#stRAining2013

If you know me personally and follow me on my personal Twitter and Instagram, then you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been tagging a lot of things with the hashtag #stRAining2013, and you’re more than likely really annoyed with me. #whoops. (Haha Twitter humor).

Well, if you didn’t know, last week at The College of Saint Rose, students from all around the world (I’m not exaggerating, we’re getting international students here too!) have been coming back to campus to begin the 2013-2014 year. Among those students are the RESIDENT ASSISTANTS!!!!!!! If you didn’t know, I became a RA last semester, and have loved being one ever since. Part of the requirements of being a RA is that you arrive about a week early for RA Training. This is where new and old RA’s learn how to do our job – how to document people properly, how to counsel people properly, and all about the various resources available at the college. Needless to say, I learned a lot, and definitely am a better RA because of it.

The Saint Rose RA’s and AC’s 2013-2014!
Photo Credit to Matthew Ramirez

One aspect of training that I focused on was the social media contest! Marinel, my new Area Coordinator and the new AC in charge of the Social Media committee, made a contest where the person who tagged #stRAining2013 the most would win adorable acorn door tags. Naturally, I was up to the challenge, and succeeded in taking the most instagram pictures and tweeting #stRAining2013 the most out of anyone on staff. Now I have adorable acorn door tags for my residents! I’m so happy!

Me with one of the acorn door tags! Photo Credit Genevieve Diller.

Something that I just want to clarify before I end my post – I didn’t just do #stRAining2013 just because I wanted to win the door tags. What really was going on in my brain was, “Ah, this is so fun, I can’t wait to share it with everyone!” So, essentially, I was just sharing my excitement about RA training with everyone and trying to show them how awesome it was to be a part of this community.

People joke around about the “RA cult” a lot, and I just want to say that it is not a cult. We are a family; we may not always get along, and we may not always like each other, but at the end of the day, we can come together and be a part of a community that is loving a supportive. I am so blessed to be a part of a community that accepts me for me. I know I can share anything with these people and that they will love me no matter what. I am really lucky to have such an amazing staff and an amazing Zone family. Zone 1 is number 1 for a reason, after all!! 😉

The coolest people on campus, Zone 1!! Photo Credit to Marinel Martinez (the best AC ever)

Thank you to everyone who participated in RA training and who made it so successful; I am so happy to be a part of this Res Life family, and look forward to getting to know my residents and making my senior year the most memorable one thus far.

We’re a good looking staff. Photo Credit Matthew Ramirez