For every residence hall on campus, there’s a handful of resident assistants, or RAs, ready to step in when things get out of hand. Most students know that RAs are given their own rooms and don’t have to pay to live on campus, which can make the college experience a little more pleasant and affordable for some. But Lily Johnson, a junior and RA for Founders A, shared some extra benefits about her position.
“The job has taught me lasting skills such as communication, conflict resolution, public speaking, time management and leadership,” she said. She also explained that she has made many friends on the job, and she enjoys being a part of the team.
RAs have a lot of responsibilities, so it’s a sizable time commitment. According to Johnson, safety inspections, wellness checks, incident reports and designing the bulletin boards in the residence halls fall on the RAs, and they must all be completed on a strict deadline. Additionally, RAs are tasked with keeping the peace.
“RAs have to conduct uncomfortable conversations such as wellness checks, roommate mediations and noise complaints which can take time to get used to,” Johnson said.
Elizabethtown College requires RAs to attend two weeks of training before the start of every academic year, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, to learn how to handle situations like those. This means RAs return from summer break early, and paired with having to inspect rooms and close the residence halls after their residents check out for the semester, RAs have significantly shorter breaks than their peers.
RAs are also mandated reporters, requiring them to alert Etown staff when serious issues arise, so they need to be mindful of their surroundings. “I have to set boundaries to make sure I stay away from situations that include conduct violations or illegal activity that I am mandated to report,” Johnson explained.
Despite the challenges, Johnson expressed that she really likes the position, especially designing and making the bulletin boards and hanging positive quotes around her floor to encourage her residents.
“I wanted to be an RA because I love helping people,” she said. “Student leaders are a very important resource, and I wanted to be a reliable outlet for my residents. I wanted to create a fun environment where everyone feels safe and welcome.” To help create that positive environment, Johnson also hosts events for the residents on her floor to attend.
According to Johnson, the application process was fairly simple. She submitted her paperwork in the fall semester, followed by interviewing for the position in the spring semester and then received the decision towards the beginning of the spring.
To prepare, Johnson said she watched YouTube videos about which skills RAs should have, and things worth mentioning in the interview to grant a better chance at being hired for the position. She also came with sketches of bulletin boards she designed and an idea for a floor event to give the staff an idea of what she wanted to do.
Johnson also offered some words of advice for students like her, who want to make a difference in the Etown community by becoming an RA. “I recommend introducing yourself to some staff, such as Gene Thomas, and talk to current RAs about the position,” she said.
