My senior year of college was spent as a Resident Advisor at Saint Mary’s College of California. I was the RA on the second floor of Assumption Hall, the Honors and Science Living Learning Community.
Being an RA was one of the most rewarding experiences of my undergraduate career. I worked with and formed relationships with my residents, my co-RA, and my resident directors. I planned academic and social events. Some of my favorite events I planned were recurring Marvel movie nights and Finding Research Opportunities as a First Year. I solved and handled situations I never thought I would encounter. I lost sleep over my residents’ well being. Work and home blended together in a challenging, but satisfying way. I formed personal relationships and provided academic support, but I couldn’t fix everything. In those cases, I could provide the resources and follow up with students.
This job was hard. It was more difficult than my most challenging classes. But it was also one of the most rewarding and satisfying (non-research) job I had in undergrad.
Elisa Rapadas 