How much tooling around on the internet have you done lately? Alot? How much is related to your job???
Well there are about 30,000 RA's, DSM's and ARC's out there at any given moment. They all have stories...just like you....that involve puke, poop, stealing and the usual list of ridiculous bevaiors.
It's time to connect with your peers, so for Sunday I would like you to visit this site: http://www.reslife.net/html/so-now.html
Choose a blog to read and summerize it for everyone. Don't forget to tell us why you picked it and if you liked it. Happy reading!
Well there are about 30,000 RA's, DSM's and ARC's out there at any given moment. They all have stories...just like you....that involve puke, poop, stealing and the usual list of ridiculous bevaiors.
It's time to connect with your peers, so for Sunday I would like you to visit this site: http://www.reslife.net/html/so-now.html
Choose a blog to read and summerize it for everyone. Don't forget to tell us why you picked it and if you liked it. Happy reading!
11 comments:
I read an article called "Quick Reflections on Behavior and the RA Job." I found this to be very helpful and I think the rest of the staff should read this as well because it raises the same questions we discussed in training and makes you re-evaluate your priorities for academics, parties, and work as an RA. It talks about consistency and fairness, which is something Jack has mastered and I have a long way to go, but it made me think about how I handle situations on my floor. Another topic was safety and security and role modeling correct behavior at all times. This is particularly relevant considering the recent room breakins on campus and in our hall. This article also talks about partying and how RA's need to change their behavior which is something that I have personally had to try at very hard, coming from highschool years of partying as well as last year in college. I feel I have made great strides in this aspect. That about sums up this article.
The blog I chose to read was titled "Taking Care of Ourselves" and it was written by the Director of Residential Life at Iona College, Cathy Raynis. We all need to take a little bit better care of ourselves, even me. I am still trying to find the balance between everything and myself. This blog has eleven suggestions. There are some that seem familiar but there are also some that I have never really thought about before. Cathy says that by taking care of ourselves, we will have more to offer the other parts of our lives. I think she is absolutely correct. I have noticed that there are times I am so overwhelmed I can't let myself be happy in the other aspects of my life. It not only affects me but my family and friends.
The eleven suggestions Cathy makes are to take the time to try different things outside of your life as a college student and resident assistant. To just play more. The next is to try new things or do what you do differently. She says next to build relationships by volunteering to help others with their activities, form support groups for when it gets rough. Her fourth suggestions was to find your passion(s) or rediscover them. This is a good one because I have noticed that I have found I have regained some of my passion for things I like to do or still want to do and will do it soon. The next suggestion was to make the stuff that makes you happy a habit. This is a really good suggestion because this can help us to actually continue doing it and take the time to do it, no excuses. Next was to establish a purpose and then to define your own success. This can help a lot when it comes to how we want to run our floors. Her next suggestion is to bring love and compassion to work and to also see the good in the little things of each day. This is totally right because it really does help to be positive and keep on keeping on in a way that keeps the spirits up around you. The tenth is to capture the good and put it all around you in your work and living space. The final suggestion Cathy made was to simplify your life. She uses words like "get rid of the clutter", "don't just fill your life with business","don't own everyone else's problems" are just a few.
I really liked this blog because it helped to give a couple different ideas as to how to make my life already a little bit better. They were some really awesome ideas and I am going to work them into my life and see if it works.
I read the article " We can be heroes,for more than one day"
This article is realated to the show Heroes which I have to say I know nothing about. Yet the author was decribing those heroes and their powers and relating them to the RA position showing that ever heroe has a hard time and that we all have to overcome obstacles but making it through that is what makes us a hero.
I really liked this article especially when he said why he became a RA/CA. He did because his deaf sister did it. And she had to overcome a lot of obstacles and fears. But exactly that is what RAing is about. You learn about yourself and you grow because you are facing your own fears and that helps you for any future situation.
So no matter what if you are willing to learn and grow you will make it and you will be a heroe.
Title: We Can Be Heroes, For More Than a Day
Author: Peter Brooks
This article relates student staff – RAs, ARCs, and DSMs – to super heroes and the TV show Heroes. Their job is not always done, but what they have done impacts other greatly. Student staff members are continuously referred to as ‘heroes’ who always encounter obstacles. The article encourages RAs to confront their fears, because it will help them to grow & learn about themselves.
I picked this because of the title. I thought it would relate to Moulin Rouge because of the line “we can be heroes, just for one day.” I was pleasantly surprised when it was all about the TV shows heroes.
The article I read was titled "RA Duty of late night minister". The RA was up late one night and a resident came into his room. The resident promptley asked his RA if he believed in God. Great question... am I even aloud to address this question as an RA? RA James Puglisi says yes. I completely agree with him. In the article, listening was the key component, not preaching. This was a perfect example of a resident thinking out loud and needing someone to speak to. The resident did not need an answer, or for his RA to figure it out for him, he needed someone to listen to him. Listening is the most important part of the conversation this RA and resident had. Of course, the resident asked a direct question. The resident wanted the opinion of his RA. How would you answer the question, "Do you believe in God". I would have no problem answering this question. This type of discussion can help you and your resident develope emotionally, spiritually, and culturally. Of course, you must remember your place and your level of knoweldge. You do not have a counseling degree, you are not an elder of a church, and you are obligated to keep a safe living enviornment on your floor (so no scare tactics). I liked this article because it discusses a deeper issue. This quesiton would only come up if you have a strong and healthy relationship with your resident. Good relationships with my residents have been one of the most rewarding parts to this job.
Thank you Mike, Mikaela, Sara, Heather, and Grant. I think that you all picked great articles...even if two of you overlapped on the same one! :)
KELLY
wasnt sure if i was supposed to do this but...
RA's With Attitude.
or in my case ARC's with Attitude! :)
this article talks about how the staff member has the ability to set to tone for any circumstance. If you are in a bad mood then everything just goes downhill from there. on the flip side if you keep a good and positive attitude you are able to make any situation a whole lot better.
It then goes into how you need to take care of yourself. this could be going on a walk, taking som time for yourself, spending time away from the job. this point is very important. i know that as a staff we are encouraged to get away and become refreshed. i definitely agree with this point.
Overall, the article just reiterates that you have the ability to make or break any situation.
I read the one about Door tags, and fishbowl door decs.
This was basically just a forum about door dec ideas, I chose it because I wanted ideas for new door decs, because I think it is about time for new ones. Also, I chose it because it is just another way to talk to the residents about life in a fishbowl, and how its not just me in there, its them too. They show outsiders what stout is all about.
Thanks Laura & Jason for your blog reviews.
KELLY
I read an article called "Facebook Follies" it was in regards to all the errors that one can make whilest on facebook. I especially enjoyed the passage in which the author discussed going to an interview before which your perspective employer pulled up all the stupid drunken mistakes you've made. HAAHAH I like the fact that this article held very close to what we discuss in RA training.
Thanks Jack.
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