Dear Freshmen,

Welcome to your first year of college! I am your RA while you live in the residence halls. Before the year begins, I wanted to let you in on a few things.

First, I, and all the other RAs, are here for you! We want to help you make the most of your college experience. Whether it is going to the caf to get dinner, having a study session, going to a campus event together or whatever else we may do, we want to make sure you’re having fun and enjoying your time here at school. Becoming really good friends with an RA also comes with some great perks, but I won’t say what they are, you’ll have to figure that out on your own.

College is also a time when students seek new ways to have fun. Most the time, this involves alcohol. Unfortunately, consuming too much alcohol or drinking irresponsibly can actually ruin the fun. Having been an RA for the past two years and with a most of my friends being under the age of 21, I have found numerous ways to have fun without all the drinking. Some of these other activities include having a game night, watching movies or going on an adventure somewhere. And sometimes just relaxing and watching all the drunk people can be more entertaining than being drunk yourself!

Going along with that, if you decide to stay in and do something, just make sure to follow the rules. While some residents think RAs are out to “get them,” we really aren’t. In fact, we don’t want to document anybody. Not only is it a lot of work for us, but ruining a night of fun is one of the last things we want to do. We were in the same place you were during our freshmen year, wanting to have fun and try new things. That isn’t to say that we no longer have fun and try new things, but we have to be smart about what we do.

Even if you do not decide to follow any of my advice, there is one thing you should remember during your time at college: being involved around campus is the easiest and best way to ensure you’ll enjoy your time here. Programs that the RA staff host every month is a great way to get to know your neighbors, form bonds with your RA, and make friends with people you’ll see every day. Attending other events around campus and getting involved in clubs will not only give you something to do, but it will help you meet other students, and you may even discover new interests.

So as you are getting ready to move on campus and start a new chapter of your life, remember that the RAs are here to support you and make your experience enjoyable. You’re only in college once so make the most of it, but remember to be smart about your decisions.