Hi everyone! It’s a very exciting time of year here at the NSR office with new offers coming in for our prospects every day. Year 12 (Year 13 in NZ) students have just finished up their final year of high school, and all that hard work and dedication has finally paid off. For all you recent grads, before you know it, you’ll be on a plane to America to begin the greatest adventure of your life!
Whether you’ve just finished up high school or you’re just starting Year 9, it’s never too early to start thinking about what you want out of your uni experience. Your campus will be a vibrant place, lots to see, lots to do, and lots of opportunities that you do not want to miss.
I had the pleasure of being employed as an RA (Resident Assistant) at UMass Amherst for three years. Looking back on those years..the people I met, the challenges I faced, the growth I experienced..I can say with full confidence that being involved in Reslife (Residential Life) is an incredibly rewarding experience that you should be aware of. There’s heaps of ways to get involved in Reslife, and here’s 5 reasons why being an RA is a fantastic experience.
1. Free accommodation. As an RA, you don’t need to pay for room and board. That’s a significant expense to strike from your school fees! At UMass, RAs got to live in double rooms as well! I set up my dorm room into two sections. I organized my room so that one half contained my bed, desk, and fridge, while the other half had a TV and a futon. I had heaps of friends come stay in my dorm, and they were able to sprawl out on my futon and hang out for a few days in ultimate comfort. Just as a side note, my room was also on the 13th floor with an absolutely break-taking view of mountains, trees, and sky. 5 Star luxury, dorm room style.
2. The people you meet. You will meet a lot of people in college. A lot. All from different corners of the U.S., and from different continents as well! The variety and diversity within the student population is one of the coolest parts of attending university in the States. When Reslife hires RAs, they look for certain characteristics. Because RAs have such an important leadership position on campus, all RA candidates must be well-spoken, mature, intelligent, and interesting! No one wants a boring RA. My fellow RAs were so quirky..one might even call them insane. (In the best way!) *Please refer to the photo attached for evidence of shenanigans and good times in general.
Between your amazing RA staff, the Residence Director and Assistant Resident Directors in your building, and the residents that live on your floor..you are going to have your hands full with awesomeness.
3. Being a leader and creating an experience. When you’re an RA, you are in the interesting position of being an authoritative figure, big brother/big sister, and friend all at once. That means you have a lot of responsibility, and a lot of power! (Muahahaha…) But really, you’re in charge of making sure your residents are safe, that they are adhering to school policies, and that they are respecting each other. If they have a question about resources on campus, they go to you. If they are feeling homesick and just need to vent, they go to you. You’re a one-stop-shop for your residents, and you’re bound to make some really close friendships on your floor.
Another responsibility you have as an RA is organizing social and educational events. You have a lot of creative license with this! I put on some awesome events, including tye-dye socials, movie nights, Battle of the Sexes competitions with male floors, and at all of these events, there’s heaps of food involved. You get a budget at the beginning of each semester, and if you want to win the hearts of your residents..spend a lot of it on delicious food! 🙂
4. The stipend. In addition to free room and board, you also receive a stipend on top of that! It’s so nice to have a bit of extra cash, and as an RA you certainly deserve it. I received a stipend of $180 every two weeks, it’s not a fortune..but play your cards right and that stipend can go a long way!
5. Resume builder. One awesome perk about being an RA is that it is absolutely gold on a resume. Your experience as an RA will leave you with heaps of stories and memories to draw from, all of your future job interviews will be a breeze! You can make the RA position relevant to any job on the market. You can highlight your leadership skills, your people skills, you problem solving skills, your organization and time management skills, the list goes on and on.
I really encourage you all to get involved in Reslife..it’s a sure-fire way to get the most out of your college experience and save a bunch of money at the same time! Talk about win-win! Have a wonderful holiday break..We’ll see ya next year! 🙂