Columbia College Chicago is located in the South Loop, a lively creative neighborhood in downtown Chicago. It is filled with great resultants, stores, and it is where all the Columbia dorms are located. If you were once a mere freshman living in one of the dorms like me, then you know what it’s like to know nothing about what there is to do in the city for a poor college student. The first few months of college are a bit daunting, you are getting to know your roommate and classmates, you suddenly have a mountain of homework, maybe you're even trying to juggle a part time job as well. What happens a lot is that students get buried in all this stuff and end up never leaving their dorms or the South Loop.

This is unfortunate because there is so much in Chicago to see and do that a lot of Columbia students are missing by staying in their dorms. There are so many things to do in Chicago that students do not take advantage of, did you know as a Columbia student you get free admission to the Art Institute and the Museum of Contemporary Art? Or that if you take the red line up ten stops you’ll find vintage stores and coffee shops galore? Or if you hop on the pink line and take it out to Pilsen you will find the cheapest and best Mexican food in Chicago?

There is so much to explore in Chicago and often times students think they are too busy or too tired to venture out of the South Loop. I am here saying do it. I work and go to school and I know it is time consuming but make time for yourself to go with a friend and explore parts of the city you haven't seen before, trust me - you won’t regret it. I mean you pay enough to go to school in the city might as well make the most of it. There is so much out there that will inspire you and you might even relieve a little stress along the way.

So next time you think about going home to lay in bed and watch Netflix after class, text your friend instead and hop on the CTA, get off at whatever stop catches your eye and explore. You never know whats out there until you go and find it.