Everyone has those special dormitory memories from freshman year: that terrible roommate who transferred, those late-night lounge study sessions, the crazy bonfire at the end of term.
Just like everyone else, I have fond memories of my first year here at the University. But at the same time, I understand that college is about a series of steps in personal growth that continues until graduation.
Dorms, while an excellent place to live in your first year away from home and an awesome way to make new friends, are very controlled environments. If you think about it, you have no real responsibility, apart from going to class and having a good time. Food is covered through your meal plan, which means you don’t have to know how to cook. A staff of custodians keeps the bathrooms and hallways clean of debris, and a wide assortment of dumpsters and recycling bins makes getting rid of your trash an easy experience. Doing your washing means a quick walk downstairs with your laundry card.
For me, the real housing experiment was the apartment I moved into as a sophomore. Three guys and I rented a quad through Capri Apartments, and there were several immediate differences between our new accommodations and the security of the dorm lifestyle.
First of all, you don’t have the comfort of a meal plan to make getting dinner easy. This can be rather disconcerting at first; two weeks into life in my new abode, I realized I was eating pizza four nights a week so I didn’t have to do any cooking. But preparing food really isn’t that difficult, and I’m now making my own meals five days a week. Not only is it more cost-effective, but I also find some weird enjoyment in making and providing my
own sustenance.
Another difference is the independence of having your own place. Don’t get me wrong; I loved most of the people in my dorm. My current roommates are all from the same wing I was: Hamilton Complex, third floor of Collier. Most of the people I socialize with are either from my old high school or friends from freshman year. But at the same time, every student needs that quiet location where he or she can study or relax. Everybody should have a pad they can invite people back to without having to worry about the embarrassing floormate who always irritates your friends, blundering in and starting a redundant conversation.
Finally, there is the issue of cleanliness. When you share an apartment with your friends, there is no janitor to scrub out the toilets and bathtub for you. Friendships have been destroyed in the bitter struggle over whose turn it is to do the dishes. It’s no laughing matter. I myself have been engaged in a shower-cleaning feud; throughout the first two terms of my sophomore year, no one would man up and disinfect the tub. It got so bad that using other people’s showers become a seriously considered option. Eventually, however, a roommate caved in and bleached the bathtub over winter break.
If you do decide the apartment experience is the option for you, make sure you pick a group of roommates who will agree to set ground rules for personal hygiene and cleanliness and create a rotating schedule for basic chores, such as removing trash and washing dishes so that everyone shares the workload.
Essentially, the transition from dorm to apartment building is relatively smooth if you have a cooperative group of friends as roommates and an appetite for a little extra work. For me, it was the only logical step after a year in the residence halls. I got to bond with some select friends and gained experience and responsibility from maintaining my own personal space.
That’s what it really boils down to: the ability to develop self-reliance and confidence in your personal choices, and the opportunity to build friendships that will last a lifetime.
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