~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~
Oh joy, you made it through the first semester. Hopefully it went well, and hopefully you were able to build relationships with your residents, and they were able to build relationships with each other. That being said, the Spring semester can be completely different than the Fall, with new residents, cabin fever causing difficulties between roommates, and worsening mental health overall. My hope is that some of these tips will be able to help out to deal with these new challenges, and go into the Spring semester feeling excited and ready, and maybe a few more positive adjectives as well.
Welcome Back Socials
Now I’m sure you are probably being given a quota for hosting events but I promise you can make them fun! A nice welcome-back social event can do a lot to help residents reconnect with each other after Winter break. I’m a personal fan of having events such as a safe sex event in time for Valentine’s Day, or maybe an academic resources event in case some of your residents (or maybe even you) had a rough last semester. However you choose to welcome your residents back, think of it more as an opportunity to knock out some one-on-one conversations, and as a way to “reintroduce” yourself in a way to your residents.
Academic Support
Listen, not every semester is a cakewalk. I know that I’ve definitely been under a lot of academic stress, and I can only imagine what some other people have gone through as well. A good way to start off a new semester is to think up some good academic strategies you can help share with your residents, possibly through a community event focused on providing resources such as writing and math tutor centers, and supplemental resources such as Khan Academy and other online resources you know of.
Another idea to look into is to see if your school offers a career center or career advisors, and reach out to see if there’s opportunities for working together on creating events. Looking at the new semester as an opportunity to grow not only your resident’s academic skills but your own as well.
Integrating New Residents
A new semester can often mean new faces. For example, if you’ve had any foreign exchange students in the Fall, they might have returned home and a new resident might have taken their spot. I personally suggest going through whichever form of roster you have for your floor, and look for some new names. If you have any, here are some things to keep in mind.
- Definitely make sure to introduce yourself. Such as, if possible, when they move in try asking if there’s any way you can help, and make sure to let them know who you are and offer them information if you need it. If you think a new resident last semester might have felt out of place in a new environment, imagine a new resident this semester going into a hall where the other residents already know each other and have connections. Being that first friendly face can make a world of difference.
- When planning social events, think of ways to connect new residents together, and try to inspire your returning residents to reach out and connect as well. For example, if you have a few closer residents, try calling in a favor by asking them to be extra friendly. If not, try working them into the conversation to make them feel welcome.
- Make sure to use techniques for welcoming new residents last semester this time around as well. Check back in with new residents periodically to see how they are adjusting, and help them to find resources such as career and involvement fairs, as well as other academic resources.
Feedback and Planning
Residents are more likely to engage when they feel their voices are heard. Try asking your floor for suggestions on different community events they would like to see. For example, ask about what went well throughout the last semester, and what your residents might think could be improved upon.
Personally I like the idea of a suggestion box, or some other form for your residents to leave their thoughts and ideas. Some people might not be as comfortable bringing up their thoughts and concerns in a public setting, but might be more comfortable speaking anonymously. Giving a format like this can often be more productive than not.
Finishing Thoughts
Getting ahead of the new semester by being a social presence can be very impactful to a better hall atmosphere and helping residents settle back into their campus lives.
The new semester might seem more of a chore than the last one at first. The new school year excitement has definitely worn off, and things might feel like they’re going to be more boring than anything else. But hopefully by working together with your residents, the new calendar year can be just as exciting as the new academic year.
