Welcome to My RA, Elena

What is an RA?

Many people have an some idea of what an RA does - often the "rule enforcer" in some capacity - but not many people are aware of just how expansive the position truly is! In my position, formally known as the "resident assistant", it is my duty and pleasure to be, above all, a resource for my residents. Being both an active student as well as having undergone an extensive training program, I, myself, serve as a resource and community builder my residents. As a part of my job, I organize events (see below for more information), keep residents aware of events coming up, ease the transition into college life, and, yes, also enforce the rules if necessary. At the end of the day, I simply take all of my own experiences, as well as the knowledge I have acquired through training and on the job, to establish trust, community, and respect among the residents on my floor.

Community Builders

In order to create that sense community which is so important, it is my pleasure to arrange events, known as "community builders" or CB's. Based on feedback from my residents, these events could be a wide variety of activities - from a Love Island or Eagles watch party to group yoga or pumpkin carving in the park. These purpose of these events is quite simply to bring people together. It is the hope that they truly help to create a real feeling of community on the floor and within the residence halls!

My Strengths

As determined by the Clifton Strength test

Learner

Use passion for learning to add value to lives.

Futuristic

Share visions of a better future.

Intellection

Think deeply. Think often.

Relator

Connect deeply with other people to gain friends for life.

Input

Keep exploring; always be curious.

These strengths do all feel like major factors of who I am.

Learner: I love to learn new things.

Futuristic: It brings me joy and makes me passionate to think about what the future could be like.

Intellection: Thinking brings peace and clarity to a hectic world.

Relator: I love having a small group of friends who I relate to deeply.

Input: Life is so much more interesting when you're curious about everything.

 

Understanding myself better, what makes me who I am, helps me better connect to others. I can relate to others who may have similar strengths and desires as me, and I can also use my curiosity to connect with others who may be different in one or many areas.

 

Having the specific set of strengths that I do has helped me to maintain a high level of passion, excitement, and interest about the world around me. I can digest and learn from everything that I live and learn thanks to my tendency to think often and deeply.

 

Although I am a very passionate person, my tendency to think means that I can have a quieter disposition in some settings. Some people don't always interpret my silence as thoughtfulness, and it can, for some people, make it harder to form deep connections.