[aesop_chapter title=”Business as Usual” bgtype=”img” full=”on” img=”http://jolineblais.net/nmd343/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/UMAINE14.jpg” video_autoplay=”play_scroll” bgcolor=”#888888″ maxheight=”300px” revealfx=”inplaceslow” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
Across the desk there was a collage of notes;
room checks due,
meeting at 7,
project due Thursday…
The stack of paper on my desk was nearly an inch thick. On top there was a flyer:
Prepare your room for spring closing,
The room was silent, save for the busy clacking of a keyboard.
hang posters today
I scribbled onto a sticky note before placing it on the wall. A hot cup of tea sat atop a reminder,
schedule one on one meetings.
A jacket slid off the bed and hit the floor. I raised the tea to my lips, still hot. A few nervous knocks rang out from my door. Through the peephole I saw a small group of students waiting outside my room, visibly troubled.
“Does this mean we have to leave campus?” a girl in the back of group asked the others.
“Do you think he even knows what’s going on?” asked another student,
“There’s no way they didn’t tell the RAs, right?”.
I pulled open the door. “Hey guys, something I can help you out with?” The flurry of questions was disorienting, I set my tea down on the desk.
“Are they seriously going to kick us off campus with no warning?” asked one of the students, the group echoed the question.
“Don’t worry, I’m not sure of the specifics right now, but I’m sure my boss will know” I replied.
[aesop_image img=”http://jolineblais.net/nmd343/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/pexels-photo-1629212.jpeg” panorama=”off” align=”left” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]As I hurried across campus to the complex office, anxious students lined the sidewalks.
“I don’t understand what’s even going on, why didn’t anyone tell us sooner?” One walker muttered into her phone.
Two students were loading up their car in front of the building, “We might as well get out of here sooner rather than later” one said to the other. A few other cars were hurriedly loaded and took off. I squeezed through the doorway as a student passed me carrying a stack of boxes
“You’re headed the wrong way man; didn’t you hear they’re kicking us out because of corona.” He said.
[aesop_image img=”http://jolineblais.net/nmd343/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-26-at-1.19.58-AM.jpg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
With a few sharp clicks, I punched in my pin and entered the office. My boss Trina sat behind her desk in the empty room.
“So, what’s going on?” I began, before even sitting down.
“I’m not sure, seems like we all found out at the same time” Trina replied.
“What’s this mean for our jobs? what’s our responsibility here? What do we tell the residents?” I rattled off every question that came to mind.
I wish I had answers for you, just continue business as usual until we find out more” Trina replied.
“And when students come to me for help?” I challenged.
“Tell them you don’t know anything they don’t at this point.” Trina concluded. Unsatisfied, I left for my room.
On my way back, several students asked me what was going on;
“You’ve got to have some answers for us right?”
All I could do was reread my script; “I’m sorry, I know things are hectic right now, but unfortunately I don’t know anything you don’t yet, I’ll update you if that changes.” I don’t know anything you don’t. For the first time during my time as an RA, I didn’t have the answer, and neither did anyone else.
Continue business as usual until we find out more.
This line stuck with me more than any other. Continue “business as usual” as students leave campus without more than a few days’ notice. Continue “business as usual” as I’m forced to tell every resident who approaches me that I can’t help. Continue “business as usual” while trying to figure out what my responsibilities are without any guidance.
Room checks due, meeting at 7. A stack of fliers slid into the recycling bin. Prepare your room for spring closing. Hang posters today. The tea still sat on my desk, cold. Schedule one on one meetings. The room was silent. I walked the hallways, dead silent. I sat behind the desk. RA on duty. A resident assistant without any residents.
[aesop_parallax img=”http://jolineblais.net/nmd343/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Hart-Hall-exterior-5-1024×680.jpg” parallaxbg=”on” captionposition=”bottom-left” lightbox=”off” floater=”off” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”none” overlay_revealfx=”off”]Over spring break, I remained in the dorm. Someone had to stay on duty for the week. No boss, no schedule, no residents. What were my responsibilities now that I was alone? I walked the hallways twice a day, perhaps just to make myself feel busy. The first few days were full of nervous energy. I caught myself more than once walking to the desk to visit the RA on duty before realizing it was still me. I began pulling posters off the walls;
Start studying for finals,
50 things to do in Maine before you graduate.
After walking the halls, I returned to my room. The web of sticky notes was gone. There were no flyers to hang up. The room was silent. No meetings to attend, nothing to plan. My jacket has hung neatly in the closet. If I had a duty log, it’d read: all clear, uneventful night. I made myself a cup of hot tea and settled in for the night.
[aesop_image img=”http://jolineblais.net/nmd343/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/pexels-photo-1409439.jpeg” panorama=”off” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
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