room condition form
Tonight was my last stand for ResLife, a grande, RA-community-wide ceremony and banquet. On paper, I am employed until sometime next week, but with the residents and paperwork both hours into my past, I am already distanced from the job. In the Windows-powered presentation at the end of our feast tonight, I sympathized greatly with my boss, who when - on video - was asked, “What does ResLife mean to you, in three words?” She answered succinctly with, “It’s my job.”
All in all, I cannot say too much about the position of RA. I think a single year on the job is insufficient to judge the various facets and features the role could offer to me professionally and personally. But, from this one year, my personal skills were where my challenges came from. It all boiled down to people-handling skills, once again. The turmoil of “writing up” a resident I was friends with, having to deal with unspeakably poor resident-relations issues, etc. - in most instances of me being on-the-job, my people skills took over and were tested for their full potential. I can safely imagine that more years in the position would result in greater responsibility and appreciation for the job, thereby elaborating on professional-level skills as well.
As with most other jobs, it was the people that provided the make-or-break deal sealer. Most of the ResLife crew are bright, personable individuals, often more so socially aware than the average university student. Being a student first and RA second is not possible without an understanding boss and reliable staff. The undergraduate programs here at VT are sometimes lackadaisical - as a Spain-born resident told me today, and as I’ve witnessed for four years now - so some people happen to have way too much time on their hands. Often, those people seem make the best RAs, those who can immerse themselves into the job with a serious passion (no intention of generalizing that those also have mediocre academic pursuits).
Anyways, it has been an enjoyable experience. And that is how I will think of it. The experience. So, I rode a rollercoast and I will mark that off the list; I went to the Grand Canyon, check; was an RA at a mega-university, check. Quite possibly, my favorite part of the ceremonies tonight was a line from our mighty leader’s closing remarks, “we’re ok with changing things around a bit; as you can see, our parting gifts with you are pint glasses.”
And, I must admit: these are quality pints glasses. Check.