There are many different reasons for applying to be a Resident Assistant (RA). A student may be interested in the discount for on-campus rent or in the flexible hours of a student job. They may want to be a mentor to first-year students. They may be interested in event planning for the housing community. Yet, at the end of the day, they are committing to so much more.
Being an RA is one of the biggest responsibilities that a student leader on campus can take on. RAs are expected to foster community amongst 40 unique residents who start as strangers at the beginning of the year. Many residents are reliant on their ability to stay on campus. The apartment-style dorms at FSU are open 12 months of the year and provide shelter for many students who may not be able to go home for the break. This just goes to show how important building a community for residents in a residence hall can be.
RAs attempt to tackle this enormous goal of fostering community by creating multiple community connections such as monthly events, wellness checks and one-on-one conversations with residents. These monthly events could include floor-mixers, ping pong tournaments, movie nights and more. These community connections can be make-or-break for a resident’s experience with both FSU Housing and the university as a whole. When residents look back on their FSU experience, they will think of professors, campus life and the RAs back in their freshman residence halls. Being an RA means being someone’s FSU Experience.
RAs are also asked to care for their resident’s overall wellbeing. RAs help residents with interpersonal relationships, professional development, finding community and mental health. RAs encourage residents to go to their events to find friends and community through their residence halls. Still, RAs are also well-versed in NoleCentral and help residents learn how to get involved with multiple different centers of campus life. RAs can write recommendation letters, help facilitate interview training and give personal experience or advice for residents looking for on-campus student jobs.
Alejandra Gaytan, second-year RA in the McCollum, Rogers, Salley Hall Complex, says, “Being a returning RA means to take on more of an initiative when it comes to the team. It means to be the helping hand that is free of judgment and filled with understanding because even though it may feel that you were not too long ago in their shoes, you must know they look to you for guidance.”
Most importantly, RAs are trained to care for a resident’s physical, mental and financial needs. It is not uncommon that residents will approach their RA with concerns about a friend or roommate’s behavior or mental health. RAs are then expected to facilitate a wellness check. Sometimes, the resident may need extra help from FSU Police Department or EMS. RAs are first responders before the actual first responders appear. Emergency response can be very wary for many RAs, but it is the most vital part of the job. RAs are expected to stay present and alert in the case of emergencies, advocate for residents and practice crowd control.
Madison Askins, the first-year RA in Dorman and Deviney Halls, describes the experience. Askins explained, “Being an RA is an extremely challenging and rewarding job. It’s a job that requires an individual to empathize with students and offer advice when possible. Sometimes residents struggle either mentally or emotionally in their first few months after moving to campus, which can put a lot of pressure on an RA to aid struggling residents. Overall though, I greatly enjoy the positive impact I can bring to my residents.”
If you are interested in becoming an RA on FSU’s campus, it can be one of the most rewarding jobs on-campus. The application to be an RA is now open at fsu.erezlife.com and closes on Dec. 12. You will also be required to attend an Info Session.
The Info Sessions available are on:
- Nov. 18, 7-9 PM at King 1024
- Nov. 30, 8-9 PM at WJB 2005
- Dec. 6, 4-5 PM on Zoom. (Ask an RA for a zoom link!)
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