So...RA training.
That wonderful time of the year that marks the end of summer for #SAPROs in housing and marks the beginning of a very long couple of weeks. RA training will either be something you are excited for, or could be the most stressful time of the year. While I love RA training, my feelings toward RA training have began to change.
First, i feel like i wreck my body for two weeks during RA training. With the copious amount of caffeine, large amount of either dining hall food or fast food provided and all the snacks keep you going in the moment, but then the aftermath can be somewhat hurtful. During training i drink a redbull a day, multiple cups of coffee and soda galore (with a side of water). To help with this this year my wife and I going on a no soda, fast food, and lessen our junk food intake to hope that it will all even out.
Second, the enthusiasm i share about RA training is not necessarily shared in my department. I LOVE RA training. I love the ice breakers, the presentations, and the bonding my staff gets to do. That isn't specifically shared with the other similar level people in my department. When others do not want to participate in RA training to my level, i get discouraged since i do not feel like there is any reason to get excited. Part of that feeling is because other people in my department have worked in housing for a long time, but do not necessarily have a SA background, which can sometimes be a great asset to the team, since they have a different point of view about how to approach situations and how to have certain mindsets about certain tasks in the department. I also think my current institution attracts professions who might be more introverted since our student population, as a whole are also introverted.
Third, RA training will have been my 5th week of training. We do three weeks of training, two of them being with just pro staff, and 1 week with our student professional staff member. Ever since i have been a RA, i have always remember that dinner with the orientation leaders. Now, let me be clear that orientation leaders are very important. Other than preview day, they are the first impression of the school. I still remember my orientation leader from freshman year. While this year is different, i have always heard that OL and RAs do not get along. Typically, what i see is that OLs complain about their fourth day of training when RAs have been in training for a couple of weeks at that point. This thought process is typically mirrored in the pro staff and the RAs. While i know that i try my hardest to keep a smiling face at all times during RA training, i am exhausted, both physically and mentally, and the smile continues to drain me.
This weeks music is from the Menzingers and it is titled, "Nothing Feels Good Anymore." This music speaks to my blog this week because it talks a lot about a relationship between two people and how they dont see eye to eye. I think this really represents my feeling about myself in my current job. While i feel like i have been trying everything possible, i feel like i am not seeing eye to eye with anyone anymore.
That wonderful time of the year that marks the end of summer for #SAPROs in housing and marks the beginning of a very long couple of weeks. RA training will either be something you are excited for, or could be the most stressful time of the year. While I love RA training, my feelings toward RA training have began to change.
First, i feel like i wreck my body for two weeks during RA training. With the copious amount of caffeine, large amount of either dining hall food or fast food provided and all the snacks keep you going in the moment, but then the aftermath can be somewhat hurtful. During training i drink a redbull a day, multiple cups of coffee and soda galore (with a side of water). To help with this this year my wife and I going on a no soda, fast food, and lessen our junk food intake to hope that it will all even out.
Second, the enthusiasm i share about RA training is not necessarily shared in my department. I LOVE RA training. I love the ice breakers, the presentations, and the bonding my staff gets to do. That isn't specifically shared with the other similar level people in my department. When others do not want to participate in RA training to my level, i get discouraged since i do not feel like there is any reason to get excited. Part of that feeling is because other people in my department have worked in housing for a long time, but do not necessarily have a SA background, which can sometimes be a great asset to the team, since they have a different point of view about how to approach situations and how to have certain mindsets about certain tasks in the department. I also think my current institution attracts professions who might be more introverted since our student population, as a whole are also introverted.
Third, RA training will have been my 5th week of training. We do three weeks of training, two of them being with just pro staff, and 1 week with our student professional staff member. Ever since i have been a RA, i have always remember that dinner with the orientation leaders. Now, let me be clear that orientation leaders are very important. Other than preview day, they are the first impression of the school. I still remember my orientation leader from freshman year. While this year is different, i have always heard that OL and RAs do not get along. Typically, what i see is that OLs complain about their fourth day of training when RAs have been in training for a couple of weeks at that point. This thought process is typically mirrored in the pro staff and the RAs. While i know that i try my hardest to keep a smiling face at all times during RA training, i am exhausted, both physically and mentally, and the smile continues to drain me.
This weeks music is from the Menzingers and it is titled, "Nothing Feels Good Anymore." This music speaks to my blog this week because it talks a lot about a relationship between two people and how they dont see eye to eye. I think this really represents my feeling about myself in my current job. While i feel like i have been trying everything possible, i feel like i am not seeing eye to eye with anyone anymore.
Comments
Post a Comment