Caregiver at Heart
At young age, Claudia Bonney Amamoo always knew she loved taking care of people.
When her parents would have to go out or work late, she would stay home with her two younger siblings to babysit. This is where she learned how soothing caretaking is for her.
Bonney currently works at the University of Montevallo as a Residence Assistant. The primary purpose of her job is caring for students. She does this by caring for their safety and helping them feel connected during the school year. Even through the pandemic, Bonney is working to keep students connect in creative ways.
A typical day for a resident assistant begins at six in the afternoon RA Bonney said. During a normal semester, RAs are required to be on duty one afternoon out of the week. “We check all the doors in the building, making sure all the alarms are working. Check if the fire extinguishers are in the green and walking around checking on residents.”
Though last semester and the current semester have been anything but normal for Bonney. The pandemic and COVID has shifted and changed how college campuses function as well. The university has adopted new guidelines specifically for housing and residents. Also, all resident assistants were given specific training related to handling the pandemic she said. “We had a weeklong training session, where coordinators from on-campus facilities talk to us about social distancing and essentials we needed.”
Claudia admitted the pandemic has affected some of her thoughts about being an RA and some of her duties as an RA. “You have twice as much to do and you have to pay specific attention.”
She is now required to cite students for not wearing mask. The residential halls allow student to remove their mask only when they are eating or drink. Bonney believes this is the rule student use as an escape route from wearing a mask. “A lot of students will hold drinks in their hands just to pretend their eating,” She said, “Which causes me to be conflicted, am I supposed to write them up? What should I do?”
Since this is a semester like no other, the feeling of isolation is on the rise. Bonney expresses she is extremely concerned for on-campus students. “Especially for the new students who moved in last year. They had to make friends during a pandemic, which is extremely difficult,” She said.
To combat this isolation, she has given out her phone number to her residents. She tells the students they can always talk if their feeling lonely, have concerns or just want to chill Bonney said.
One of the primary parts of Bonney’s job is helping students feel connected and entertained on-campus. Normally, the lobbies of residence halls are filled with students gathering to participate in a variety of events. Though last semester there was a drawback of programs by the resident assistants because they were unsure of what they could and could not do Bonney said. This semester things will be a little different.
Bonney said she is currently planning a program on the fourth. “It’s a DIY stress ball event, we are trying to make it COVID safe. So, items will be in test kits for residents to come pick-up and put it together themselves.”
Bonney and other RAs are also working on a virtual event for residents to participate in. She compared it to the popular board game “Clue.” Students will be able to search for clues to find out who the murder is. However, resident assistants are not the only ones allowed to come up with program ideas. Bonney says residents are encouraged to provide suggestions too, by contacting her or another RA.
Even though bulletin boards were a part of her job before the pandemic, Bonney says using her creativity with the boards is one of her favorite parts of being an RA.
Despite social distancing, she likes to think she connect with students through her bulletin boards throughout the hall she lives on. “I’m currently doing one for Valentine’s Day, it’s about love languages,” She said, “Something cute, but also gives students more information about the subject.”
Bonney feels connected to her residents, but it is the little things she misses before the pandemic. “We can’t really chit-chat. It’s difficult to console a resident or something because you can’t be in any physical proximity, “She said, “It may seem cold, but it’s just to protect each other.”
Bonney is continuing to work to keep her residents feeling connected during the pandemic. Even when it is difficult, and decisions must be made. Weather it is at home with her two younger siblings, or with the students living in her assigned residential hall, she is a caregiver at heart.
