Welcome to My RA, Elena

What is an RA?

Many people have an some idea of what an RA does - often the "rule enforcer" in some capacity - but not many people are aware of just how expansive the position truly is! In my position, formally known as the "resident assistant", it is my duty and pleasure to be, above all, a resource for my residents. Being both an active student as well as having undergone an extensive training program, I, myself, serve as a resource and community builder my residents. As a part of my job, I organize events (see below for more information), keep residents aware of events coming up, ease the transition into college life, and, yes, also enforce the rules if necessary. At the end of the day, I simply take all of my own experiences, as well as the knowledge I have acquired through training and on the job, to establish trust, community, and respect among the residents on my floor.

Community Builders

In order to create that sense community which is so important, it is my pleasure to arrange events, known as "community builders" or CB's. Based on feedback from my residents, these events could be a wide variety of activities - from a Love Island or Eagles watch party to group yoga or pumpkin carving in the park. These purpose of these events is quite simply to bring people together. It is the hope that they truly help to create a real feeling of community on the floor and within the residence halls!

Resources at Penn State

Here are five unforgettable resources at Penn State and how they can potentially help you in your education journey.

 

1. Counseling and Psychological Resources (CAPS)

College life can be challenging sometimes, and CAPS is a resource dedicated to helping students achieve their best mental health, including free counseling appointments, wellness pamphlets, or even tips to help manage stress.

Link : https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling 

Office Phone : 814-863-0395

Penn State Crisis Line : 1-877-229-6400

 

2. Penn State Career Services

Penn State Career Services exists to help students through the process of achieving their dream careers. They can review resumes, give mock interviews, supply professional clothing, and even help build a connection network! 

Link : https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career 

Office Phone : 814-865-2377  

Email : AskCS@psu.edu

 

3. The Penn State Chaiken Center for Student Success

The Center for Student Success can help all students, upperclassmen and freshmen, in finding and perfecting study strategies so that they may succeed in the classroom.

Link : https://success.psu.edu/resources 

Office Phone : 814-863-4174

 

4. Association of Residence Hall Students (ARHS)

ARHS exists to give students in residence halls a voice in their living community. Through participation, students will have the opportunity to advocate for what really matters in their homes.

Link : https://sites.psu.edu/arhs/ 

Email : mes7286@psu.edu

 

5. University Health Services (UHS)

UHS is an essential and free resource where students can receive medical care for illnesses and injuries. Students can schedule check-up appointments, pick up prescriptions, and even receive physical therapy for injuries.

Link : https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/health 

Phone : 814-865-4UHS (4847) 

 

My Strengths

As determined by the Clifton Strength test.

Learner

Use passion for learning to add value to lives.

Futuristic

Share visions of a better future.

Intellection

Think deeply. Think often.

Relator

Connect deeply with other people to gain friends for life.

Input

Keep exploring; always be curious.

These strengths do all feel like major factors of who I am.

Learner: I love to learn new things.

Futuristic: It brings me joy and makes me passionate to think about what the future could be like.

Intellection: Thinking brings peace and clarity to a hectic world.

Relator: I love having a small group of friends who I relate to deeply.

Input: Life is so much more interesting when you're curious about everything.

 

Understanding myself better, what makes me who I am, helps me better connect to others. I can relate to others who may have similar strengths and desires as me, and I can also use my curiosity to connect with others who may be different in one or many areas.

 

Having the specific set of strengths that I do has helped me to maintain a high level of passion, excitement, and interest about the world around me. I can digest and learn from everything that I live and learn thanks to my tendency to think often and deeply.

 

Although I am a very passionate person, my tendency to think means that I can have a quieter disposition in some settings. Some people don't always interpret my silence as thoughtfulness, and it can, for some people, make it harder to form deep connections.

Skill Takeaways 

Conflict Resolution

Because sharing a space with another person can pose its challenges, conflict resolution is a huge part of the RA role. As the RA, I help residents use communication strategies to effectively move through these moments and return to a healthy living space. This same skill applies to positions beyond the residence halls - knowing how to listen and communicate effectively is a key strategy even in the workplace.

Time Management

As a student with an RA position, time management is an essential skill to succeed, both academically and socially. Getting ahead on assignments and staying on track with RA responsibilities, such as community builders, eases stress tremendously and leads to more productive semesters. Knowing how to balance obligations at work within time parameters will boost feelings of productiveness, accomplishment, and satisfaction within the workplace.

Leadership

As the RA, I serve as a leader for my residents, providing resources and having knowledge on a multitude of situations. I've learned how to operate assertively, which has helped establish trust and understanding between myself and my residents. In the workplace, knowing how to be a leader - communicating effectively and representing others - leads to high levels of trust and satisfaction, just like in the RA role.

Student Development Theory

Learning Student Development Theory has played a major role in my effectiveness as an RA, because it helps me to better understand what my residents may be experiencing. I'll give a couple examples :

1. Many of the roommate conflicts that I've seen have dealt with the transition to living with another person, maybe for the first time, and how expectations of this situation don't always meet reality. Using the Transition Theory, I've been able to better understand that this transition is normal, and, depending on the exact situation, required me to give more support or suggest increased involvement.

2. From the beginning of the semester, I've seen tremendous growth throughout my residents as they have committed themselves to getting involved on campus, which is what's seen in Involvement Theory. Now, they are more inclined to say hi, meet new people, and be themselves.

As an RA, it's important to understand that the programs we do, such as community builders, ResChats, and building events are all in place because they support Student Development Theory. Therefore, the best strategy is to put a strong effort into these components of the job so that both my residents and myself as the RA can have a very strong college experience.