How Any Resident Can Make Their Floor a Community
Sure, I may be a Resident Assistant (RA), but more importantly, I am a student who has lived in traditional dorms for five semesters now. I have had so many different experiences with each floor, from the first-year time spent getting to know campus in Dilworth to a sophomore semester spent in my first single-gender floor in Kistler. A lot of students (not just first-year residents) begin their semester wondering how they can get to know their floormates and create real, lasting friendships. Here are some of my top tips for creating a community on your floor.
Stay active in group chat(s): You can only see other people in your hall in person so often when you all have class, work, homework, and other responsibilities to take care of. On GroupMe, though, new notifications are only seconds away! I encourage my residents to use our GroupMe as a communal space just like they would anywhere else; we create inside jokes, complain about the seemingly infinite number of fire drills in Dilworth Hall, and offer each other extra snacks or ask to borrow the most random of things! Speaking of which…
Offer and accept what you can: Anytime I have some snacks leftover that I know I won’t get around to eating, I always offer my floor mates their pick, and my residents do the same in return. This isn’t limited to just food, but this year alone, we’ve left each other posters, bags of chips, boxes of Yoohoo, and stickers. On the flip side, when anyone needs something, hall mates are a great place to start. On more than one occasion, I’ve dropped off supplies like tape and plastic utensils, and received oddities like face paint and pipe cleaners when I needed them.
Attend events or suggest your own: A key goal for your RA is to plan events that interest and excite you and everyone else in your hall. With this in mind, try to consistently attend events and see what they have to offer! You might make a new friend, or try bringing a friend along with you to connect with more people. If none of the events around you interest you, people on campus want to know that! Reach out to your RA or even SGO with any ideas of your own, because your feedback as a student is the most important on campus.
Utilize shared space(s): The next time you walk into a lounge that’s already occupied, instead of turning and finding somewhere else to eat or study, try sitting down and maybe having a chat with those around you! You can also host impromptu events, like movie nights with the door left open, or a note left on the door inviting others inside. The lounge, lobby, hall, or wherever you are will only be as inviting as you make it.
Celebrate successes: Did you see a floormate of yours get posted on the official Arcadia Instagram page? Or maybe you saw their artwork in a gallery around campus, or they were the MVP of their last game, or they won a contest in the Dining Hall for some free Arcadia merch? Give them a shoutout! Creating that sense of family is all about lifting each other up. One of the smallest but most meaningful ways to do this is to wish each other a Happy Birthday when you can, if your hall decor has a birthday bulletin board. Little ways of saying “Hey, there are people looking out for you and celebrating you here” could be the things that lift someone up during a hard time.
Remember: You don’t have to be the best of friends with every single person in your hall. Just learning people’s names and giving friendly waves speaks volumes in creating an inclusive environment! There is no pressure to put yourself out there if that’s not your style, but like I said earlier, your hall will only be as inviting as you make it.
