Let's be real. Living in the dorms really was not "living on your own." You were living with nearly 300 people in close quarters to you. Now, though you may have roommates but you have your own bills and duties to do. Moving off campus is a big move, no pun intended, and it comes with many new responsibilities.
1. You have to pay rent... and utilities... and cable... and wifi.
Even if some of these things are included in your rent, you still are responsible now for paying monthly for the roof you live under. The perk is, now you can pull the "under my roof" card your parents have definitely pulled on you before.
2. You have to go grocery shopping for yourself.
Instead of just needing snacks for your room, now you need to completely supply food for yourself for EVERY meal. Let's be real, you're going to live off of ramen noodles and Easy Mac for part of the year, maybe all, but so will the rest of us.
3. You probably live further away from classes now so you probably need a bike.
You may live basically on campus at 1414 Pine, or you may be at the Hive or on Main Street. If you are at the latter, you probably will be bringing a bike so it does not take 20 minutes to get to class.
4. Therefore you will have to get up earlier to commute to class.
Even if you do have a bike, winter will come and you will have to walk to class at some point. At that time, you will have to probably leave 20 minutes before just to get to class on time.
5. You are not right down the hall from all of your friends.
Dorm life was nice to live literally doors or a hallway away from some of your closest friends, but now you are blocks apart instead. You will now have to take turns on who's turn it is to take the walk.
6. There are no more front desk pizzas at 2 a.m.
These desk pizzas were a life saver on late weekend nights and tasted like perfection. Now, you'll have to cook that late night pizza yourself, so remember to turn off the oven.
7. You will not be as close to Mondo's anymore for an 11 p.m. late night studying sub run.
Their late hours were a blessing and a curse. You probably did not need those late night carbs but they were a comfort food when you only felt like crying after long nights of studying.
It's time to actually be an adult now that you are on your own. Have fun but remember, don't trash your place too much. You'll want that cash security deposit back at the end of the year.
