreme Taylor Swift fan who likes making his voice sound weird to make his residents laugh. And it works. He can make any day brighter. It is not his job. It's just him being a good person like a roommate or a good neighbor.

I respect him. All the RA's I saw in pop culture are only followed because they are hated. I expected that as well. Instead, I am friends with my RA, but i know he has a greater job. I know that he doesn't want to write me up, but if he has to he will. However, knowing that he doesn't take joy in it says a lot. The hall follows his rules because we do not want to be the people he gets into trouble. We want to be his little angels that he can brag about to the other RA's (I think we are by the way).

We found common interests. Even though I have not watched it (yet), some of my hallmates and my RA watched Downton Abbey together. They found a binge buddy. We also bonded over the love of Taylor Swift and the hatred of Meghan Trainor. Small things make the biggest connections, and I never knew I would find similarities with someone in charge of me.

There is no force. Yes, we have floor meetings. But they are a party and a half. Yes, I talk to him, but it's not for him to get a raise. My RA and I are friends because it was not his job to make us talk to him. We did it by ourselves. We had problems and he was there. He was so chill with us that we could only be friends with him.

That is what TV and movies leave out. An RA is a person who wants to make friends just like, us, and our roommates. What makes a good RA is the residents' perception and the residents themselves. If you are a kid who does not want to torture your RA, and your RA does not get off on torturing you, then you are halfway there. Being friends with your RA is just being friends with another person. Just don't be screaming with an electric guitar past quiet hours. They need their beauty sleep and they don't like us that much!