RA Position Essay

Please reply to the following questions/prompts. Remember to be as detailed and descriptive as possible. This section of the application is your chance to signify your level of interest and fit for the RA position. Responses to each question should be at least one paragraph in length, but no more than five paragraphs.
1. Why are you applying for the RA position? What do you hope to gain?
I’m applying to the RA position because I’m looking for a job with a short commute. Just kidding. Honestly, the position of Resident Assistant sounds just awesome and an extraordinary opportunity. I’m very passionate about building community. I want to help others feel like Columbia is their “home away from home.” Even though, I’ve only been at Columbia

What are the top 3 characteristics of a good RA and why are these characteristics the most important?
Personally, I feel as though the top 3 characteristics of a good RA are creativity, the ability to have grace under pressure, and sense of respect.
Creativity: One of the more obvious sides of creativity is the ability to create fun arts and crafts. For an RA, this would include creating floor decorations and coming up with community building events for your floor. On the other side, an RA must have a sense of creative problem solving. When dealing with residents who are having an issue, it’s important to be able to come up with a solution to their issues that everyone agrees with. This might sometimes include a creative, “out of the box” idea to make it work.
Grace under Pressure: Having grace under pressure and sense of flexibly are important in any leadership positon. For example, if something goes wrong at an event you’ve planned you can choose to break down or you can choose to look for a solution. As a leader, you have people who will look to you to see how you respond. For an RA, something like a fire or some other emergency can put your spirits to the test. Since your residents will be looking to you for leadership, it’s important to keep your head on straight and maintain grace under