When you think about life in an honors dorm, what comes to mind? Most likely you never even considered it an option. Even if you are a member of the honors program it was probably never near the top of your list. You probably think, "Who would live there? It must be so boring,” or, "I'm going to live with a bunch of nerds. I want to have fun.” To that I say, "Same.” When I was an incoming freshman at UNH and I heard I was going to be living in Hubbard 302, a built-up triple, I was so disappointed. First of all, just thinking about living in a built-up triple was awful, but Hubbard? Really? The honors dorm? I was already concerned about making friends and thought because I would be living in Hubbard, people would be too focused on school to ever want to do anything fun. But my main worry was that people would be too serious and stuck on themselves and I wouldn't find anyone like me.
After only my first week in Hubbard, my opinion had almost completely changed. And especially after my first semester I had wondered why there was ever a worry in my mind. Yeah, the dorm is older than a lot of the others on campus. The lack of AC is pretty inconvenient during those first and last few weeks of the year. Trying to do laundry on the weekends is almost impossible. Besides these incredibly minor downfalls of living here, there's no way I could have picked a better dorm to spend my first year in. Despite most of us being incredibly focused on school, that doesn't stop anyone from having a good time.Most people who live in Hubbard would say the dorm itself is decent at best, but the people who live there make it an amazing place to be. If you have hobbies or interests that people at home would consider "nerdy,” or even if you don’t, chances are in Hubbard someone will have the same interests. It is very likely that early on in the year, you will find a group of people who you have so much in common with. And everyone who I've come across is very kind, accepting and friendly. Even if I've never spoken a word to someone and I pass them in the hall, they will smile and say hello.
Something I've come to appreciate the most about Hubbard is that everyone is so goofy and most of us are able to be nothing but ourselves. I don’t think I’ve met people with a better sense of humor in my whole life. Meeting so many different types of people for the first time can be overwhelming, but after the awkward first couple of days are over, it is incredible how quickly we all become comfortable with each other. Judgmental and unaccepting people are hard to come by in Hubbard, so it is easy to let your sense of humor and your personality out in front of complete strangers.
One thing you may be wondering about is the party scene in Hubbard. Well, that’s basically nonexistent. Not to say my floor-mates and I haven’t taken care of sick friends late at night and nobody goes out, but Hubbard still is a relatively quiet dorm compared to the freshman dorms and others on campus. And because it is fairly quiet, focusing on schoolwork is easier than I imagine it would be in other dorms on the weekends. Hubbard is for the type of person who would spend a night playing games and cracking jokes. The types of parties on my floor included a group of ten people crowded in a dorm room surrounded by food and watching Netflix or telling stories or the study parties in the hallway or the third floor bike room accompanied by smooth jazz music. Some of these nights are the ones I remember fondly. This may not appeal to everyone, but don’t knock it until you try it.
So when looking for a dorm, don’t let the description turn you away. Don’t let the words, “honors dorm” rule it out. Honors students are not boring by any standards. The memories I have made during my first year are so valuable to me and I know some of my floor-mates are friends I could have for the rest of my life. It is hard to say how this year would have been different if I chose to live somewhere else, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Not everyone has had the same reaction to living in the honors dorm, but if you come in expecting the worst, you will get the worst. Embrace the honors dorm for its good qualities and you will be surprised at the type of experience you will have.