There's so many great things about being a Resident Advisor, and surely I could go on and on and on and on.....and on about all the amazing things, but we are always on the clock. This is an interesting factor to a job that you work where you live and live where you work. Basically as all supervisors and upper employees of this department call it: we are living in a fishbowl. One where all our actions are visible and make a difference. Most days it's wonderful; as I have an upbeat and excited personality on the daily, but let's face it...even rays of sunshine experience darkness and some days are rough.
After all I am a college student dealing with the typical struggles of school. I am stressed with my classes. Specifically, my Public Policy class that kicks my ass on a daily. It's a little rough when it's something your interested in and then suddenly your teacher is as specific as possible and makes you feel like you don't know anything. Yeah, so basically some normal college struggles. I deal with it. Some days leave me defeated; anxiety pulls me closer to the ground as I try to step forward head held high. When physically I falling closer to the ground, feeling like I'm downing in this " "fishbowl."
This fishbowl can be even more relevant to social life situations. We have to be constantly aware that we are role models to our residents and our actions can create reactions if we choose poorly. Some might see this as a limitation, sometimes sure it can be, but I like to see it as a sense of having responsibility. It has forced me to grow up a little quicker than I think some fellow college students have needed to. I never really experienced the super crazy Friday nights that a "party school" like San Diego State University promises. I think my parents and my liver are grateful for that. Plus, I believe in having fun without needing substances, at least not as much as some students think so at State. Plus I never really had the proper outfits in my closet to be going to frat parties all the time, but I must admit some of the themes can be pretty clever. "Call of Booty" that's something I could be down for.
While living in a fishbowl can be intimidating, I confess this fishbowl is what has helped me form community at my university. I never even wanted to go to SDSU in the first place because I complained to my parents as an immature high school student "the school is too big." It is still a rather large campus, but as I got more involved it began to get so much smaller as I began to meet more people. I joined organizations like the Residence Hall Association, Musical Theatre Club, Young Life....and I could keep naming things, but becoming a Resident Advisor really made the smallest community. I had the best first REO team possible during my experience in the Maya and Olmeca Residence Halls. My co-workers were so genuine and I knew I could count on them. I was even more lucky to be so incredible close to my floor staff, VAPA and Dance famously know as Maya 3 "just the floor of us." Not only did I form a community within my staff, I formed a community with my residents some of which I still see and work with today. One who even became a part of the REO fam and I COULD NOT BE PROUDER.
The REO community only continues to get smaller, as now with a larger staff I have even more exposure to new people in the community. It's like a free group of friends you're forced to living with (near) and on the 1st Tuesday of every month, also famously known as "Polo Tuesday" everyone in the department wears the classic red polo and you can see people of your kind from all across campus. Giving them the nice head nod basically saying "hey, you're an RA too, you must be pretty cool😎" A lot of people are in sororities and fraternities at my school, something my sister were much encouraged. In a way I'm in my own sort of co-ed sorority/frat except instead of paying dues, I get a free place to live and meals...and GET TO DO WHAT I LOVE. I obviously made the better decision. I even know most of the Residence Hall Coordinators now. Having the privilege to attend conferences and get to know people who are pursuing a career I might consider pursuing one day is very valuable. Plus it's like having a bunch of different mentors who care about helping students as much as I do. I adore their different personalities and like to further understand how they got to where they are now.
Despite the community being a fishbowl, it is still pretty large. With 12 residence hall across campus and over 100 staff members, there are a lot of people. There's a wide variety of people out here doing the same job, and I am constantly trying to find new ideas to make our department better. I am a Resident Advisor, but I am also a part of the bigger picture and I seek out how to help residents all across campus. That's why this year I am so determined to plan a Resident's Appreciation Week, which will reach students in all residents halls to remind them of why they're so important and we want them to have the best experience possible in the residence halls. I love what I do and will continue to find ways to do more. I know fishbowls aren't too big, but I'm going for the ocean, endless possibilities and beauty ahead.
I am not perfect. As many individuals could relate, but there is a certain expectation to always be on in the residence halls. My residents need me and I have to respond sometimes without being able to acknowledge the issues that are going on in my life. I have to tend to their needs, respond to issues, comfort, and as always enforce quiet hours (especially during finals week). I can be alone in my room simpin' to music having a moment with myself and suddenly "RA on duty, this is Katie how can I help you?" it really teaches you to be ready in a variety of circumstances and situations. We are always on. Through the good, the bad, the damn ass ugly. I am on, smile on my face, ready to take action.
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