For all you returning RAs: please bear with us.
Sometimes, when you're talking, and I have absolutely no idea what the words that are coming out of your mouth mean. BCD? Behind Closed Doors? I'm a SCUBA diver – BCD is a Buoyancy Control Device!
What's behind what doors? But really, you're all so patient with the hundreds of questions I ask throughout the day and I am so thankful for it.
I'm eager to get into my role as a new Resident Assistant, so my bulletin boards are done and my door decorations are up. Early. But there may be times when the pressures of this job get to me and I am further behind than I should be.
Please show me a little understanding and lend a helping hand, even if I don't want to accept it.
In the beginning, I may come to you with incidents that I should be able to handle on my own, just to make sure I am doing everything right. I trust you to let me know when I'm doing something right or wrong, the same way you can expect honest communication from me.
But know that I have your back. If you're having a rough day, I'll be there for you. I may need a bit of guidance before taking off my training wheels, but we're here to lean on each other.
You'll also be happy to know that I'm not a partier, so if you want me to take a weekend shift for you to have some time to unwind, just ask! I'm up until two in the morning on most days anyway, so if you need a night to study for a test, just ask! My time is your time.
There's something oddly relaxing about being part of a strongly knit team. Picking up shifts for other people, doing resident directions, having staff meetings; these feelings of being united under one cause are hard to come by.
I am also very lucky to be part of a small staff. The 10 of us spend almost every minute together going through the same 12-hour training day after day. Then, when it's dark outside and we have the opportunity to go our separate ways, we spend more time in our residential common areas doing our work together.
Wanting to spend additional time with people that you are already required to spend your day with really says something about the relationship everyone is developing. I'm excited to be an RA for the residents because of the decorating and the programs.
But I'm excited to be an RA with my staff because of the atmosphere that they create, the atmosphere that we create together.
To all the other new RAs, be open to that type of close bond with your staff, regardless of the number of people you work with. These people will have your back for the next year and possibly even future years. Don't close them out.
Jump into this experience with both feet.
