Working in Residence Life is one of the greatest things that I have ever done for myself. I’ve learned far more than I thought was possible, and gained so much more than I bargained for. When I accepted the position of Resident Assistant, I thought I was agreeing to a job--but instead, I’ve gained family.

Here are some of the best reasons to get involved with Res Life:

The residents.

There’s one reason I do this job, and it’s my residents. I always tell people that move-in day is like Christmas, and we’re getting the best gift anyone could give us: a floor full of dynamic, wonderful, diverse minds who keep me on my toes with their great senses of humor, wonderful personalities and support for each other. Every year, I have the privilege of getting to know these wonderful souls. Every year I’m grateful for the opportunity to do so.

The staff.

Take some of the most fun, social, personable, funny people that you know, and put them all on a team. That’s most Res Life staffs. Sure, we’re productive. We plan things; we discuss issues within the building and how to resolve them. We work to make our building the best possible place to live. But we’re not afraid to have fun while we do it. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve doubled over in laughter during a staff meeting. How many jobs offer you that?

The leadership.

It’s not possible to be an RA without gaining leadership skills. You have to run floor meetings, make sure that everyone on your floor understands things like room lotteries, ensure that residents are talking to each other, and plan fun activities that cater to their interests. It’s a lot of work, but you’ll be a better leader for it.

Learning how to deal with a crisis.

When things go wrong, RAs know how to jump into action. We’re used to responding quickly and with urgency—even if it’s just burnt popcorn.

Mediation training.

We’ve dealt with all kinds of roommate conflicts, so settling problems between people is a cinch for us. We’ve gotten really good at listening to both sides of the story and helping others learn to communicate. We’re your everyday superhero problem-solvers.

Laughs.

Whether it’s the hilarious video your resident showed you last week or the jokes told at staff meetings, laughter is never in short supply. RAs got jokes.

Event planning.

How often do you plan an event, start to finish, all by yourself? Do you know every detail that goes into event planning, from marketing the event to cleaning up afterwards? You can bet than an RA does. Floor programs are a great (and fun!) way to practice planning things for other people.

Ridiculous stories.

Sometimes the weirdest things happen while you’re on duty. Sometimes the duty phone is prank called. Sometimes residents from another floor perform a song for you. Sometimes you find a sea of Swedish Fish strewn across the lobby. You just never know. (And yes, these are all things that I have experienced.)

Support system.

When things are going south and your life is in shambles, it’s really great to know that you have a staff that will have your back. From picking up a duty night to cracking jokes to cheer each other up, your staff is the best support system out there. Besides, who else would appreciate the absurdity of what your residents did last week?

Problem solving.

If there’s a problem, yo, we’ll solve it. When things go wrong, we’re the first ones on the scene. We put in work orders from broken sinks, we think of creative ways to do a floor program without the ONE THING you needed and forgot to buy, we help people with homework on our rounds, we figure out the best solution for everyone involved. It’s a great brain exercise, and it’s really great to know how to think on your feet when problems arise.

Friends for life.

Some of my strongest friendships have stemmed from Res Life. Between my residents and my fellow RAs, I have cultivated some pretty rocking relationships. I know so many friendly faces around campus, and they never fail to make me smile. I love all of the chats, programs, jokes, games, and experiences I’ve had with all of them. All of the relationships I’ve built while in Res Life mean the world to me.

Making a difference in someone else’s life.

Sure, being an RA can bring some major benefits to your life. But there is nothing--nothing--that is more rewarding than knowing that your presence on your floor, in your building, on your staff has made a difference in someone else’s life. From something as small as letting someone into their room to encouraging someone going through a rough time to asking about someone’s day, you are making a difference. You are changing lives. There is nothing more fulfilling than that.