Super RA Sam

This week has been one of the worst weeks I’ve ever had as an RA. 

It’s been extremely taxing, both emotionally and physically. And it’s only Thursday morning. 

Monday started out to be fine.

I woke up later than usual, so I grabbed something to eat quick. Luckily I only have Tuesday and Thursday classes. While I was doing this, one of my VERY good friends called and said she wanted to come hangout for a minute and talk. I’m always available for my friends, so I was like “yea, common over!” She got here and we talked. That conversation was hard in itself, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as what’s to come. After she left, I got ready and decided I needed to go get some groceries. 

When I got home from grocery shopping, I got another text from my friend saying that she needed me. 

I didn’t rush over because I needed to put my groceries away. But I should have. 

I got to her room, and she wouldn’t answer the door. I texted her and called and still nothing. I finally was getting ready to key into the room to make sure everything was okay, when her roommate was on her way in. I followed the roommate in, and found my friend. Curled up in a ball in the corner of her room. Freaking out. Having probably the biggest panic attacks of her life. I did everything I needed to to make sure she was safe. Then she disclosed that she wanted to self harm. Shortly after that, she passed out from exhaustion and hyperventilation. I called public safety and the RD’s and the ambulance company showed up. She woke up and was freaking out. So embarrassed, because everyone that was in the room she had worked with for a couple of years now. She didn’t want anyone to see her like that, understandably. We went to the hospital, and went through that mess. This entire thing was literally one of the scariest things I’ve witnessed, I love her with all of my heart, so to imagine that anything could happen to her was very distressing. 

When we got back... 

I knew that a report would have to be submitted about this, so I asked if the proper and correct information had been put in the report. By this, I mean I needed to know if she had been transported to the hospital due to a mental health issue, or because she lost consciousness. Apparently “no body knew that she attempted self harm.” Even though I remember vividly, blurting out to the RD that responded that’s what had happened. There is no blame to be placed, because we all handled it poorly. We had to go through the entire process all over again. 

This time, she had to go to the hospital. 

When the RD and I got there, we had agreed to go slow with it. We wanted to get over there before Public Safety and the local police department got there because we knew that was going to be rough. We told her that she needed to go to the hospital again, and that didn’t go over well at all. The entire time I was sure that she was going to hate me by the end of this. It was my fault she needed to go again because I didn’t speak up the first time. 

It was a huge ordeal. A lot of tears were shed, and it was just really hard. I went to the hopsital again with her, along with the RD that responded with me. He didn’t have to come. But I’m so glad that he did. Not only did it help her, but it helped me too. 

We didn’t get home until 5am Tuesday morning. So of course I didn’t go to classes. I was exhausted. Thankfully the RD Staff had asked my professors to excuse me from classes, which was such a relief. 

Tuesday I just felt like a zombie. I slept most of the day, but did wake up and go talk to my RD, so she knew that I was okay. I really am so thankful for the support that I have here. 

Before all of this, I found out that a lot of things that I thought were going okay in life, actually weren’t. So that’s always cool. 

Today, all day was super busy. No classes, but I was on duty just about all day. A million lockouts, silly questions, and a bunch of attitude. All day I wanted to scream “I am a person too and I need you all to deal with your own problems.” I don’t think I’ve met an RA yet, that hasn’t felt that way at least once. This was my one time. Of course I didn’t say that, and didn’t act like a jerk. But I wanted to. And that didn’t feel good. 

All in all, this week has been more exhausting, both mentally and physically, than anything. 

My friend is doing better, and I’m doing okay.

The good in all of this is, I was able to get my friend the help that she needed. 

She reached out to me to help her, and I did, to the best of my ability. I am so glad that I was able to be there for her when she needed me the most, because feeling alone is one of the scariest things in the world. Especially when you’re already down. 

The other day we had our end of the semester awards ceremony. We give away awards for people who do the most programs, people who meet the requirements, people who won RA of the month for each month, and lastly the RA of the semester. It’s one of the most exciting nights of the semester for us RA’s.

A lot of people won all sorts of awards, as did I. But the most meaningful award that I won tonight was the RA of the Semester. I know that would probably be obvious, but let me tell you why.

I work so hard at this job all the time. This is literally my life. I work more than I should, I work harder than I should, and I literally love what I do. It’s my entire life, outside of what little social life I have. I have made the decision that I probably want to be a part of ResLife for a long time, and I’ve never been happier with a life decision. I help everyone I come in contact with that needs me, I volunteer for things all the time. I do all of this, without expecting anything in return.

The Director of Housing was giving out the award, and I expected it to be a few other people. I see the work that they do, and I appreciate it, and they deserve it. She started to read the description of the winner, and then she said “Sam is an asset to this team”. My jaw dropped, and I started to cry. I really, honestly was so surprised, and honored.

I’m not gonna sit here and stay that I don’t deserve the award, or that someone else deserves it more than I do. Because although modesty is important, so is self recognition. I know that I work my butt off and I know that I do deserve the award, so I’m okay with taking it graciously, and very much appreciated.

It does feel really good to have some recognition and be appreciated. 😁

It’s that time of year, when all ResLife staffs have to think about what’s going to happen next semester. For MCC, that means hiring 8 out of 19 new RA’s. That is A LOT for such a small staff, and for being half way through the year. Needless to say, a few of us are getting a little anxious about what’s to come. 

This last week we were doing interviews for new RA’s. I love doing this type of thing because my input is valued, and considered during the “picking process.” The weeks before the interviews, we were asked to recruit people for the RA position, because the more people to choose from, the better the pool. I, of course, did my job and talked about how much I love this position and the opportunity. When I was talking to a lot of the residents about the position I got a lot of crazy looks and “why would you want to be a professional snitch?” I know a lot of people on staff that may have gotten offended by this, but personally, I just felt that I needed to do my part in educating about the position. And I did.