Move in day comes, and when your family leaves (after balling your eyes out) that day you sit in your dorm room and you literally say to the stranger living with you “now what?” You decorate your room exactly how you saw it on Pinterest and that’s it. You’re in college. So many unknown experiences coming your way, you don’t know what to expect to the point where you can’t even imagine yourself a week into classes, let alone going home at Christmas break, spring break, or packing your room up again when summer approaches. And when that time comes and when you are packing your bags for summer, all you can think about is where did this school year go? How did it go by so fast? How did my roommate and I become best friends? How did I pass that math class? Well, you learn a lot your freshman year, more than you think you would. But some things stick out more than others.
1.You don’t just get one roommate.
Your floor mates become your adopted roommates. Most roommates meet on move in day and realize you actually have to live with each other. What we didn’t know is that we also signed up to have 4 other adopted roommates that would be in our room just as much as we would be.
2. If you’re from Chicago, stay away from the pizza section of the dining center.
Nothing compares to the deep dish, or thick crust pizza you were raised on.
3. No matter how amazing the self-serve ice cream is the first month of college, you will get sick of the dining center.
Freshman 15 starts here.
4. You are without a doubt excited about going home for breaks, but halfway through break you just want the freedom again.
It’s a hard adjustment going from rules, to complete freedom, to rules again.
5. No matter what you do don’t wear your white converse out on a Saturday night.
They will not be clean anymore, trust me.
6. Learn how to make popcorn before you go to college.
Don’t be the person setting the fire alarm off at 2am.
7. Facetime is a must.
When you miss home the most, they’re only a Facetime away. Thank god it’s 2016.
8. Never take for granted a shower without shower shoes.
Nothing compares to a shower in your own shower at home.
9. Never underestimate the power of a seeing a card in your mailbox.
This will automatically become the peak of your day. (and that $20 in the card makes you feel not-so guilty about buying dinner, thanks grandma)
10. Although summer is great, you realize you won’t be able to walk 2 doors down to your best friend asking them to get dinner. And you have to go through the goodbyes all over again.
It’s bittersweet leaving your college friends for the summer.
