Day in the Life of a Residential Adviser (RA)
October 16, 2024 by Sarah Ungerer
Ever wonder what it’s like to be an RA at the University of Washington? See how Sarah, a recent 2024 graduate, balanced this responsibility with her academics and personal life.
Hi everyone! My name is Sarah, and I just recently graduated from the University of Washington with a major in Communication and minor in Business Administration. Over the last few years, I have been an RA in multiple residential buildings, including Stevens Court Apartments, McCarty Hall, and most recently in Elm Hall. Let's walk through what a day in my life as an RA looked like!
7 a.m. – Rise & Shine in Elm Hall
In order to wake up at the right time, I set multiple alarms on my phone. I usually have 6:30 a.m., 6:40 a.m., 6:50 a.m. and 7 a.m. in the regular rotation on my phone. Sometimes, it can be difficult to get my day started, but I always feel productive when I get up early. To give myself a few extra minutes in bed, I make sure to lay out my clothes and jewelry and pack my gym bag the night before.
7:30 a.m. – Gym Session @ Fitness Center West
It’s time to work on building some muscles! I love using Fitness Center West, the student gym in Elm Hall that is exclusively open to students who live on campus. There is plenty of equipment for both strength training and cardio exercises. Normally, I spend about one hour in the gym 3-4 times per week. Once I’m done, I grab a Quest protein bar from District Market, Alder to replenish my energy.
9 a.m. – Studying
After taking a shower and getting ready for the day, I usually spend a few hours doing homework assignments, applying to full-time jobs (for after graduation) and completing weekly RA tasks before my classes start. Today, I worked on a midterm paper and wrote a weekly email newsletter for my residents.
11:30 a.m. – Class @ the HRC
My only class for the day is INFO 102: Gender and Information Technology! This quarter, the course is held in the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health. I like to make a quick stop at Starbucks to grab a coffee before class.
12:30 p.m. – Lunch @ Cultivate
Ready to grub! My friend Becca and I are at Cultivate, a gastropub-style restaurant in Elm Hall. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients from the UW farm, which makes the food even more delicious. I appreciate having another great dining option on West Campus. Today, we ordered grilled cheese, fries, avocado toast and tomato soup!
1 p.m. – Work @ Terry Hall
After lunch, I take a short stroll to the Housing & Food Services (HFS) offices in Terry Hall, where I work as a marketing assistant. I work around 15 hours per week, and my main responsibilities include photography, market research and copywriting. I often collaborate with other student workers on various projects.
6 p.m. – RA Event Night
RAs organize and manage various events for their residents on a regular basis. In the past, I have hosted pancake brunches, de-stress coloring sessions, game nights and cookie decorating. Today, I’m going around to each room with a cart of hot cocoa and apple cider to offer a warm drink to my residents. This informal approach is a great way for me to chat and catch up with them while also providing them with a comforting beverage.
7 p.m. – Dinner @ Local Point
My boyfriend and I usually get together on school evenings to have dinner and hang out. Today, we went to our favorite spot at Local Point: Tero. They serve unique bowls that are both flavorful and heart healthy. We both like to order The Gram Bowl with turmeric rice and chicken. The avocado tahini dressing is my favorite part!
7:30pm – More Studying or a Movie
We like to end our days with some studying or by watching a movie. During midterms and finals we often find ourselves working on practice problems or writing papers for hours. However, we’re grateful to have a lighter week and we’re looking forward to winding down with The Hunger Games.
11 p.m. – Goodnight!
After my boyfriend leaves for the night, I like to tidy up my space, pack my bags and set out clothes for the next morning. I follow a quick skincare routine before spending some time scrolling through my phone before bed.
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