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The ResidentAssistant.com "Ask the Experts Panel"
(see /archive/advice/experts)
was asked to put together some "top ten lists"
of things to know and remember as a Resident Assistant.
Not everyone stuck with ten, but you will find some great
tips listed among these 57 entries... NOTE the areas in
which you see overlap!
Gregg's TOP TEN Things to Know/Remember
as a Resident Assistant!
10. Make time for yourself.
9. Know the name of each resident on your floor.
8. Program based on the needs of your residents.
7. Document all incidents that occur (depression, alcohol,
visitation, ect.) for the protection of you and the school.
6. Keep your door open as much as possible, this helps
build community!
5. Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up!
4. Be positive. Try to keep smiling even when you feel
like you can't.
3. Respect your residents and they will respect you.
2. Remember F.E.R.P.A. (Confidentiality of your residents)
1. Balance school, the job, and personal life the best
you can. Communicate to someone when you are struggling
to accomplish balance.
Gregg Stewart
Tim's "Top 16"
1. Remember to treat everyone one with respect
2. Remember to meet residents on their level (developmentally)
3. Perception is 90% of reality
4. Let your residents see you as a person, just not their
RA
5. Study, study, study... Academics should come first
6. Take time for yourself. Maintain relationships out
of your building and off campus
7. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your community
8. Be intentional in purposeful in what you do.
9. Working as a team with your fellow staff members is
the key to success and your existence
10. Remember to enjoy the experience. It will be one of
the most rewarding you will have.
11. You will learn more that you think.
12. Your supervisor is the best resource you have.
13. There's no substitute for a good attitude.
14. Freshmen mess-up and that's ok.
15. Tough situations are an excellent time for learning.
16. You have one of the most important jobs on campus
Tim Stockton
1. Get to know your staff - you don't have to know all
intimate details...but know what each others strengths
are and draw upon those strengths.
2. Remember you have back-up (other RAs, RDs, etc) - never
go into a questionable circumstance without back-up. Be
safe and know there are other people you can count
on for support.
3. Get to know your residents - this will not only help
out in community buildling, but will help you assess problems
that might arise. Also, different residents respond to
different things...knowing them will help you best know
how to communicate with and interact with them individually
and as a group.
4. Set limits with your residents - be honest with your
residents about your needs, let them know when you will
be around and that it's not always OK to knock at all
hours
of the night! ;)
5. Take personal time when you need it - we all need to
recharge...it's important that we all do this so we don't
burn out.
6. Ask yourself how you would deal with ethical dilemmas
- think about how you would deal with those questionable
circumstances before they arise. Examples...if you're
out drinking, what would you do if residents came in?
What if you are underage? Do your off campus actions affect
your on campus position? Should RAs date residents? Talk
about these things before hand.
7. Know your biases up front - think about the types of
people and situations you have biases toward and realize
you may have to deal with them in your position. Think
about how you will be able to work through them if you
come across them. It's acceptable to have biases, but
you need to act professionally and not let them rule your
life.
8. Realize your supervisor is human - RDs, ADs, RHDs...are
all good people, but they do make mistakes and may not
always know the answer. They also need time to recharge,
just like you. Help them out when they need it.
9. Program for the needs of your residents - if you're
frustrated because you don't get hundreds of people at
programs, maybe you're not programming for the right
population. Asking residents what they want and recognizing
that fact might be a better way to go...not to mention
they might help you organize if they're doing things they
want to do! Delegation is a good thing!! ;)
10. Don't try to live up to what other people are doing
- everyone has their own style in the RA position, as
well as has very different personalities they're working
with. "Keeping up with the Joneses" can be a
good thing...but know that not everything one person does
is going to work for you or with your population. Put
your personality in the position. Hopefully this will
keep you sane and energized.
Steve Crudup
1. Know your resident's names
2. Know the school's policies
3. You are a role model - you are being watched by your
residents
4. Be consistent
5. Have fun
6. Failing to confront a situation is giving silent consent
7. Operate from a position of genuine caring. Ask yourself:
"What would love do?"
8. Change happens over time: Light small fires and look
for small victories
9. Keep yourself balanced and healthy
10. Remember you are a student first, an RA second.
Trey Reckling
Holly's top 11:
1. Your supervisor's phone number,campus police # and
univ. info #.
2. Be consistent: people in crisis seek help from people
they trust.
3. The RA job can be the best job of your life.
4. The mistakes that you own up to are the ones you learn
from.
5. Your staff is there to support you.
6. There are no stupid questions: asking questions is
how people learn.
7. Your students are growing and develping, just like
you.
8. Perfection is unrealistic.
9. Developing community takes time--it won't happen after
1 or 2 programs
10. Ambiguity is a part of the job.
11. Confidentiality builds trust and complies with the
law--even though it may be frustrating.
Holly Habicht
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