UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — College life can be challenging throughout one’s four-year experience, but it can be especially difficult for first-year students moving into a shared living space on campus. Residence assistants (RAs) at Penn State help these students and others living on campus succeed and feel like a part of the University’s family from the moment they move into their rooms.
For Krystal Leung — an RA in the Living Learning Community “ALLY House” of Watts Hall in West Housing Area — the job is meaningful because she gets the opportunity to build a community.
“People typically think we’re just policy enforcers, but it's much more than that,” Leung said.
Leung, who is in her first semester of being an RA, enjoys meeting and interacting with a diverse group of people during the academic year because she is able to foster an environment in which her residents have creative events to keep them engaged in their residence community.
In addition to the fun aspects of helping to direct campus living, Leung said she acts as a support system by checking in with her residents throughout the semester.
“In other words, I am the go-to person for residents who need help or someone to talk to,” Leung said.
Area coordinators (ACs) supervise the professional live-in staff, called residence life coordinators (RLCs), who then oversee the RAs and assist them in fulfilling their duties to residents. The ACs are responsible for overseeing several buildings within their assigned residential area and working with the assistant director to manage the daily operations of each residential area.
Alex James is in his second academic year as an area coordinator in East Halls. He enjoys supporting residents directly while having a larger impact on students’ on-campus living experience.
James said RAs assist with mediating roommate disagreements, support residents after a bias/discrimination concern that may impact the community, talk with residents who are in crisis, and connect them to resources on and off campus.
“Residence Life and RAs are an important aspect of a resident’s experience while living on campus,” James said. “We are here as a support and resource for them to have the best possible experience while on campus. While we do enforce policy for the betterment of the community, our ultimate goal is to the safety, health and well-being of each resident that lives on campus.”
Cierra Nelson, an RA in Brumbaugh Hall in the East Housing Area for first-year students, feels similarly about her role on campus. Nelson, who is in her second year of being an RA, said she serves not only as a resource but also as a mentor to her residents. She added that RAs cultivate a welcoming environment through different events that they plan and execute for their floors or buildings.
“My favorite part about being an RA is when my residents feel comfortable enough to approach me to talk about personal things or to just talk to me about things that are personal to them,” Nelson said.
For students who live on campus, Leung encouraged them to take advantage of being in close proximity to everything, such as visiting the Arboretum at Penn State or attending on-campus social events.
“Being on campus enables you to easily get involved with clubs,” Leung said. “There's always something to do, and if you don't know of anything, ask your RA!”
Nelson suggested that residents be respectful of both their living environment and fellow residents.
Students interested in making a similar impact can learn more by visiting the “Become an RA” page on the Student Affairs website.