Thinking of applying to be an RA? Both hall directors and dorm residents speak about the necessary qualities
By Megan Osborn
Residence Life is accepting applications for resident assistant, or RA, one of the hardest and most coveted positions on the university campus. Applicants go through the rigorous application process consisting of written responses to questions, and individual and group interviews in the hopes of securing a position that carries a great deal of responsibility.
Being a leader to a group of residents may seem like a fun and social job that has the great benefit of free room and board amounting to approximately $8,000. RAs, however, emphasize that there is a lot more to it than students may realize.
For junior Kenna RA Sam Harris, being a good RA is a complex task.
"There's a balance between being a friend, as well as a mentor, role model and a policy enforcer," Harris said.
Junior Villa Maria RA Joey Balinbin acknowledges the many-faceted role that RAs hold, being both a student and a role model for residents.
"When you're an RA you're called to be a leader while you walk with them," Balibin said.
Sometimes the idea of being an authoritative figure to students is intimidating for RAs. Former Christie RA Kyle Mechling remembers what he went through his mind during his first monthly floor meeting with his residents.
"I was scared - it was like, these are my residents and I'm supposed to be all authoritative and responsible and I didn't even know all the ins and outs of the university itself," Mechling said. "And what if someone asks me a question and I don't know the answer?"
Some aspects of the job take RAs off guard, even with their extensive training.
"There is an infinite amount of hidden time commitments that you don't see from observing your own RA," Harris said.
Time commitments include time spent getting to know residents, planning programs for residents, hall duty and many other unplanned events.
"The one surprise for me was the programming," said senior Shipstad RA Mimi Johnson. "As a freshman you see them, but you don't see all the work that goes into them."
Mechling acknowledges that he underestimated the impact that the first monthly hall meeting could have on the rest of the school year for his floor. Due to nerves, he listed out the information that he thought his residents needed to know in five minutes instead of taking the time to see how the residents were adapting after the first week back.
"Messing up that one meeting ruined the rest of my meetings for my first year as RA," Mechling said. "The first three weeks can completely change the feel of the floor and the resident's experience."
As much of a perk as free room and board and a private single room can be, RAs emphasize that that shouldn't be a person's primary motivation when applying for the job.
"If you're doing it for the free room and board you might as well get out now," Balinbin said, "Because really you're not doing it for the free room, you're doing it for people."
The importance of personal skills is highly prized in RA applicants, especially the ability to get along with different types of people.
"It's not just being a social person; it takes an understanding of diversity," Mechling said.
"A lot of people just think of diversity as just differences between race and creed but it comes down to the difference between peoples' reactions to situations and being able to roll with that."
Jonathan Scrimenti, the hall director of Schoenfeldt Hall, explains that in the application process, Residence Life is looking for a variety of people who are trainable and open to new experiences.
"The process is for us to get to know you, because we're in a people profession," Scrimenti said. "We find peoples' talents and try to mix them together."
Tommy Stoffel, hall director of Villa Maria hall thinks that RAs need to have a variety of talents to do their job well.
"Someone who isn't afraid of confrontation, someone who is assertive but also caring and understanding," Stoffel said. "We want good human beings."
Mechling explains that it's difficult to be an authority figure to incoming freshmen who have just left their home and are relishing freedom from their parents' control.
"The last thing they want when they move out is to have another mother," Mechling said. "It's like, 'I'm going to jump on my bed. You can't stop me, its mine.'"
As a resident in Mehling, sophomore Elle Uchida expects her RA to be a resource when she has a problem.
"She's there to help us if we need help, but we need to take the step to go to her and ask for help," Uchida said. "They're giving us the space that we need."
RAs and hall directors have advice for those who are considering applying or have already started filling out the application.
"Be yourself," Harris said. "And if you don't get accepted or get offered a different position, understand that you do go to a school that is full of a lot of great people and the decisions that Res Life has to make are very difficult."
RAs serve as role models to their residents, so Balinbin cautions potential applicants who may have a few policy violations of their own.
"If you're engaged in less than reputable activity, cut it out," Balinbin said.
Most importantly, it is recommended that RA applicants are involved with the school community. Stoffel makes it clear that Residence Life wants people who enjoy contributing to the University.
"A good RA has the ability to live in, enjoy and build community," Stoffel said. "Someone who loves it."
