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I'm Not A Regular RA, I'm A Cool RA

@another-reslyfe-blog

Pitt State RA | This blog is for ideas | Personal Blog: eat-my-aesthetic.tumblr.com
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resident-assistant

Twenty Things Every New RA Should Know

1. You will see the person you wrote up the night before in the dining hall the next day.

2. Every situation used as examples in BCD will happen. Without fail.

They might not happen all to you, but you will be surprised by the things you will have to deal with.

3. First year RAs may not know how to gauge how they’re doing as an RA against the work of other RAs.

After training, a lot of RA work is on your own, with your residents. Be confident that you’re doing a good job, because you probably are. Comparing yourself to other RAs is kind of useless when every RA deals with different residents and different issues.

4. Never underestimate the power of passive programming.

Plan them ahead, stay on top of your passive programming plan, and then sit back and enjoy watching your residents get involved on their own.

5. When active programming, take the time of the semester into account.

Beginning of school year? Super fun complex team builders and crafting! Midterms? Simple movie night with an empowering theme. Finals? Go room to room and give free food, so people can remain studying.

6. Your relationship with your partner can make or break your year.

Make sure to treat your partner as three things: a. Your friend b. A fellow resident and c. Your business partner. Your partner will need support in all ways, so make sure to identify things you are great at that your partner will need you for. Whether it is getting bugs out of rooms (me for my partner) or being resident expert on mental illness, it’s a give and take.

7. Your personal time has value. Start taking advantage of it from the beginning of the year.

Get off campus at least once a week. It sounds easy, but there were some weeks I didn’t leave my room for anything other than meals and class. Get out of housing areas, if only to pretend you’re a normal college student for a while.

8. Think with your gut and your brain. Weigh decisions.

If you were in an emergency situation and let someone get hurt because you were worried about following policy and breaking rules, you aren’t doing your job properly. Policy is important, but so is knowing when to follow it and when not to.

9. No one in housing knows your residents better than you do.

It is your responsibility to fight for them and defend them. They are your family.

10. Worry about yourself first.

I don’t follow this all the time (I don’t think any RA really can) but people always say it and there is a point to it. If you are having a hard time academically, physically, or mentally, tell your supervisor and your partner and step back to help yourself.

11. You might forget names after they leave your hall. It’s weird.

But that’s what Facebook is for. Forgetting a name doesn’t mean that the resident didn’t matter to you, just that their name didn’t.

12. Be careful partying with residents.

Not only will they get a new idea of who you are, you might see a version of your resident you didn’t want to see.

13. You will be close with some residents, and there might be residents you barely know at all.

I call these residents “ghost residents.” It’s not your fault they don’t want to get involved. Make sure they’re okay and then give them space. Not everyone wants to make friends and socialize. Some people are living in the halls to study, work, and sleep.

14. Your freshmen will come to college with significant others from high school.

Keep lots of tissues and chocolate handy. It’s gonna get ugly around midterms.

15. You will know who of your residents will be future RAs.

Use them. I have this theory called the “three day rule”. Within three days of move-in, if someone asks you about being an RA, smile knowingly because they’re going to apply for the next year. Mentor them and get them involved. They can help you break down barriers for your floor.

16. Don’t go through the rooms with a black light. No good comes from that.

17. Feel free to brag about famous people who were once RAs.

I’m saying this because I do it, and feel like it should be done more.

18. Do not give your phone number out to your floor en masse.

Give your phone number if you are afraid for someone’s life, but don’t just give it out willy nilly because you will get calls about lock outs and complaints via text about roommates. Not something you like to read on your night off.

19. Sing during rounds. Trust me.

20. Life doesn’t end when your life in housing does.

It’ll be weird, but be happy you had the time you did and enjoy being a roommate again.

