My role as a Residential Advisor (RA) has been a blessing. From the moment I started working this job, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to use my gift of service to connect with people in the most impactful way.

Working alongside my university degree has brought me great pleasure and excitement. There is always something new and exciting that I encounter at work, from organising and hosting events to having wholesome conversations with colleagues and residents.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as a Residential Adviser: I have the chance to use my strengths every day and create a positive difference for students. I can apply the theory from my Bsc Psychology degree to real-life settings, working with students including vulnerable adults from different backgrounds. I have further developed my leadership and communication skills, such as my confidence in speaking to a large audience of people, during accommodation welcome talks and matriculation ceremonies.

What does my job involve?

I work collaboratively with my colleagues in the Residence Life team to support students’ well-being and to ensure they enjoy their time staying in halls. My role consists of being a team member, educator, event organiser and host, policy enforcer, administrator, and role model. Essentially, this means I act as the first point of contact for any concerns residents may have- whether they feel lonely or just simply want to chat with someone, we provide a support network. We aim to help create a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for residents. 

The most rewarding part of the role is providing support and guidance to residents going through difficult situations; and easing the transition for new, international students living away from home.

Wellbeing visits

Student well-being visits act as the primary focus of the job to ensure students are aware of the support they can access and feel comfortable asking for help when needed. I like to approach conversations in a calm, compassionate and empathetic manner, by validating their responses, e.g “ Thank you for bringing this to my attention” , and providing reassurance. I then signpost them to the relevant support they need, acknowledging the boundaries of my role. At the end of the shift, I follow up visits with accurate documentation of what happened and send it to management, who provide the further support necessary for the individual. By writing reports, I have improved my ability to self-reflect and articulate myself in a formal manner with good email etiquette. Overall, my role has highlighted the importance of effective communication and teamwork in the workplace.

Events

Secondary to this, I host events to promote inclusion and social interaction within halls and facilitate new opportunities for residents. For example, I co-hosted a karaoke night with my colleague for students. Despite the technical difficulties at the start, we managed to get the speaker to work and connect to the microphone, with help from the residents. They really enjoyed the event and even stayed longer.

During the events, I like to welcome and interact with residents by asking about their well-being, studies, and university life in general. I make good use of positive body language such as smiling and being open to conversations with residents who want to sit and talk. As an RA you have the chance to work with students you may not interact with every day, so it’s a great way to learn more about other cultures, ideas, and beliefs.

The highlights of my role

Overall, my favourite part of the job is the opportunity to learn something new each day from my colleagues to the residents who attend our events. I enjoyed leading events such as Healthy Eating Night, Let’s Get Cooking, International Women’s Day, Bradgate Park Trip and Hair Care Night. As a team, we thrive towards the main goal of supporting students as they settle into independent university living.

The job of a Residential Adviser is a varied and mind-stimulating role, which broadens your horizons to the many possibilities you can create in life. I could draw many parallels between my job and the role of a General Practitioner (GP): consulting with patients (students), promoting good health and wellbeing, and signposting them to further support. This reinforced my passion for medicine and goal of becoming a doctor.