About halfway through my first quarter at Western Washington University and living in the dorms, I thought "oh boy, I've made a mistake." The space was cramped, there was a slew of maintenance issues, I didn't have access to an actual kitchen, and I had to share a bathroom with three other people. You're probably thinking, "Tori, didn't you know what you were getting into when you signed up to live on campus?" Yes, yes, yes -- I knew living arrangements wouldn't be ideal. I had been spoiled growing up; I've always had my own room and never really had to share a bathroom. Being a fairly introverted person, I don't always reach out to new people, so I knew that I wouldn't make friends if I wasn't forced to. That was my main motivation behind living in the dorms. Despite my initial reaction of "this sucks," looking back on my experience, I learned some important lessons, especially from my roommates.
1. Don't lose your room keys.
No one wants to have to pay the $125 fee to get your room lock replaced, and your roommate won't be too happy, either. (Still love you, Soph.)
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2. You'll meet some interesting people.
You're going to have to live with them for the next eight months, so you might as well make a connection with the people in your building. If anything, they'll give you a new point of view.
3. Don't be that person who sings really loud in the hallways.
Same goes for playing music. I can hear you in my room, dude. Please stop.
4. Be considerate.
Don't make someone else clean up after you. It's not cool.
5. Ordering cheesy bread from Pizza Time at 3 a.m. is always a good idea.
Nom nom nom.
6. Passive-aggressive notes are not cool.
But sometimes they're effective.
7. Adapting to a new environment is challenging.
And often daunting, but you'll learn so many things about yourself.
8. Go out and enjoy every moment.
It's so easy to hide away in your room every day, but you'll miss out on so many great opportunities to meet people and experience new things. You don't know unless you push yourself to try.
9. Savor alone time.
Luckily, I got stellar roommates, but being constantly surrounded by the same people can get overwhelming, so finding a spot to be alone is vital. When I'm feeling particularly suffocated, I like to talk a walk in the arboretum.
10. Most importantly, you will meet people who will change your life.
And if you're lucky enough, they'll become your best friends.
I don't know if I would ever willingly sign up to live in a dorm again, but I'm still glad I did.
