Meet Amy, Hiwot and Adam!
Amy is a junior studying biological sciences, with a minor in sociology. Outside of the classroom, she is the Director of Ambassadors for the Outside of the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) and the Creative Director of FRESA, a dance club here on campus.
Adam is a junior majoring in Japanese, who discovered his love for cross-cultural communication through Pitt’s language exchange events. In his spare time he loves exploring Pittsburgh’s restaurants and cafes, and he plans on studying abroad next semester. Adam also serves as Vice President of Pitt’s Japanese Language Club.
Hiwot is a junior marketing major with both a minor in economics and a public and professional writing certificate. Hiwot gets involved in her community in any way she can—whether that be as a TA for her business course, as a member of Girls Inc., or as a Co-Vice President for Phi Beta Lambda, her professional business association.
What do Amy, Adam, and Hiwot have in common? They’re all Resident Assistants (RAs) and part of your Residence Life team here at Pitt!
Each student has been serving as an RA with Residence Life for over a year. Currently, they serve in Bruce Hall, The Pennsylvania Apartments, and Tower C, working to help keep their resident communities safe, informed, and connected. Becoming an RA is a great way to get involved on campus and make a difference on the greater Pitt community, and while reflecting on their experiences, Amy, Adam, and Hiwot’s reviews were overwhelmingly positive.
“Becoming an RA has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in college,” said Hiwot, “It has allowed me to develop professionally and personally—while meeting some of my closest friends.” She noted that being an RA in her LLC (Living Learning Community) has been a great way to both make connections with and serve as a mentor for her residents and peers, who learn and grow together through their shared space and interests. Amy shared a similar sentiment, stating that her main goal as an RA is always the happiness of her residents. “Being an RA is important to me—I want to make sure that people have an amazing first year experience. I had a great first year and I want to make sure my residents do too. I try to get to know all my residents and let them know I am always there for them.”
Each Resident Assistant finds that developing a community with their residents is one of the most important parts of the job and the most rewarding. Adam stated that just greeting his residents and sparking up small conversations has been a great way to get to know them, learn their interests, and build a connection with them. “My favorite part about being an RA is the community,” said Adam. “Not only the community we help build for the residents, but the Residence Life community. No matter where you may find yourself, others working in Residence Life always have your back—they want you to succeed just as much as the residents do.”
Hiwot echoed Adam and added that she focuses on trying to find the balance between being a mentor and a friend. “I really try not to come off as an authority figure, but rather as an upperclassman who is a resource for them,” said Hiwot, “and only an authority figure when I must be. The hardest part for me is setting boundaries with my residents. I want to be as approachable and helpful as I can be, so sometimes I struggle with setting boundaries that give me the space I need to take care of myself.”
“While the financial benefits are definitely something to consider, you should also have a reason that goes beyond that,” said Hiwot, “Being a genuine RA that cares about their residents’ well-being isn’t something that you can fake, and that plays a big role in building a strong community on your floor.” Adam advised students considering becoming an RA to talk to their current RA about getting involved—it’s what they’re there for! There’s a lot to learn, but there’s a huge community behind everyone who chooses to take on the role. “Students should know that it comes with a lot of hard work,” said Adam, “but that also means there are a lot of rewarding moments as a result.” Amy agreed, stating that “being an RA does take a considerable amount of time out of your schedule. From duty nights to program days, meetings, and random tasks, it does take time and commitment.”
For the rest of their time at Pitt, Amy, Adam, and Hiwot all plan to continue serving as an RA, citing the sense of community and joy of giving back that it offers them as some of their favorite reasons to stay. For every challenge they face, there’s a connection they make, and they advise students considering joining ResLife to get in on the fun.