Today is RA awareness day and a day to share information and knowledge about the RA job.  For many this will include wearing the purple RA polo and posting to your social media outlets why you became and RA so that people around you can here about all of the awesome things about being a Resident Assistant.  Share your insights about the RA job and why you chose to go about that path. For many individuals they wanted to help others, someone told them they would be good at it, they wanted to get more involved or any other number of reasons.

 

 

Here are some myths about the RA job that I’m sure all RAs have heard before:

1. All you do is bust parties or “police” the halls:  yes each of us has to work numerous duty shifts a semester, but the intention is to maintain a safe and welcoming living environment that fosters learning.  RAs are not assigned to hang out by your door and listen to all of your business or wait for you to do something wrong.
2. Being a Resident Assistant won’t help me get a job, because it’s not in my field of study/career interests: Talk about a resume builder–being an RA will give you many experiences to share with employers during interviews and is extremely transferable.  Don’t believe me just go ask Terry.  The job will also help you build a plethora of skill and make you more self-aware.
3. You have to be really outgoing: A staff is comprised of a diverse group of individuals some of whom are outgoing and others who just aren’t.  RAs instead play to the strength of their individual personality to me effective in their roles.

Here are some perks of the job outside of the pay and having a big bed:

1. Autonomy:    The RA role offers a lot of autonomy in how you want to do your job so long as you get what you need to do done.  So you want to put on a diversity program, it is up to you to figure out what that is going to look like for you.  Even thought you have autonomy you also have a lot of support through your staffs and your supervisors
2. Personal and professional development opportunities:  Through the RA role you are presented with many opportunities to learn about yourself, others, and professionalism.  Development opportunities are also available through collateral assignments, conferences, and training events.  Many Resident assistants express that they learn so much about themselves during their time in the job and that it helped them to develop skills and competencies that help them in their everyday and professional lives.
3. Meeting new people: You chose to be forced to meet new people, your bosses, staff, the floor, other RAs and other leaders on campus.  Good luck getting to know everyone’s names if that is something you struggle with (I think you can do it).  You will be able to build diverse networks of individuals that will help you learn something along the way and it can connect you with people that share similar passions as you do.
4. Fun: Most RAs would say that they love their job and it is fun.  Fun things about the job: intramurals with your floor, late night chats, floor dinners, social programs, funny bulletin boards, schnazzy door decorations, helping others, and the list can go on and on.

Don’t forget to share the information with those individuals you know that want to be RAs.  Paint them a realistic preview of the job (the pros and the cons) and discuss how they can prepare themselves to apply by February 14th.

Have a great RA Awareness Day