<p>All the RA’s I know said they took the job for the reduced housing costs. They sometimes enjoy putting on dorm events/programs because they get to order a lot of food for the program, and since barely anybody shows up, they all get like a free pizza, a free 2 liter of soda, and a bag of chips to themselves to take back to their room and keep. Those of us attending programs also got to take like a box of cookies or a bag of chips back with us, because there was always SO much left over since honestly like 4 people show up to these things.</p>
<p>Some liked working the front desk because they could get homework done during that time, but those that didn’t have homework were really bored usually. I would often make conversation with them when walking by if they looked bored and I had nothing else to do.</p>
<p>Oh okay. So food and money, on nearly every college kids’ wish list. LOL but hmm sounds very boring and time wasting. </p>
<p>What type of programs would have actually prompted you to attend them, aside from free food? What could your RA have done differently to get you involved more in their programs? I’m not looking to be an RA for the housing perks or pay at all. I actually want to impact/help/assist my residents, so any advice from students who had RAs would be helpful. I want to know what ya’ll want to see or do. I know that the events I’ve been to, not typically in my own dorm but at others dorms, had very healthy student turnouts. My own RA wasn’t too much of an RA, in fact I can’t remember a program they put on and a def didn’t see them at an abundance of wing mtgs. IDK, some ppl treat the jobs differently.</p>
<p>Yeah my actual RA I never really saw except that he lived a few doors down from me and I saw him around in the halls or bathroom every so often. The only time he ever assisted me with anything was one time I went to take a shower and my roommate locked me out of my room. He went down to get the spare key so that I didn’t have to (I just had a towel on), so I was grateful for him helping me then.</p>
<p>The other BRP RA’s were the ones that I saw putting on most of the programs. Some were just random “let’s be aware of different cultures” programs that literally NOBODY went to. The whole RA system is very “multi cultural and diversity” centric, and they have way too many programs related to racial awareness and such, IMO. It’s kinda strange.</p>
<p>Some of the larger programs were games like they did a newlywed game style “how well do you know your roommate” thing where you could win prizes. There were 4 teams of 2 competing, and the turnout was only that many people. Like two other people from the dorms showed up to watch, but they left early. So the turnout in that program was honestly the 4 RA’s and the 8 people competing. And this is a combined program for BRP, which means 300~ish residents could have been involved, and 8 showed up. Plenty of people walked by and ignored us completely.</p>
<p>The only reason I went to the RA sponsored events (when it was more than a culture lecture, I never went to those) were because of the free food, and there was nothing worth watching on TV. I had absolutely NOTHING better to do, so I went to them. There wasn’t much draw to go if you had homework to do, or friends to hang out with. Usually the only people who showed up were people like me that had no homework and wanted a snack at 8pm.</p>
<p>I don’t really see RA’s actually “helping” people that much, because honestly people don’t need help that much.</p>
<p>These are really interesting comments. I like hearing other people’s opinions of the job because to be honest, being an RA is NOT for everyone. As far as RA’s opinions on their own jobs, some really enjoy it, while some…well it wasn’t really what they expected. You go into the job KNOWING what you’re getting into, so I don’t really feel that there’s any room for complaint, especially when there are scores of people who would love to have this job.</p>
<p>In my first year as an RA, I cleaned up bodily fluids two times the entire year. There were some RAs who had been in the job longer than I had who had never had to experience that. Everyone’s experience is different, overall. As far as programs go? Brackenridge, Roberts, and Prather are smaller dorms with upperclassmen students that are not necessarily interested in attending programming. It’s a quieter dorm. In Jester, there are more people that show up to events and we’ve had up to 40 attend events before, perhaps even more, it really all depends on the event that’s being put on. Oh and the reason why there are so many racial/cultural diversity programs is because Housing and Food gives us a program planner at the beginning of the year with specific targets that we have to hit with programs. Cultural/diversity is one of those targets.Other dorms like Moore-Hill and Kinsolving have tighter knit communities, therefore they have more attendance at their programs and Jester East and West are large so of course they have good attendance.</p>
<p>The waking up at random times? That has not happened to me before but has to some of my co-workers. It’s all chance really. And usually, the RA on call is the one to handle things like that, not every single RA. You’d also be super surprised how much help RAs have provided to other students. To those looking from outside, it may seem as if we’re not doing that much, but you’d be very surprised. A couple of my coworkers from last year helped turn their floors from quiet and antisocial, to where everyone on the floor knew each other and became friends. </p>
<p>Eh, like I said before, the experience is different with every RA and every dorm. I’ve just been one of the fortunate ones who’s had a great experience and hasn’t had the job hinder my life too much. And don’t be turned off by the fact that you have “responsibilities” as an RA. @texchick13 I’m really glad that you seem excited about the job! I’ll be seeing you around :D</p>
<p>You know, I’ve heard so many people mention how BRP has so many more upperclassmen and are quieter dorms. In the year I lived there, other than RA’s, I only knew one student who was not a freshman, and she had just transferred from a small community college. My entire floor was active and social, and we threw a couple of parties and events in the hallway/rooms. I was in K/L section of Prather 1st floor, and I guess I must have lived in an exception to the rule or something, since it certainly wasn’t overly quiet or studious or anything. Me and my neighbors always had our doors propped open to converse between rooms.</p>
<p>@Why Two Kay Haha you know what, you may have a point. I haven’t been in Prather as much as I have Roberts and Brackenridge, and I must say that those are definitely quiet haha.</p>
<p>Another contribution to Prather being a dorm for upperclassmen… my floor was mostly first-years as well, and er, there may have been (but this is not an admission) lots of Thirsty Thursdays.</p>