Over the last month I have been making plans to live off campus. This is a new adventure I have looked forward to for a while now. Finally, I will be able to have my own room! And while it may seem that an upperclassman would be completely over dorm life, I can’t help but reminisce over my favorite memories in the dorms.

While I am so excited to have my own space, I will miss having a roommate. My roommates have seen possibly the best and worst sides of me. They have supported me through tough times and celebrated with me in the good times. We have disagreed, argued and bickered, but are still friends to this day. Having someone to stay up with you to do homework or study for a test, someone willing to go dye hair with you, or simply have a mini-dance party is a blessing. That is what I’ll miss.

Yes, once you have gone to the first week of classes and you look at all of your syllabi it can seem overwhelming - but being invited to a “Syllabus Party” makes it bearable. It gives the chance to commiserate over how insane our student schedules will be. I am always down for good snacks and even better company. That is what I’ll miss.

Opportunities for free food are definitely diminished off campus (compared to on-campus). For the first two years that I lived on campus a kind soul who lived in my dorm would bring baked goods into the lobby on a pretty consistent basis. Just a couple of weeks ago I was in the hallway and a friend handed me a cheeseburger because she bought too much food. The generosity and familiarity I have been surrounded by - that is what I’ll miss.

Either to borrow a book or just to talk, friends will periodically stop by. Some are polite enough to knock, others feel close enough to just burst through the door. It is encouraging to know that others feel welcomed into our clean-yet-messy room. That is what I’ll miss.

Possibly one of the most negatively viewed parts of dormitory life are the mandatory events. I won’t lie: I have complained about them before; but I will miss the community built through them. There is nothing like building relationships by breaking down walls. They give the chance to learn about yourself and from people of different cultures and backgrounds. That is what I’ll miss.

Moving off campus will not cause me to lose friendships, but it is so nice to just walk out into the lobby and find several people to talk with. I like to go out there saying that I will do homework only to get caught up in conversation with people I don’t always get to see. That is what I’ll miss.

I will miss the spontaneity of dorm life. I will miss the camaraderie, the conversations, and the laughter. Dorm life has taught me many valuable lessons. There have been memories made here - That is what I’ll miss … but I am sure that what is ahead will be just as memorable.