Hutner Bellina

What made you want to be a #49erRA and how has the role prepared you for life after college?

Being a 49er RA has been a great experience to learn about myself as well as to learn skills that I can bring with me into the real world. The job itself is very involved and you will quickly get to know the people of your building, community and your Co-RA's due to the relationships that start forming from the very first day of training. I have made so many close friends and connections from being an RA and being a part of the Housing and Residence Life team that I couldn't imagine my day to day activities without. The HRL staff also care for us not only as RA's but also as students and just people in general. All of the people I work with and work for always are looking out for me and making sure I have everything I need to succeed. We lift each other up and hold each other accountable when it comes to stuff like meeting deadlines and even simple stuff like if we are doing good in our classes. It is always great to have another hand on your back pushing you to strive for greatness and success as a student and as a person, and that is exactly what being an RA does!

How do you manage your academics with your job?

Managing my academic workload with my role as an RA was definitely a challenge when I started the job. It definitely takes a high level of discipline and determination to see your work through instead of just putting it off, but the stress off of your shoulders is definitely worth it if you ask me. When you keep up with your work you find that you have more time to be a part of the community, go to more events, and connect with the residents of your building more, so the payout is pretty good if you ask me. Plus it is so satisfying to be able to kick your feet up on the weekends and relax when you keep up with your work and stay disciplined during the week rather than rushing to complete your work before the next week starts.

Why do you recommend living on campus to other students?

I most definitely would recommend living on campus if you get the chance! You will always have an opportunity to meet people in your community whether it be from all of the different events and building programs that we as RA's host throughout the year here or just by hanging out in the building and doing stuff like playing games in the lounges that each building has. I firmly believe that there is something for everyone here on campus and it is our job as RA's strive to make it a place that you will want to stay in and return to. Living on campus also has its perks like easy access to any academic help you may need, being close to a state of the art gym, and having tons of other campus resources at your disposal just steps away from your door. I have personally found myself living better on campus as well as I am accountable for myself as a person so I have been working out more, watching what I eat, and taking time to look after my mental and physical wellbeing all by using the different resources available to us as students during my time on campus.

What have you learned about yourself and others since starting the RA position?

Being a 49er RA has taught me so many things that I use to my advantage every day. It has taught me how to be more organized in not just my student responsibilities but also in a workload sense, and how to correctly commit my time to maintain a level of stress that is healthy for getting things done but not too much to where I get overwhelmed. Being an RA here has also taught me just how much power my voice can carry and how much I alone can get done or accomplish, which has helped tremendously when it comes to being a leader and being a peer resource to my residents. This job has also taught me about considering other people's situations and upbringings. One thing that you will often have happen when you live with other people is you will get upset when something happens and it is not how you want it to be. The trash doesn't get taken out when you want it to, the dishes don't get done how you do them, it happens to us all, and I am no exception. Through the training provided to me as an RA I have been able to become more mindful that other people come from different backgrounds and upbringings, and that we have to respect these differences in order to grow together as people and as a community. This also does not just apply to differences in living styles as I have learned through my time as an RA, but any differences between another person to myself should always be respected and thought of before making a judgement on something.