My daughter has agreed to apply to be an RA for her junior year, but since then, she has become despondent. She says all her friends are moving off-campus and she’ll be “stuck” in a freshman dorm.
I am sympathetic to her concerns since the social aspect of college life is important. On the other hand, my husband and I are making tremendous sacrifices so she can go to her dream school.
She’s generally outgoing, likes socializing and is temperamentally well-suited to an RA position. So, to be completely honest, I’m angry that she’s viewing this opportunity as a burden rather than an opportunity to significantly improve her and our family’s financial situation by taking a job that could be rewarding.
Am I wrong to ask my daughter to apply for this position? If we were a wealthy family, I would never ask, but we are not. I’m afraid she will face greater sacrifices down the road if she enters the work world with substantial debt. -- NOT MADE OF MONEY IN NEW YORK DEAR NOT MADE OF MONEY: Although your daughter is enrolled in a pricey college, she appears to be lacking in financial acumen. If she were more mature, she would recognize that this job would benefit your entire family. Because she isn’t, it is up to you and her father to impress that fact upon her.
Of course socializing in college is important, but taking the RA position won’t entirely preclude that. Being an RA would give her valuable leadership experience, which could help her in the future. Many graduates remember with great fondness the resident assistants they had in college and the guidance they provided.
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