Home Campus & Community Groves Nails RA Duties On The Head

Groves Nails RA Duties On The Head

by Kaitlyn Mitchum

When musical theatre major Abbie Groves started attending Blackburn College almost four years ago, she quickly realized that college would teach her life skills both inside and outside the classroom. Groves revealed that her college experience has not been easy, but has taught her to become more personable and how to deal with different situations. Now a first-semester senior, Groves has taken on the responsibility of a residential assistant (RA) for the women on the first floor of Jewell Hall. “Being an RA is definitely not an easy job; you have to be ready at all times. You are always on the go, whether it be two in the afternoon or three in the morning.” Groves admitted that she isn’t always on top of her game, especially when she is sick and still has to take on her duties, but she stressed that as an RA you have to be ready for anything.

Groves described RA duties as having to make tough judgment calls while remaining in close contact with her residents. “You have got to deal with your friends, underage drinking, drinking hard liquor or doing drugs. You have to be ready to not only deal with just your residents but also with your friends, which can get really sticky.” Groves included that in order to have her position, a person must be willing to do things that they don’t want to do. Freshman biology major Bailey Lentz, one of Groves’ residents, referred to Groves as, “an all-around good person whom I respect.” She recalled Groves saying “If you follow the rules and have a good time, this year is going to be great.”

Although being an RA can be tough, Groves portrayed it as beneficial and full of reward. “I decided to be an RA because I am a very personable person; I wanted to get the chance to know more people on campus.” To establish a feeling of trust and comfort with her residents Groves made sure they knew her right away. “I really just laid down who I was and how I acted and gave the bases to who I am as a person. A big thing is just saying ‘hi’ to my residents every day; it’s a key component to getting to know them better.” Groves explained that the school provided her with mandatory training for the position, but several life experiences also helped her.

Abbie Groves decorates her door for first semester to draw in her residents

A major part of being an RA is to create a safety net for all others around campus. Groves said that Jewell Hall takes things a step further. “When an RA is on duty, Jewell Hall has implemented an open door policy, but us RAs in Jewell Hall have taken it a step further and now we like to sit in the parlor to give our residents full access to us if they need help or someone to talk to.” Groves concluded by stating, “Being an RA isn’t for everyone, it takes a lot of time management and training, but for the right person, being one can mean everything.”

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