Alcalá 1987

•RAi * I realized howmuch I likedbeingan R.A.when I came home from the firstCampus Ministry retreat of the year. Five of my residents came up to me and told me that they had missed me while I was gone. BeinganR.A. is one of themost challengingandexcit­ ing aspects ofmy senior year. I feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to make a difference in other people's lives. An R.A.'swork is not just "being on duty" at the crossroads, andit isnot justpassing out fliers or filling out yellowdamage deposit cards. It is an ex­ perience in learning about oneself and other people, making new friends, and sharing in the pains and triumphs of your residents. Working with freshmen can be an especially reward­ ing experience. The resident assistant canbe one of the most influencial persons in the life of anewcomer toUSD. An R.A. becomes your friend and mentor. Discipline is also a part of the job. Dealing with situ­ ations involving alcohol, intervisitation, and most commonly, noise are experiences that add toour personal growth and leadership abilities. It is certainly not our most enjoyable responsibility,but it is an im­ portant one. One thingwhich helps anR.A. through the hard times, like when a fire alarm goes off the night before a final exam, is the close ties they share withother R.A.'son their particular staff. There are five resident assistantstaffs in­ cluding, the Oakwoods, Camino/Founders, DeSales, Phase A-OldMissions, andphaseB-New Missions.All the R.A.'s have a certainbond dueto their position and shared experiences. Theyhave a close friendship with the R.A.'son theirstaff because of the constant interac­ tion and support. This taff unity is one of the most im­

portant things to an R.A., because you always know that another R.A.will be there tohelp youwhen youneed it. Perhaps thebest indicationof whata fantastic oppor­ tunity itis tobeanR.A. the number of studentswho apply for the position each year. More than75 people apply each year for fewer than one-third the number of posi­ tions available. It is an experience I will never forget. It has taught me more about myself and the people around me. — by Sharon Stegmuller

The Resident Directors and theResident Assisantsshow their true spint,

14 Student Life