On March 29, 2026, with ten seconds left on the clock, University of Connecticut (UConn) men’s basketball team was trailing Duke by three points in the Elite Eight.
(If you’re not a sports person, stay with me. It’ll make sense soon).
Silas Demray Jr. from UConn made one of two free throws knocking the lead down to two-points. Most believed the game was over as seconds ticked by once the ball was inbounded. All Duke needed to do was hold the ball. Then something unexpected happened. Duke turned over the ball and with less than three seconds left, Braylon Mullins from UConn released a shot from deep outside the three point line and it went in with less than a second left. They had won the game.
Sometimes, as the academic calendar winds down and summer is looming, student leaders and Resident Assistants (RAs) can get a case of “well the year is over so it doesn’t really matter now.” This can happen as early as January for those on a two-semester schedule. As the end of anything nears, priorities can shift and what used to seem important doesn’t anymore. This is not uncommon.
However, this is a mistake that should be avoided at all costs. A significant change at the end of your time as an RA can leave a negative impression on your fellow RAs and your supervisor. After an RA graduates or chooses to leave their position, their next chapter may require a letter of recommendation or a reference from their last supervisor. RAs gain a variety of skills that are transferable to other fields (link an article about this if there is) and having a positive relationship with your supervisor can lead to a positive recommendation. But an RA who chooses to slack off at the end can negatively impact a supervisory relationship.
How a person chooses to end the year as an RA says just as much, if not more, than how they started it. It is easy to think that after Spring Break or mid-March it’s okay to coast, but students need the support of student leaders throughout the entire year. Residents may have a better understanding of how systems at the university function but they are still navigating inter- and intra-personal conflicts. They are still seeking support, engagement, or an encouraging word.
The end of an academic year can bring immense stress to all students, especially student leaders. Instead of ignoring responsibilities, talk with your supervisor about ways to stay grounded and manage everything if you are feeling overwhelmed. If you are graduating or reaching a term limit of your position, talk to your supervisor about how to balance end of year celebrations with your responsibilities. Showing thoughtfulness and attention to a position even at the end will give your supervisor more to talk about in a recommendation.
UConn went on to win a game where they only held the lead for less than a second. Even with odds stacked against them and commentators talking about how well they had done in the season they did not give up. They played until the final buzzer leaving everyone shocked, including themselves.
What would it look like for you to do the same?
