Written by Kalee Allen
In fact, being an RA for two years shaped my college experience in more ways than I could have ever imagined when I first accepted the position at the beginning of my sophomore year. The relationships that I gained and personal strengths that I developed are two things that I will always appreciate.
Granted, being an RA can pose certain challenges, especially while also trying to survive nursing school. Between floor programs, staff meetings, long clinical hours and daunting homework, I found myself struggling to balance it all. However, it was during those demanding times that I found support in my staff and motivation from my residents. My staff literally became a family unit, and I still maintain strong friendships with some of my old co-RAs, even several months removed from the residence hall. Likewise, the relationships that I built with my residents were the pride of my RA experience. Watching my residents grow from starry-eyed freshmen in the fall, to well-adjusted members of the Razorback Family in the spring, was not only a cool transition to witness, but also an awesome sentiment knowing that I was an integral part of it all.
However, what surprised me most about my experience as an RA was my own personal and professional development. I went into the position expecting to influence my peers, but the way my staff and residents were able to inspire and encourage me were much more valuable outcomes. Throughout my last semester as an RA, Adam Stafford, my Coordinator for Residence Education (CRE), pointed out to me just how much I had changed over the two years I spent in the role, both as an individual and as a leader. As a first-year RA, I was timid in my approach to handling resident concerns and interacting with my staff. However, as a returning RA, I developed a voice and discovered my leadership style as I tried to set an example for our new staff members as well as being a dedicated mentor and resource for my residents. I became much more intuitive and made a more exaggerated effort to connect with my peers. It was through this “chrysalis transition,” as Adam called it, that I was nominated for “Returning RA of the Year” last spring at the end-of-year banquet. I did not win the award, but it meant everything to me that my staff and CRE recognized my efforts and found them worthy of honoring.
Sometimes we go into a role expecting to be the element of impact, but end up finding that we were influenced in ways so much greater. That is what occurred through my experience as an RA, which is something that I will always hold meaningful.
