Resident Assistant
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During my time as a Knight, my most meaningful leadership role was being a Resident Assistant (RA). I worked as an RA for two years where I supervised a floor of around 80 students with a partner. Being an RA came with many challenges, both due to the normal job requirements, and the emotional strain of living where you work, surrounded by your residents. In general, the greatest challenge came with finding a healthy balance. When you live where you work, it’s often difficult to set boundaries, as residents can knock on your door or email you at any time. You always have to be on alert for emergencies, and be aware of how you’re being perceived by your residents.
Despite these challenges, I always strived to be an effective leader for my residents. I worked very hard to plan events that would be fun and interesting to them, and would help them grow as individuals. Some of the events highlighted a few of the lesser known campus resources, while others taught students how to manage time or deal with stress. I wanted to give my students every possible opportunity to be successful in their classes and beyond. I also wanted to make sure that all of my residents felt comfortable coming to me if they had concerns, which was another balancing act itself. As an RA, I had to show my residents that I am a caring, compassionate, peer of theirs, but I still had to maintain an emotional distance since I was also responsible for enforcing rules. Having to constantly be aware of how I was perceived by my residents gave me many skills that will absolutely transfer to any career. I have practice being calm and collected in difficult situations, and being outgoing and personable to make new residents feel at home.
Even though being an RA was not always easy, it was incredibly rewarding and a very valuable experience. I was able to help numerous residents through challenging personal and academic situations by give them guidance and friendship when they needed it most. The personal growth I experienced during my time as an RA led me to where I am today. The leadership and teamwork practice I gained in working efficiently and effectively, maintaining composure during difficult situations, and curating my public image, have helped me make significant contributions to teams and groups that I’ve been a part of, and I will continue to implement these skills in both my personal life and my professional life.
Despite these challenges, I always strived to be an effective leader for my residents. I worked very hard to plan events that would be fun and interesting to them, and would help them grow as individuals. Some of the events highlighted a few of the lesser known campus resources, while others taught students how to manage time or deal with stress. I wanted to give my students every possible opportunity to be successful in their classes and beyond. I also wanted to make sure that all of my residents felt comfortable coming to me if they had concerns, which was another balancing act itself. As an RA, I had to show my residents that I am a caring, compassionate, peer of theirs, but I still had to maintain an emotional distance since I was also responsible for enforcing rules. Having to constantly be aware of how I was perceived by my residents gave me many skills that will absolutely transfer to any career. I have practice being calm and collected in difficult situations, and being outgoing and personable to make new residents feel at home.
Even though being an RA was not always easy, it was incredibly rewarding and a very valuable experience. I was able to help numerous residents through challenging personal and academic situations by give them guidance and friendship when they needed it most. The personal growth I experienced during my time as an RA led me to where I am today. The leadership and teamwork practice I gained in working efficiently and effectively, maintaining composure during difficult situations, and curating my public image, have helped me make significant contributions to teams and groups that I’ve been a part of, and I will continue to implement these skills in both my personal life and my professional life.