Second-year RAs step up to help lead the Hill

Strolling down the hall on the fifth floor of Hedrick Summit, Taylor Briglio casually chats and jokes with residents as they prepare to go to a floor dinner.

The environmental science student is one of a minority of second-year resident assistants on the Hill.

Briglio decided in November of his first year to apply to become an RA, appreciating the sense of community his own RAs created the year before.

Although he served on floor government in Courtside his first year, Briglio said he didn’t expect to be a resident assistant by his second year.

Briglio was initially chosen as an alternative applicant.

But after a brief phone call in June, he found himself in a summer class training to be an RA and learning how to respond to emergency situations and how to engage his floor in various activities ““ for the upcoming school year.

To accommodate UCLA’s largest incoming freshman class, additional RAs were hired to staff Dykstra Hall and other residential buildings for this school year, said Martine Hall, assistant director for the Office of Residential Life.

Second-years generally do not apply for the position ­”“ they are still new to campus when applications are due and may feel they lack necessary experience, Hall said.

While RAs tend to be third- and fourth-years, Hall said students are hired for their ability, and second-years are not discouraged from applying.

Despite the early application date, Briglio said he felt his experience as an Eagle Scout and an active member of the community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega prepared him to handle the responsibilities and leadership role of an RA.

After nearly two months in the role, however, Briglio said his age and year in school has helped rather than undermined his relationships with his predominantly first-year floor.

Because of the smaller age gap, Briglio said residents are more comfortable asking him questions and coming to him for advice.

“Meeting all the residents and getting to know them is the best experience so far,” Briglio said.

Bianca Rosas, a first-year undeclared student living on Briglio’s floor, said he is a mature person who effectively communicates with residents.

“He gets the floor unified and makes an effort to know your name,” Rosas said.

Potentially being the same age as a resident on the floor may be a concern for first-year applicants.

But Reza Hessabi, a fourth-year neuroscience student who became an RA last fall, said second-years who complete their training are already mature enough to be good RAs.

He said the most important traits for an RA to have are listening to residents, helping them solve their problems and approaching floor problems in a relaxed fashion.

“First-time RAs tend to stretch themselves too thin,” Hessabi said. “If you try to do everything 100 percent, you will burn out.”