Being a Resident Student Assistant (RSA) is one of the best and most rewarding roles you could have as a student. Especially at Marjon where there is already a tight knit community feel, it makes the role easier. All together there are 10 RSA’s, one in every hall of residence and three in the student village who have a duty to promote a positive living environment and wellbeing.

There are many parts to our role including creating a sense of community and making sure the students feel safe and welcome at all times. We are in charge of making sure that new students integrate into student life easily and smoothly. Life at university is not always smooth sailing but don’t worry, we are also here to listen to your concerns whether it be personal or academic and to point you in the right direction. At Marjon we are lucky enough to have a strong student support network to provide advice in areas such as pastoral support, welfare, health, safety and security. Most of the time we will be able to provide you with advice on academic matters as we’ve most likely experienced it.

Alongside the university security team there is always an RSA on duty overnight. We are a point of contact and reference for incidents or issues that occur in halls and the village, involving campus residents. Before the new resident’s step foot on campus, we get training in first aid, mental health awareness, safety procedures and much more to ensure that we have the knowledge to effectively deal with sensitive situations. We are all RSAs because we all had a positive experience living in halls and want to help new residents have the same experience. We understand how daunting it can be especially if you’re moving away from home for the first time but once you get to know your fellow residents it’s an easy ride.

For those of you who are interested in becoming an  RSA, I couldn’t recommend it enough. The job at times can be very demanding but the rewards are countless. All RSAs work closely with and are mentored by the Resident Life Co-ordinators, who ensures us that support and guidance is always readily available.

This role provides you with a chance to make a difference through lending an ear, and ultimately being a first point of contact to your residents. You will be working in an excellent team and the role enables you to gain great leadership skills which will help to make your CV look outstanding. If this isn’t enough, as an RSA you also get reduced rent, so what’s not to like?