Being an RA ~ Vida Bonita

In honor of the birthday of one of my favorite residents, Brock, I thought I would write a little blog about a few adventures of being an RA at OSU.

It was my fifth year in college and I had just turned 22. I decided to sign up to be an RA (Resident Assistant) because I didn't want to spend a ton of money on living expenses. I wanted to pay my tuition, enjoy my last year, and move on. I really didn't take the whole thing that seriously because I had already established myself in college, had tons of friends, a boyfriend, and a job. This was really a monetary venture for me. I was assigned to one of the suites and fortunately had a 2 bedroom apartment to myself. Little did I know that I was going to be living in the middle of a crazy sandwich.

The night of the first "floor meeting" I tried to be "firm" and set down the ground rules. I knew inevitably some of these kids were going to break the rules. My hope was that if I seemed very serious that they would at least break fewer of them, or at least be smart enough to be quiet when they did break the rules. All in all, my kids were pretty good kids. At this first meeting, I sat next to a kid who looked like a member of the band "Weezer". This was Brock. I guess he was impressed that I knew who Weezer was, because we were good pals from then on. He had parents that made him very prepared for college. They had every type of baking utensil you could imagine, so I frequently borrowed their stuff.

Brock would always ask "What would happen if......" trying to test the limits one what they would get away with. I always replied with something along the lines of "You don't want to know. I will show you no mercy. It will be bad and I will be furious". In reality, I didn't really care as long as I didn't have to call an ambulance and fill out paperwork. So Brock and his friend Brian ( who is also a very sweet boy, and the much calmer of the two) lived to the right of me. Well they decided to become friends with the boys to the left of me, with whom I also shared a wall. This is when my life as an RA became ridiculous.

They were always asking if they could have a camp out in my room. I always said no because I would only imagine this huge fort they would build. One time after they got their Christmas presents, they came over to show me. They had these "machine gun" nerf guns and they all ganged up on me and relentlessly shot me with nerf darts.

Another time Brock came over and sprayed me with Febreez like it was a cute game. That was something he never got back. Little punk.

Dylan had this ridiculous paper to write for History. It didn't seem that ridiculous to me because I don't mind writing papers. I went to the library and we hung out in the lounge and I helped him work on it for a few hours. He paid me $60. I bought some make up. I still really love that make up. One of the best deals I have ever made.

One day when it was really bad weather and we were sure there was going to be a tornado, we all hung out in Brock and Brian's room. They showed me the video from Brian's cruise where he sang "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen and I still think of him in that crazy outfit every time I hear it.

One of the scariest days was when I got a call from my boss when I was in class and he asked me if I had seen Brock. I said not today. I immediately called all of his friends and they said his phone was off. Brock's parents had gotten a strange voice mail saying that Brock was hurt and they had called the school and were on their way to Stillwater. I called the hospital to make sure he hadn't hurt himself on his skateboard (yeah, he's one of those kids. Skinny jeans included). They didn't have him admitted. I found out his class schedule, left my class and then road my bike across campus to his class. It was some class about movies. So it was dark. I'm looking around this classroom like a fool during a movie, and there's Brock. On the front row (see, he's a good kid). I pulled him out of class. CALL YOUR MOM! Turns out it he was fine and it was some kids playing a prank. That day was crazy. His parents love me now. They give me credit for saving his life.. I think. I really just found him. All in a days work as an RA.

One thing I will never forget was after the first weekend that everyone went home at the beginning of the year, Brock and Brian came to my room and said they had a surprise. I was immediately nervous. They came to my door with one of those Betty Crocker microwave brownie desserts with a 23 candle for my birthday. They also gave me an etch-a-sketch. What thoughtful boys! That was the day they became my "kids". I also turned 22 that year.

The day that they checked out (also the day of my graduation) I was getting ready and they told me that they had a present for me. Once again, I was nervous. I came out into my kitchen to see a huge ice chest. I opened it and it was FULL of beer and liquor. They said I could even keep the ice chest. Thanks Guys. They couldn't end the year until they broke the rules. It worked out really well because I had beverages to offer my family when they got there for graduation.

After the year was over, I finally admitted that throughout the year I had broken just about ever rule that I had enforced through out the year. I don't think they were that surprised, but they did want to give me a hard time.

I miss my kids a lot. They're growing up so fast! I hope that they always write home and give me an update on their lives. They made my last year at OSU (in Stillwater) very special.

Happy Birthday Brock!