Ryan Dooley

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

Being a RA for the 49ers is absolutely amazing and such a privilege. Throughout the academic year you get the chance to create bonds with residents, host fun events, and create a welcoming community within your hall. It really gives you the chance to help make a difference and help those who need it which is the main reason I was interested my freshman year. It also gives you the chance to grow your own skills while doing all of the awesome things I mentioned above!

How do you manage your academics with your job?

For me it's really all about setting goals and priorities. They help serve as a motivator to get me through most of my weeks. Another tool that I absolutely abuse is Google Calendar because it allows me to keep track of when I need to do certain things without having to remember every last detail. This way I am able to keep track of everything academic, work, or personal that I have coming up!

Why do you recommend living on campus to other students?

Honestly everyone should live on campus at some point! Living on campus gives you so many chances to interact with others and get more involved than you normally would off campus with so many new and fun opportunities. There is always something interesting going on and the adventure never stops!

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

Working as an RA has taught me that I have the potential to do so many things. My entire life I've been mostly introverted and this job has given me the opportunity to really open up and grow my entire character. I've learned how to work with many different types of people from all types of backgrounds and have also discovered my passion for helping people, especially freshmen, through the interactions and experiences from this job.