A day in the life of an R.A.

CATILIN LAWLER- Oneonta, N.Y.

On Suny Oneonta's campus there are many dormitory buildings that the students can choose from to live in.  In every dorm building there are Resident Advisors also known as an R.A., these indivuals are assigned residents to look over, and make sure they are living in a safe environment.  As well as provide floor meetings to make the residents feel comfortable, enforce the rules of the building, make bulletin boards, do room checks and provide fun get together for their residents. 

 Some residents think that R.A'S are the ones who try to "suck the fun out of everything" But what they do not understand is that R.A'S are exactly the same as any other college student.   They take classes, get stressed and even go out on the weekends. So before you get judgmental and stereotype your R.A. you should get to know them first and realize that they are normal people.  Just like any other college student.

 R.A. Kerri is a Resident Advisor in Ford Hall she is a sophomore and is an Early Childhood Education major, she is also part of a recognized sorority on campus. I got to interview Kerri an R.A. of Ford Hall and ask her about, why she wanted to become an R.A. and what duties/ tasks she must take on in her daily life of being an R.A. 

 "My responsibilities as an R.A. is to basically make sure everyone feels at home on the floor and that everything is taken care of when I am on duty, the building is being looked after and if any problems occur I take care of it, or call help if needed." Kerri makes bulletin board and door tags for her residents.  Kerri’s main concern is to make sure everyone feels at home and is in a safe environment.

Kerri also works at the Cage in the front of the dorm building this is where people can ask her to get their mail or if they get locked out of their rooms she can get keys to open it for them etc. Kerri also is an AOD, meaning that she makes bulletin boards for drug abuse, sexuality and many other things.

"I wanted to become an R.A. because I have always been interested in it, and its something I thought I would benefit from especially being an Early Childhood Major, from making bulletin boards, making door tags and all the craftiness to helping people out with if they are having a bad roommate experience or need someone to talk to." 

She admitted that sometimes working with residents and college students can be very tedious, and a lot of work but she enjoys everyone in her hall and her staff members as well. This is Kerri's first semester as a Resident Advisor; she tries to everything she can to make everyone happy. Multiple people agree that she is one of the nicest individuals, makes everyone feel at home and feel that they are in a safe place.

Keep up the good work Kerri!