In addition to competing in the case study, Jean-Paul and Mobisa presented at a conference workshop on balancing workload and self-care as RAs. They highlighted that RAs are meant to be connectors and often the first line of support, though some find themselves stretched too thin.

Jean-Paul explained, “In our talk, I basically walked them through it step by step: you’re a person first, then a student, then an employee, and finally an RA. So where does your RA role fit in after all of that? We kind of forced them to reframe their perspective.”

During these networking experiences, KCAI RAs have learned that a challenge at many schools is that RAs are constantly pulled in multiple directions. They’re expected to fill gaps and take on roles as therapist, paramedic, mentor. They essentially become the primary person students turn to.

“But our school is very different,” Mobisa said. “We have clear boundaries about what we’re responsible for and what falls to someone else. We’re not their therapists, but if a student needs support, the counseling center becomes a partner resource. That’s what we focused on in our presentation: how to maintain self-care not just with a busy schedule, but also when unexpected situations pop-up.”

For example, some of Van Roekel’s more introverted traits helped her connect with other students who feel the same way. Because she understood the personal tension between wanting to connect and worrying about intruding, it allowed her to build community in a more relaxed, conversational way.

“It’s been really inspiring and has become a running theme for me,” she said. “Not just as an RA, but in my schoolwork and in life in general. It’s important not to focus on traits you think hold you back, but instead to find ways to use them to your advantage, if that makes sense.”