5 Things My R.A. Taught Me

Entering college for the first time can be a life-altering experience. Not only are you away from your parents and siblings, but you are suddenly thrust in a sea of quizzes, homework assignments, papers, and the struggle to understand what meat the dining hall is serving.

In a sea of confusion and newness, my Resident Advisor (RA) taught me countless lessons about how to succeed in college academically, socially, emotionally and professionally. Check out the top five things my RA taught me here!

1. Stay on top of your commitments during your first year of college. Throughout the year, my RA would post insightful reminders on when the deadlines were to enroll in a class, change the grading basis, and other necessary information towards ensuring academic success. College is an uphill battle of having to constantly be on top of your commitments, deadlines and other obligations, and it’s necessary to become conscious of it.

2. Your college experience is what you make of it. On top of being an awesome Resident Advisor, she was involved with intense science courses, a sorority, and beginning a professional fraternity because she grasped that everything we as students do matters. Although in high school our opportunities tend to be limited, college is an open frontier towards crafting your potential to meet your dreams.

3. You do not have to follow conventionality. Although my RA is a science major, she decided to take her classes within the college of humanities, which was an inspiring and bold step forward. We have been systematically encouraged to believe that there is only one way of doing things, but that’s not the case. If I have a dream, my RA encouraged me to go for it and make it happen!

4. Your story matters. I cannot tell you how many times I came to my RA’s room overwhelmed with the daily trials and obstacles of life. Yet with every single instance, my RA was there for me, affirming my worth and reminding me of my potential when it seemed like I had none. It’s all-too-easy to believe the lie that we constantly have to feel happy and overjoyed as college students, but my RA reminded me that my narratives, experiences and stories had worth to them.

5. The best is yet to come. College is great — but this is not the peak of our existence. My RA is the most fiercely dedicated person I know towards accomplishing her dreams, and she knows that her hard work will pay off one day. Although I am making the most out of my college experience, I look forward to the endless adventures ahead.

What did your RA teach you? Let us know in the comments below!