Former resident assistants reflect on experiences, benefits of serving students

Sara Bouchard, BSCD ’99, MA ’01, poses with fellow resident assistants following a service project they organized.

Each academic year, Ohio University’s Department of Housing and Residence Life hires students to staff over 300 paraprofessional positions throughout its approximately 40 residence halls. An essential part of OHIO’s living-learning experience, OHIO’s resident assistants (RAs) help students academically and socially, referring them to on-campus resources and a fostering a diverse and inclusive community.

In the process of helping their fellow Bobcats, RAs are rewarded monetarily and through priceless professional development and leadership opportunities as well as experiences that allow them to hone some of the skills most sought after by employers. RAs perform professional and administrative tasks, are involved in conflict and crisis management, and serve on a team of community developers.

Ohio Today news recently caught up with four OHIO alumni who held Housing and Residence Life positions during their time as students to discuss their experiences and how their positions impacted their post-graduation personal and professional lives.

Ford Clark, BBA ’16, poses for a photo in front of the Convocation Center where he served as a resident assistant while studying at OHIO.

What is your favorite memory from working in Housing and Residence Life?

Ford Clark, BBA ’16, employed at PNC: One of the programs that I did in the spring semester was a big Mardi Gras party that I had. My family is from Louisiana, so I made my grandma’s gumbo recipe and I brought in some of the beads that I had caught the year before when I was visiting. It was really cool for me because in Ohio, Mardi Gras is not really a celebrated holiday. It was nice to bring part of my culture back to OHIO. It was just a fun program.

Victoria Augustine, BSJ ’96, MA ’98, global program manager for the U.S. Department of State: I had so many amazing moments. During my sophomore year, there was a massive earthquake in Japan. I had two women in my building who were from there and couldn’t contact their family after the earthquake. I set up this 24-hour phone manning system because one woman was scared she would miss a call from her family while she was in class. So, all of the residents would man her phone while she was away so that if her parents called, she would know that they were OK.

Sara Bouchard, BSCD ’99, MA ’01, speech language pathologist: I think the one that stands out is making snow globes. I saw the project in Martha Stewart Living. After showing the picture to my floor section and gauging their reaction, I knew it was something they would enjoy. My women kept them all year and several went on to make additional ones for gifts. They talked and reminisced about this project all year long. To observe the teamwork needed to make the globes and to witness the conversation that took place over the course of the project was priceless.

Rachel Lambert, BSVC ’16, features page designer for the USA Today Network: My freshman year, my RA had family dinners each week. We would also take trips to the volleyball courts and just do a lot of different activities together throughout the year. It was amazing how an RA could create an open space, and that inspired me to become an RA.

Victoria Augustine, BSJ ’96, MA ’98, poses for a photo with women in Indonesia. A resident assistant in Scott Quad, an administrative resident assistant for the Tiffin/Gamertsfelder Complex, an assistant resident director in the Shively/Perkins Complex, and a graduate resident director in Bryan Hall, Augustine credits her education and experiences at OHIO for her post-graduation success.

How did your experience in Housing and Residence Life help you in your professional and personal lives?

Clark: It allowed me to build meaningful relationships but also set up barriers, meaning it helped me build relationships in a work environment where it’s more professional. It’s definitely more different than like a friendship. In one of my roles at my company, I think that being a resident assistant (RA) helped me learn how to have some of those people skills.

Augustine: I learned the value of listening. I found that I didn’t always need to be an expert on things and I didn’t always have to have the right advice to give someone. I just needed to be there to listen. I also learned to interact with people because I was constantly interacting with people from all walks of life from the University. It gave me a varied set of friends, colleagues and residents.

Bouchard: Being an RA afforded me the ability to interact with residents in many capacities, including listening, mediating, facilitating and assisting—all essential skills for any job position. I also developed and refined my leadership skills. I found effective leaders utilize their team members’ strengths and involve them in decisions for the common good.

Lambert: Personally, I saw myself grow up. You really learn that there is more to this world than just yourself because you’re put onto this floor to check in with your residents on a daily basis. I built a lot of empathy for the various situations people were in.

Sara Bouchard, BSCD ’99, MA ’01, was a resident assistant in Jefferson Hall and an assistant resident director in Bryan and Voigt Halls.

Why should OHIO students should consider applying for a position in Housing and Residence Life?

Clark: I think it really helps students develop leadership skills, and I think it allows people to do something new and exciting. It allowed me to meet a lot of new people at the University that I wouldn’t have met otherwise and build lasting relationships with people in residential housing as well.

Augustine: Residence Life really gives you an opportunity to work outside of your comfort zone, meet new people, hear different opinions and debate things. In college, you are expected to have an opinion and have conversations. This really gives you the opportunity to talk to different students from a ton of different backgrounds. It’s such a rich and vibrant network of people to talk to that you won’t find anywhere else.

Bouchard: As an RA, you can have such a positive influence by developing not only the immediate community on your floor section, but ultimately shaping individuals who will go on to contribute to their communities post-graduation. You get out of it what you put into it. The shear ability to listen and to assist someone is so dutiful.

Lambert: It gives you an experience you can’t find anywhere else. Your staff kind of becomes your family, like I still talk to a lot of my staff members to this day. It’s a support network unlike any bond I’ve ever had.

Rachel Lambert, BSVC ’16, was a resident assistant in Weld House, an administrative assistant in O’Bleness House and an assistant resident director in Gamertsfelder Hall when she was a student.

What is the best advice you have for students with positions in Housing and Residence Life?

Clark: I would tell them to think about what they really want to get out of this. If it’s not something that is intrinsically rewarding to you, then it is probably not the right job for you. It is tough sometimes, but you have a ton of support through your staff. It all worked out for me in the end, but I just think that before you do it, make sure it’s something that you do for the right reasons.

Augustine: I found that it can be quite difficult to balance all of the RA work with school. Cutting yourself a break, giving yourself enough time to breathe and getting through your own school work is really important. At the same time, you only have this opportunity to learn from so many different people once. Get out there and meet as many people as you can from different places.

Bouchard: I think do what you can to foster a community on your floor section. I was so thankful for my floor section and everything my RA did. The RAs now are making a bigger impression than they realize. It’s important to be a positive influence academically, socially and in other big roles.

Lambert: Keep going and try your best even when things don’t go your way. It’s also really important to understand your co-workers. Create an open and safe place for your staff, for you all to lean on each other.

* * *

Housing and Residence Life is hiring resident assistants for the 2019-20 academic year. For more information on the RA application process, click here.