When I interviewed Michael Harry, a second-year RA, we sat in my room and talked about what it is like to be an RA and live in a residence hall. Michael was dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, but the way he carried himself was very confident. His posture was pristine, and he sat comfortably throughout the interview. He did not rely heavily on hand gestures while he talked. Instead, he seemed to explain everything effortlessly, as if he had already thought about these experiences multiple times before.
His facial expressions were one of the first things I noticed. They were animated and comforting, and he smiled often while answering my questions. His smile is infectious, like you can't help but smile as well. His voice was just as expressive. He was far from monotone and sounded excited when talking about his experiences.
Walking through a college residence hall, there is always something happening. Students are coming and going, doors are opening and closing, and lounges become places where people can gather, work, or just relax. Among all of this activity are the resident assistants, better known as RAs. They are the students who help create a sense of community while also making sure everyone is safe.
Michael sees his residence hall as much more than a building where students sleep, he compared it to a bunch of kids playing in a sandbox. “Every person seems to have their own thing going on. Some students like to go outside and hang out after class, while others spend their time in the lounges quietly working on assignments. Then there are nights when students gather together for something more social, like a sleepover or a face-mask night.”
As Michael described these different groups of students, his excitement became noticeable again. His animated expressions made it seem like he could picture the different personalities he was talking about. “The atmosphere of the residence hall can constantly change. One moment it can feel energetic and social,” he explained, “and another moment it can be quiet as students focus on their schoolwork.” Michael described the overall feeling as "playful and new."
Some of his favorite memories have come from simply being around his residents. One memory happened after he returned from seeing the Super Mario Galaxy movie. As a Nintendo fan, he was excited about the movie, but when he returned to the residence hall, he found his residents hanging out together in the lounge. Instead of going straight back to his own routine, he joined them. It was not some huge planned event, but it became one of the moments he remembered most. While telling me about this experience, Michael's personality seemed to shift from simply answering a question to remembering the moment itself. He looked up as he thought about it, almost as if he could see the lounge and the residents in front of him again. His smile and animated tone made it clear that these small moments with residents were some of the parts of the job he enjoyed most.
Another memory showed Michael just how much his residents cared about him. After dealing with an incident, he returned to the lounge. As soon as he walked in, the residents started clapping. They told him that if something had happened, they would have supported him and jumped in to help. For Michael, that moment meant more than just applause. He realized that residents may notice and appreciate their RA more than he sometimes realizes.
A normal day does not necessarily feel like a job. He explained that sometimes he forgets he is working because being an RA has become part of his everyday college life. His day starts like any other student's. He goes to class, completes his schoolwork, and goes about his normal routine. When he returns to the residence hall, though, his RA responsibilities begin.
He checks his mailbox for flyers and information that need to be posted. He also has an additional job helping with social media for Residence Life. This means checking how posts and reels are doing, keeping up with announcements, and making sure students are seeing the latest information. His behavior during our interview made this easy to understand. His relaxed confidence, frequent smiles, and comforting expressions made him seem approachable. He did not come across as someone who was simply listing his responsibilities as an RA. Instead, he spoke like someone who genuinely enjoyed interacting with people. His ability to talk so naturally about helping residents also explained why being an RA seemed to fit his personality.
Being an RA does come with difficult moments. Michael said one of the hardest parts is when residents misunderstand why RAs have to enforce certain rules. From a student's perspective, being told that they cannot do something can sometimes feel like an RA is trying to get them in trouble. Michael sees it differently. He explained that RAs are not trying to be students' enemies. Their job is to help keep residents safe, even when that means having an uncomfortable conversation or enforcing a rule someone does not agree with. He also recognizes that college is a learning experience. Part of living in a residence hall is learning how to become more independent, and Michael sees his role as helping students through that process.
Surprisingly, the job has not been as overwhelming as Michael originally expected. He thought being an RA would be extremely busy, but he found the workload to be more manageable. His residence hall has a large RA staff, which makes it easier to divide responsibilities and find coverage when someone needs help. On certain days, Michael works a desk shift and may also be on call that night. During an on-call shift, he is one of the first people residents can contact if they need assistance. Even though this adds responsibility to his schedule, he still sees being an RA as something that fits into his life rather than completely taking it over.
My observations during the interview also helped me understand why Michael seems to connect so well with his residents. His voice never became dull or disconnected. He was always animated when speaking with me, his confidence and good mood had rubbed off on me. Michael's role as an RA is not just to make sure everyone follows the rules. It is also about creating a place where students feel comfortable enough to ask for help and supported enough to know that someone cares. Whether he is checking a mailbox, helping with social media, talking with a resident, or laughing with students in the lounge, Michael is helping shape the atmosphere of student life.
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