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lampurple

Actual good first-time college student advice:

  • Wear jeans/pants that “breathe” and bring a sweater, even if it’s scorching hot out, until you know which building blasts the AC to 60 degrees F and which feels like a sauna
  • Backpacks with thick straps are your friend!  Messenger bags are cool and all but if you’re commuting with a lot of stuff, symmetrically styled backpacks are better for your back
  • You are your own person and you can walk out whenever you need to or want to, so long as you’re not disrupting the class.  Meaning you can go to the bathroom without permission, take a breather if you’re anxious, answer an important phone call, etc.
  • If you don’t like the class on the first day, if you can- DROP THAT CLASS AND TAKE ANOTHER ONE!  It’ll only get worse from there!
  • If you can, take a class outside your major; it’s a good break from your expected studies.
  • You are in charge of your schedule.  Your adviser and guidance counselor is there to ‘advise and guide’ but if you don’t like certain classes and you can substitute for others, that’s your choice.
  • Consequently, if you are changing anything drastic in your plan, talk with your adviser and instructors.
  • Pay attention to your credit hours and grades.  Never leave this to the last week of school, you will be sorry and stressed beyond belief!
  • Unless it’s a lab book or otherwise specified, go to the class for a week or so before buying an expensive textbook.  Some classes, while having it on their required list, do not actually use the textbook a whole lot and you might find some of it scanned online.  Rent if you can or buy used online (schools actually don’t give discounts).  Use your best judgement on what you think you need.
  • Tell the people who go up to you selling or advertising things you are not interested in that you are in a rush to class and don’t have time to listen to them.  It’s less rude and they’ll leave you alone.
  • The smaller the class, the better it is to have some sort of acquaintanceship with a couple classmates.  They might save your ass if you are absent one day or need to study.  And talking with them makes the time go by faster without it being so insufferable.
  • You don’t need to join a club or sport, but internships are cool and useful!
  • If you can afford it, take a day off once or twice each semester if you’re too exhausted.  Just be aware of what you missed and if it was worth missing!
  • Your health is the most important, this goes for mental health too!!  Note: College-age/upper teens is when mental disorders like depression and anxiety are most commonly diagnosed.  Most schools have therapy services, especially during exam time.  Look into it if you need to!
  • Communicate with your professor if you are having trouble with something.  Anything.
  • Eat and stay hydrated.  Bring a water bottle and snack to class.
  • All-nighters will happen but never go over 36 hours without sleep.
  • It’s going to be hard and there will be times you might think about giving up.  This WILL happen.  You just have to make sure what you’re doing isn’t making you absolutely miserable and/or there is something rewarding and positive to look forward to at the end!
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saintmosshart

I did none of this and it bit me in the ass every time so this is EXCELLENT ADVICE.

ADDITIONAL ADVICE

Don’t let a mental health day turn into a mental health week because you will be so screwed.

Pay attention to the syllabus and do not lose it. A lot of professors put all of the assignment due dates in there and ONLY in there.

If your school has blackboard or moodle etc. CHECK IT. a lot of professors will only post certain info there and not talk about it in class

Check your student email account weekly. A lot of it will be unimportant junk but sometimes it’s the only way professors will communicate.

Check your student email multiple times DAILY. 

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another-reslyfe-blog
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eat-my-aesthetic

Guys I wanted to do Hamilton door decs for next year, but I didn’t have an idea for a bulletin board to do with them. I just got an idea. “Don’t throw away your shot: why starting good study habits will help you throughout the semester!”

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another-reslyfe-blog

Okay so I got some more ideas for this.. Big Title: Don't throw away your shot at a great first year! Subtitles: Work! Work!; study habits The Story of Tonight: making lasting relationships. Helpless: resources available (tutoring, counseling, etc)

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reblogged
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eat-my-aesthetic

Guys I wanted to do Hamilton door decs for next year, but I didn’t have an idea for a bulletin board to do with them. I just got an idea. “Don’t throw away your shot: why starting good study habits will help you throughout the semester!”

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theraoncall

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