Misconceptions of being an RA at Notre Dame

As I near the halfway point of my last semester here at Notre Dame, I can’t help but become a bit more reflective.

In today’s piece of nostalgia, I would like to share the lessons I have learned as an RA in PE (the ‘hottest dorm on campus’).

Discipline is a very small part of the job

I was asked if I was comfortable upholding the rules of Du Lac. Of course. I understood the necessity of rules in a well-functioning society. This question paired with my semi-understanding of the everyday role of the RA sent my mind whirling.

I quizzed myself on what to do in a variety of circumstances. What if there was a massive party down the hall? Could I be the one to knock on the door? What if it was 3 AM and I heard a guy’s voice as I was walking back to my room? Could I be the one to enforce policy? What if there was a snake traveling down my section hallway? Could I be the one to wrangle it with a—My head was spinning out of control, needless to say.

Training was a week of lectures, exercises, bonding, and discussion about the myriad of issues or situations we may face during our time as RAs. While it gave me a degree of preparation, it also boosted the train of worry that I was conducting. Every situation we covered left me in doubt.

How on Earth would I react in that situation? Some of the hypotheticals had solutions with fairly straightforward solutions. Most of them, were far more complicated than that. Cue crippling self-doubt.

However, as I made my way through my first semester as an RA, I discovered how wrong my perceptions were.

Section Food!
Sorting Hats; Cheese and Sparkling Cider Party; Chocolate Lasanga

Bathroom duty is a very LARGE part

Believe it or not, most of the time I am not disciplining people, conducting Roommate Therapy, dumping out a handle of vodka, or holding back hair. In reality I discovered that a lot of my RA duties would take place in the bathroom. Not in the sense that you might traditionally think.

No, a lot of my duties involve the pulling of a small metal lever in order to activate the toilet system so that the mess that was left in the bowl disappears.

Rounding and bad puns

Not a huge affect on my social life

When I agreed to being an RA, I mentally signed away my social life. I simply assumed that I would spend every waking hour, as well as some hours that I should be sleeping, performing my many hall duties. There would be no time for friends, socializing, football, or other activities. However, this perception was shattered when my amazing rector encouraged our staff to get away from the dorm…often.

She highlighted the fact that we should not be in the dorm all the time. She pushed that we go off campus often in order to break away. She asked that we show our residents how to socialize like adults. She quelled my fears.

During football season, I never missed a home game. I go to the Backer with friends and fellow RAs on the weekend. I drink a glass of wine while playing Assassin’s Creed with my room door open, saying ‘Howdy’ to my passing residents. I go off-campus to dinner every other week. I hang out at the house of my off-campus friends and even celebrated ‘Friendsgiving’ with them. I was able to do Baraka Bouts and I am still involved with my favorite clubs.

Sure, my senior year is not the same as my off-campus friends, but I love it.

PE SYR- P is for Pyro!

Serious strides in personal growth

I like to say that before I became an RA, that I was a pretty confident person. Sure I was hella introverted and I had those occasional thoughts about my flaws. We all have those.

I’m not saying that becoming an RA has magically wiped away all of my insecurities. I freely admit that I am still terrible at small talk (my apologies to all who have been on the receiving end of my poor attempts) and I still look at myself in the mirror wishing I could change something about my appearance. However, during the course of this year I have felt something change within me, something that I cannot fully explain but I can attribute to being an RA.

I have discovered that there is never a reason to be ashamed about my quirks. Realizing this has enabled me to go crazy while on duty. I have started a Nerf Gun War with one of my ARs, practiced my Lightsaber skills in the lobby, infused my section with my love for Harry Potter complete with a Moaning Myrtle, Floating Candles, and birthday Howlers, I was tried (failed) scaring my fellow hall staff members, and I have subjected a whole ton of people to my terrible attempts at humor.

During the course of this year, I have reached a new level of confidence and I now identify more as an ambivert than an introvert. I have made friendships that will last me for life and connected with my residents beyond the superficial interactions I have had with them in years before.

Being an RA has truly helped me in seeing who I truly am inside.

Harry Potter Section Decorations! -Hand painted Quidditch Pitch; Hogwarts Acceptance Letter for First Years; The Wall at Platform 9 3/4; and Night sky with Floating Candles

Trying not to cry now…

I am writing this piece after going through the process on selecting those who will take my place next year. I have a perception as to how this year would go and every day I am surprised. Yes, there are times when I have to play the part of a disciplinarian. However, more often than not, I play the role as the neighbor that gives my residents Harry Potter themed snacks once a week and flushes the toilets after them.

I would never think about changing a single thing about this year. Being an RA has transformed me and helped me to transcend the goals that I set for myself prior to starting college.

Love Thee Notre Dame.