I am a resident assistant (RA) at Villanova University in a dorm that houses more than 200 freshmen girls.
My unofficial responsibilities include being a second mom, older sister, best friend and all-knowing upper classman. Two nights each week, I have to be available in my room ready to address any problems that may arise. My on-duty time also gives me a chance to talk and hang out with my girls. Sometimes they even stay in on the weekends when I am on duty. We borrow each other’s clothes and talk about guy problems.
But my most interesting experiences often occur as a result of events I’ve planned in and outside the dorm. My freshmen girls have attended many of my themed activities. When October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) rolled around, I put up a bulletin board with information and statistics about breast cancer and the steps to take for early detection. In November, we all went to a soup kitchen in Philadelphia during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
One of my biggest learning experiences took place during a “stress-relieving” trip before midterms this spring. At the request of the Freshmen Hall Council, I was a chaperone on the dorm’s trip to “Egypt,” a nightclub in Philadelphia. Little did I know that trouble would start well before we arrived.
Our group of 100 freshmen piled into two yellow school busses. Barely 10 minutes into the ride, one girl threw up on two others. One of the victims could not stop sobbing while the other tried to attack the sick girl. And to make matters worse, the bus driver got lost and made what should have been a 20-minute trip last more than an hour. As you can imagine, the huge delay also wreaked havoc regarding a forgone bathroom break.
While others went into the club, I hailed a cab and took the sick girl to the hospital. The girl’s safety was my main objective. Although I originally thought the night was a total disaster, a number of the girls made a special effort afterwards to thank me for taking them. That was when I truly realized how much I enjoy being an RA.
I really want any soon-to-be freshmen reading this to understand that if you are worried about the transition into college and dorm life, you are not alone. There will be someone around to help. RAs have gone through the same transitions as you will undergo as freshmen.
Some of the best advice I can offer is to participate in the events your RA plans. They are definitely great opportunities to meet fellow hallmates. Take advantage of having an experienced upperclassman living just a few doors down. Many opportunities await you in college. Always make the most of them while you can, because there will never be another time in your life quite like it!
Your RA is responsible for:
Forming a community among residents.
Establishing a comfortable relationship with each resident.
Helping those with roommate problems, homesickness, etc.
Enforcing university policies, such as no underage drinking.
Working with other staff members to plan events.
In college, there exists a different breed of teachers than those you found in high school: professors. You will attend their classes, listen to their lectures, engage in discussions with them and meet with them often.
How do they differ from high school teachers?
Surprise #1: Profs don’t teach five classes a day. Instead, they have as few as three (sometimes even just one or two!) classes to teach per week.
Surprise #2: Profs don’t work out of their classrooms. (And, they aren’t on campus all day every day.) They have their own offices away from the classroom. They also have established office hours, which is time set aside during which you can schedule an appointment with them.
Surprise #3: They sometimes hold other day jobs. I once had a professor who taught an 8 a.m. class and then was off to her other job for the day. I also have a night class with a professor who spends his day at another job before coming to teach.
Surprise #4: They have lives outside of school. They tend to be engaged in various activities; some relate to their fields, some don’t.
