Come on ... you remember them from your freshman year.

Or maybe you still have one, depending on whether you still live in the "residence halls."

Perhaps you were the one who used to roll your eyes when this particular person asked you to turn the music down.

Maybe you were the one who got caught with a handle of Banker's Club or Vladimir's vodka (which in and of itself has to be pretty embarrassing), or had a friend who was patrolling the hall holding a can of Beast or Natural Ice, those newbie college beverage favorites.

Or perhaps you are the kind of person who just wants to avoid this person at all costs.

You're walking to class by the HUB, and suddenly your eyes dart quickly -too quickly- away (but guess what, I saw you), hoping I wouldn't acknowledge you because you were with your friends.

For me to say 'hello' would be, well obviously, embarrassing

Any ideas yet? Ok, I'll just tell you.

The person in question is your Resident Assistant.

It's a funny thing when you're "the RA."

You are often introduced by residents to their friends and family with just a tinge ... just the faintest hint of distaste.

Not by everyone, only by those who would rather fall into a pile of snow than say hi.

Even when you are introduced to others who are of your own peer group while out on the town, some of the more common responses, upon admitting that you are a ResLife employee appear again and again.

"Oh ... an RA? I remember my RA, and I couldn't stand the (expletive here)."

Then there's the always appreciated, "Oh yeah, I never saw my RA. Never did one thing."

And this is my favorite, "Oh yeah, stupid (expletive) caught me drinking with my friends. We had the door open, with a case of (fill in beverage of choice here.)"

Indeed -- perhaps if you didn't have your door open, you wouldn't have been caught by one of the "Narcs."

No, I'm not whining -- it's really not my thing, unless you're wearing a box on your head at a football game.

Which by the way, I enjoyed reading everyone's love letters after that one.

Nope, I'm just merely suggesting that being an RA is a thankless job.

It's no wonder why after two years, or even one year, going home to East Halls everyday is just the bane of some people's existence.

It's a funny thing when you hold a position of authority. It seems that somehow we are elevated to a position of superiority at the same time.

Those who are younger often don't realize that you, too, are human and have interests.

And that the RA might even have the same interests as they do.

Or are, my goodness, more than just "the RA."

I suppose it's reminiscent of the teacher phenomenon.

You know, when students scoff at the idea of their junior high English or high school history teachers having a life in addition to assigning homework.

It does happen.

I'm just suggesting that perhaps "evil" RAs are, maybe, not so ... evil.

Maybe so-called evilness wouldn't even be an issue if residents were slick enough not to get caught or didn't act up in the first place.

Just don't give us something to report. It's that simple.

In every profession there are those who stand out.

The reason I was inspired to be an RA was because of an RA I had my freshman year.

Always ready for a laugh, a dynamic personality, extremely intelligent and great fashion sense, coupled with having a genuine interest in her residents made her the ideal RA.

And I could never understand then why she became so irritated when we always, always, always referred to her as "the RA."

Nope, I'm not saying I'm anywhere close to matching her level either.

But what I am suggesting is that RAs are in fact more than just RAs.

You just have to take the time to get to know us first.