During my three years as an RA at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, I learned that a fast start is what makes or breaks community. It's essential for you, the RA, to establish yourself as a trustworthy resource right off-the-bat. This is particularly important when working in a first-year area but it also holds true in upperclassmen communities. You have to remember that most of your residents will be spending much of their time out of class in their dorm, whether it's studying, hanging out, eating, or sleeping. Establishing credibility early will allow you and your residents to make the most out of the time you have together.

Getting off to a quick start can mean a lot of things. Programming is important but I've always believed the most important thing is getting to know each resident on an individual basis. This allows you to decide how you want to go about programming and creating your floor dynamic. During the first couple weeks I always tried to find one thing in common with each resident that was important to them. I used that as a starting point; if you like the same music or sports team or restaurant, that's a stepping stone towards a deeper, more rewarding relationship. I always observed the students' environments to find common interests; you should be able to find a common interest just by walking into your resident's room. Posters, computer backgrounds, DVD collections, themed clothing, these are all easy ways to find out what your residents like. The point is, you wouldn't trust or respect someone who you didn't relate to, so why would our residents? Knowing each the hometown and major of your residents doesn't mean you really know them. Once you've established an initial relationship, then it's up to you to take it from there. It's hard to be a successful RA if your community thinks you care about the floor more than the individuals who make up the floor.

During my junior year, I wrote a book about my experience as an RA on an all freshmen floor. The goal of this book is to educate prospective college students about what it's like to live in a modern college dormitory, show parents what some of the different issues modern college students face are and above all else, serve as a resource for RAs. The book is slightly fictionalized to protect anonymity but it's based on true story and one many of you can probably relate to. I made a lot of decisions as an RA, probably just as many good as bad. If you're curious, I'd encourage you to check it out. I wanted to make my story available to others as a guide, a tool and hopefully a source for inspiration. If you get a chance to read it, I'd love to hear what you thought and how it may have differed or coincided with your experience. The book, New House 5: How a dorm becomes a home, is available through all major internet retailers.

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