At some point in college you probably will have to deal with a Resident Advisor. Most universities strongly encourage freshman to live on campus for at least their first semester so they can really get a feel for campus. There are horror stories about residents who feel like the RA is out to get them as well as stories where the RA has saved a resident’s life. These are 7 foolproof ways to get along with your RA from an RA who has been on both sides.
GO TO THEIR PROGRAMS AND FLOOR MEETINGS
Honestly. Please go. RA’s are full time students too and they generally required to host programs. They think about their floor’s interests before they even submit a request. It sucks when an RA spends so much time planning something and no one shows up. I make sure my programs are something my floor would love and actually would want to go to, so just show up. I get it, floor meetings can be at varying times and locations which can make them a total inconvenience, it can be that way for your RA too, just grin and bear it with them, they never last more than an hour and actually have important information about closing for breaks and what’s going on around the building. There’s normally free food too.
Call Them by their Actual Name
Believe it or not, when I am not behind the desk or on rounds I have a life. My name is my name, it’s not “the girl RA” or “that blonde one”. You don’t like it when I forget yours, so take the time to get to know mine.
Respect Quiet Hours
Most residence halls have quiet hours, respect them please. Nothing is worse than getting a call at 2 a.m. because you neglect to keep your music at a reasonable level. If you are going to have company *wink wink* don’t be dramatic, it’s just as embarrassing for me to tell you that you need to calm down because the entire floor and the people above and below you can hear everything going on.
Don’t kiss ass.
I mean sure, you can give me a Starbucks gift card any day of the week but don’t think that if you do it I will treat you differently.
Know the boundary- they aren’t your best friend.
This can be a tough one. We are here for you and love when you come to us. We can’t be your best friend but we can help you get though something tough in your life. Don’t tell me about how many people you hooked up with or how many shots you took. It’s not professional and puts me in an awkward place. It’s a delicate balance a lot of RA’s struggle with.
Don’t hate them for doing their job.
It’s not my fault that you are breaking the rules. It is a federal law in most states that marijuana is illegal and yes, we can smell it coming from your room. Don’t have your mom call in the morning to tell me about how bad of a person I am. Know that part of my job is to make sure the rules are followed but part of me dies every time I have to ask you to turn down Beyoncé.
If the policy is not to drink in the building, DON’T DRINK IN THE BUILDING
We don’t care if you drink, we don’t care if you get crazy every weekend just do not do it in the halls. Bottles are clinking and we know what King’s Cup is too. Don’t act like you’ve never seen a beer before when I ask you to open the fridge-it’s annoying and takes more time out of the Netflix I was watching. Don’t try and talk your way out of it. If I get caught letting you off the hook then I could lose my job. There is so much paper work that goes into incidents and save all the RA’s the trouble and just don’t drink in the hall- go off campus.
We are not “out to get you.” Promise.
I am not a drug sniffing dog or a cop. There is so much more to an RA other than handling incidents. I have had people come out to me and people discuss really personal issues that they have never told anyone. Trust me, RA’s are typically in their position because they really care for people and want to make a positive impact on your life. We are trained on all the resources on campus so we can help you with anything from finding a tutor to walking to counseling sessions with you. We do not hate the world and everything in it. There is a lot on our plates but we still would do anything at the drop of a hat if you needed someone to talk to. In staff meetings we often refer to residents as our kids.
Also, if you want to call it a residence hall not a dorm it makes the world a better place.
