A messy college dorm room. Anyone would expect it from the average college student. Everyone would definitely expect it from me. But is it possible to keep all that messiness contained to your side of the room?
Yes. Yes it is.
You walk into the dorm, and happen across two of the most opposite sides of a room you can possibly imagine. On one side, there's a neatly-made bed, with the pillows set up in the most intricate pyramid. It's even all neatly organized underneath the bed. Boxes are stacked on the far side closet to the wall, and the shoes are together on a shoe rack. A curtain hides the contents of the closet, while the desk is spotless. There's a small blue lamp in the corner, and on the other side is a cup of pens. Above sit the aligned textbooks, usually going from tallest to shortest. That's my roommate's side.
On the other side, well, it's not as orderly as you'd expect. The bed's blankets are all scrunched up, or hanging off the bed. There's usually a pillow on one end of the bed, or on the floor. Stuffed animals are scattered across it, covered by discarded pajamas or other various outfits. Underneath the bed suitcases lay open, still unpacked from spring break. Dirty dishes sit on top of dusty drawers, waiting to be washed, and there's an overflowing laundry basket with the odd sock on the floor next to it. I'd do my laundry, but I don't have enough quarters just yet.
An empty backpack hangs from the back of my desk chair, and folders, notebooks, trash and plants line the desk. There's a rainbow of pens, pencils and crayons scattered across the desk on an open journal page, which sits on top of a sticker-covered, silver laptop. Hair ties, makeup and random coins cover the rest of the desk.
You look up from the horrid monster that is supposedly a desk and see a whiteboard hanging from the wall. In bright red letters are the words: CLEAN ROOM.
This is a huge problem. That note has been up there for two weeks now, and there's no sign of progress. That's just the life of a busy college student. With all the classes, exams, friendships and adventures, I guess there's not much time to clean.
When there's a day of boredom with nothing to do, no assignments to complete and no exams to study for, then the room will become spotless. Then I'll give it a few more days, and the mess will return. It's a never-ending cycle.
