November 7, 2022
A sophomore at Shawnee State University, Haley Null (Hometown: Greenfield, Ohio) chose to become a Resident Assistant (RA) on campus to help other students navigate college life.
“I wanted to be that person for people to look up to and to also be a friend when needed,” she said, noting that her own RA her freshman year helped her adapt to college. “It makes my heart happy when I can make someone's day better.”
Exploring her new role on campus, Hull is happy that she’s been able to make new friendships with her RAs and residents alike. Creating those relationships with others has allowed her to expand her outlook on campus and develop a new perspective for different aspects of her life.
“I would have to say my time management has gotten much better than before,” she said, noting that she’s been able to develop different skills in the position. “Being in the nursing program and being an RA, it's a lot, but finding a way to time manage has helped me and I like the challenge.”
As a first-year RA, Null encourages other students interested in the position to take time to learn more about it and apply for the job. Throughout this semester, she’s enjoyed being able to get to know her residents more every day.
“The people I get to work with daily are truly amazing,” she said. “Being an RA teaches you life skills you may never thought you would need and it is very rewarding.”
RAs at SSU oversee a group of residents in campus housing, serving as a mentor and friend to students while answering any questions they might have about the university of living on campus. RAs are on-call to assist residents across campus one night every other week as well as one weekend a month, while planning and hosting events for residents to enjoy in their campus housing area.
To learn more about Resident Assistants at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/housing.