Why I Actually Miss Dorm Life
Start writing a post
Student Life

Why I Actually Miss Dorm Life

How living in an apartment has changed my opinion on living in a residence hall.

39
Why I Actually Miss Dorm Life

After surviving three weeks of my second year in college, I have come to the conclusion that there are many differences between freshman and sophomore year than people may assume. Classes are now getting more serious and have harder material, extracurricular activities are now a "must" to build up your resume, students should now be looking into research or study abroad opportunities and an array of other changes. Out of all these changes, the one change that has been most prevalent in my life for good and bad reasons is I am now living in an off-campus apartment rather than an on-campus residence hall.

Weighing the pros and cons of each living situation, even though most people wouldn't admit it, I actually do miss living in a dorm. Although there definitely were things I do not miss about dorm life, such as the fast-spreading sicknesses that would breakout through a whole residence hall and having to wear shower shoes, there are things that I do miss about dorm life that are merely impossible to relive in an apartment.

Having multiple dining halls within residence halls available all day for my convenience is one thing I took advantage of without realizing it until I started living in an apartment. I will admit the food served was nothing close to high-quality food, but it was edible and available for me when I needed it. This year, not only do I have to buy any food that I need, but I also need to spend time looking for recipes and poorly executing these recipes to the best of my ability, which is subpar. Having little experience in the kitchen has become a major disadvantage for me in the first three weeks of living in an apartment.

When you live in a residence hall, you are living with 700 other people in the same building. This means that every day is a new opportunity to run into new people and make friends. Although I love living with three of my closest friends, it was nice to be able to see a variety of people simply walking around the hallways, keep my door open for anyone to come in and chat and to walk into my friend's room and check in on how their day was going. The social scene of apartments is the complete opposite of that in dorm life. People stay in their respective units with no social interaction with their neighbors. This little to no interaction between neighbors puts even more pressure on making friends in classes and extracurriculars.

You know you're living on your own when you need to clean your own bathroom. What 19-year-old knows how to use Drano or any product made by Clorox? Definitely not this 19-year-old or any of her roommates. The residence halls do a great job of spoiling their residents by having someone clean bathrooms each day, vacuum hallways and be there in case of emergencies. In an apartment, you're on your own.

It's a big change to live in an apartment rather than a residence hall while at college. A student who follows the same path as I did goes from a life of being social 24/7 with food available at any time and having someone to clean for you to being thrown into a reality of isolation, cooking, cleaning and independence. Even though eventually everyone needs to live in the reality of an apartment or house, college, especially sophomore year, is the last time to live more like a kid. It's the time to focus on school, social life and extracurricular activities rather than figuring out what you're going to cook for dinner tomorrow night and when you will be able to go to Target to pick up dishwasher cleaner.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71156
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133055
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments