Whether you're a new or returning RA or Student Leader, you've probably heard how important first impressions are. Chances are, you've also heard that the first few weeks after move-in set the tone for your community. A lot of Residence Life professionals will tell you the first two, three, or four weeks are the most... Continue Reading →

When you think about preparing for a new academic year as a student staff member, your mind probably goes straight to everything you need to accomplish. Complete training.  ✅ Learn your policies.  ✅ Set up your community.  ✅ Prepare your bulletin boards.  ✅ Meet your staff team.  ✅ Make sure you are ready for residents... Continue Reading →

Move-in day is arguably the most chaotic, sweat-drenched, and high-stakes day of the entire academic year. For RAs and student staff members, it’s the ultimate "go time." You’re balancing logistics, heavy boxes, and roughly a thousand questions about where the nearest trash chute is. But beyond the physical exhaustion, move-in day is where the real... Continue Reading →

Move-in is exciting, chaotic, loud and usually uncomfortably hot. As a Resident Advisor or other student leader, it's easy to feel like it’s an intense challenge, and like you need to have amazing conversations with every resident you see. First - you’re going to rock it, no matter what. Second - some of the best... Continue Reading →

It’s that time of year again. The residence halls are quiet, the air conditioning is (hopefully) blasting, and you’re probably sitting in a multipurpose room chair for the eighth hour today. RA training is a unique kind of marathon. Between the policy deep-dives, the "Behind Closed Doors" role-plays, and the endless icebreakers, it’s easy to... Continue Reading →

The first car has not even pulled into the parking lot yet, but your day has already started. You have walked your floor more than once, finished setting up your door decorations, attended training sessions, and maybe even answered a few questions from anxious families passing through. Although residents have not arrived yet, your role... Continue Reading →

The phrase “student leader” is not new to the higher education landscape. It has been used to describe students who are involved with student government, recognized student organizations, fraternity and sorority life, and of course, housing and residence life. Oftentimes, the student leaders in housing and residence life hold multiple positions in various organizations across... Continue Reading →

If you’re applying to be housing staff - whether as an RA, HA, CA, or another resident support role, you’re probably trying to figure out what the process is really looking for. There’s often pressure to give the “right” answers in applications or interviews, to appear polished, experienced, and fully prepared. It can feel like... Continue Reading →

When being hired/re-hired as a live-in student leader, there is one big question that most student leaders think about: “Where am I going to live?”  First, I’d like to share my personal experience with this: The first time I applied to be a Community Advisor (CA, often called an RA), it was exciting to apply... Continue Reading →

So, you’ve officially landed the RA job. First off, congratulations! You’ve survived the interviews, the group process, and the waiting game. Now that the initial "I got the job!" high is settling, you might be feeling a mix of excitement and a sudden, slight panic about what actually happens next. Being a Resident Assistant is... Continue Reading →

Being a student worker for a housing department is both a high demand and high pressure environment. It requires extreme prioritizing, balancing, and accountability. While there can be considerable perks, your education and long-term health and goals should come first. It’s safe to say that being a Resident Advisor (or whatever your institution may call... Continue Reading →

Article by Amusement Park Enthusiast and Community Director, Tamarah Humphreys  A school year being a student leader in Residence Life is a lot like riding a rollercoaster. Let’s climb in, securely fasten those seatbelts, and get ready for a wild ride of a school year as a Student Leader.   Waiting in Line - You’ve got... Continue Reading →

Question: “Are you a new Student Leader?”  Answer: “No, but I wasn’t over here last year, so idk.” - You, probably. (After all, you clicked on this article.) This response seems casual, but being a returning student leader to a new space is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. You’ve done the job... Continue Reading →