Smith 8- How Great!!

If you know me at all, you knew this post was coming. So did I. I just didn't know when it would come or if I would ever have all the right words to say. I still doubt I can completely define what it meant to be the Smith 8 RA for 3.6667 school years.

So now I'm homesick for a place that will never be mine again.

I've officially lived in Eastside Suites for a week now and I am realizing just how much I took my time in Smith for granted. For example, I talk to myself ALL THE TIME and I never realized it until I started to get self-conscious that my new suitemate is going to think I am absolutely insane. Also, Harper Dining is officially closed and I will fight anyone who tells me that's not a loss in itself during these already trying times.

Anyway, I have adored being the Smith 8 Resident Assistant and I am devastated that my time there came to a close in such a weird and difficult way. This is not purely based on my absolutely outstanding view of the capitol building and Memorial Stadium (even though I miss it like crazy). It is more about who I got to spend my time with during community builders and random nights in the lobby. (And yes, even Bachelor nights this year.)

Being in one room and on one floor for 3/4 of college gave me a strong connection to the hall and especially my floor. I have stories for every party and get together from each and every year. (When anyone finds out you're an RA, they always ask for a story!) And I have better, deeper memories that I share less often because those moments are special for my residents and me to share.

My first year on Smith 8, my girls had to deal with a new RA dealing with a new RD dealing with a new ADRL and we all found our way together. I describe my first year as the year Smith 8 helped me find myself as an RA. I was on the floor fairly often but was also crazy busy managing classes, my work at The DN/ University Communications and going home to see my then-boyfriend. We got by and my girls will never know how much they meant to me in those random times. The year was a whirlwind and I can honestly say I wasn't the best RA, so I apologize to my girls. I was more dedicated to being friends with my hall staff than I was to making connections with my residents. But to my staff from 2017-18, I love you all to pieces and I can't wait to dance at all of your weddings.


My second year residents helped me find myself as a person. I made connections with this group quickly and with relative ease. So when I got dumped in September and one of my residents (I am still unsure who) saw me tear a photo off of my Where Am I board as I was crying and leaving, they kept an eye out for me. When I came back and they could hear me in my room straight-up heartbroken, they called the Duty RAs to help me out. Let's just say, I have never felt more loved by someone I had met two months prior. This became my dynamic with Smith 8 Year 2. I will go to the grave acknowledging that they helped me more than I helped them in 2018-19. I made great friendships on that floor but it always surprised me how we were able to keep a respectful dynamic. I might have needed their love and support, but I was also still in charge and better not find alcohol in the room. It was amazing.

2019-20 was a rollercoaster. The floor this year was easily my loudest and most rambunctious floor but also the one that I felt most comfortable as an RA with. And thank God for that. This year's floor called themselves my "crackheads" and I would not disagree. I always knew I would end up laughing and wondering what the hell just happened any time more than two or three of them showed up at the same time. I was afraid of coming back for Year 3 because I have heard it's the hardest and I really didn't know how I felt about having another new RD. But I am beyond grateful that I came back and was able to hang out with these girls. They made my job worth doing and I consider them all my giant family. Some of my girls know I have adopted them as sisters and the rest that I was less close to, I know I could consider them a cousin of sorts. But they all belong in my heart and they each mean the world to me.

Because what they don't tell you about being an RA is how hard it is to say goodbye. I have stories of residents that I still see occasionally and I have basically begged everyone to add me on social media so I still get my resident interactions (I just don't have to log them anymore). I actually do care about each of their lives outside of this job, I know that's crazy. But other residents, I haven't heard from since they handed in their room key. That's okay and I understand, it's all a part of the job.

But this year was different. This year move-out hit me like a truck. There were some residents I watched leave and then went back to my room and cried. Some residents I was purposely not around to say goodbye to so I could pretend they'd be back around after they got tired of their parents. And it was all to keep myself going. Normally, I move out with my girls and tell them to say hi if they see me on campus. But this time I stayed until they were all gone and then moved into my suite.


It's not the same over here because Eastside doesn't hold the same significance to me. And I am thankful for that in a weird way. I am thankful because I know Smith 8 was special and what I was able to accomplish with roughly 120 girls can't and won't ever be repeated in the exact same way. Smith 8 was where so many of my most precious memories were made and that means I did something right. Sure, 818 meant the world to me because it was where I had some amazingly intimate moments. But the whole floor holds a giant place in my heart. Because that's where my girls were. And that was home.

So if you've ever heard me complain about my job as an RA, I do stand by those complaints. It is incredibly hard to be an RA. There is absolutely no distinction between work and home and there were many many times I wanted to quit after a dumb duty call in the middle of the night. And yes, I am still a little pissed we never made a Smith 8 handshake or our own hand symbol like Greek life. But, right now I have my rose-colored glasses on and I am not thinking about the job when I say I miss Smith 8. I am thinking about the people that made Smtih 8 what it was and will forever be in my heart.

So if you were ever my resident, just know I seriously love you and I am ALWAYS one message away. I am 100% here for you because I stand by the "once your RA, always your RA" mentality.



Thanks for reading,
♥ Christa Rahl
Smith 8 RA