Living in the dorm as a freshman is rough. You just moved out of your parent's house, you have no idea how to be on your own, and now you live in a room fresh out of the stone age. From the hair clumps to the noisy neighbors, there are 10 things that definitely stink about living in the dorm.
1. You are six feet from another person.
After living with your own room for most of your life, all of a sudden having to share a room with another person is rough. On top of that, now you are just six feet away from that person. That means that anything you would do in your room is now there for another person to see, and possible judge. There is nothing you can hide from someone when they are only two steps away from you at all times.
2. Your bed is your bedroom, living room, office, etc.
Because there is only so much space, and your bed is the largest piece of furniture, you are automatically going to spend the most time on your bed. Whether that is sleeping, hanging out, doing homework, or maybe even eating, you will spend 70 percent of your time on your bed... which means constantly washing the sheets. You seriously have nowhere else to go.
3. Having to deal with those noisy, drunk, obnoxious neighbors.
We all had those neighbors: they came in no earlier than 2 a.m., slammed their door as loud as possible, constantly blasted rap/EDM/pop music while pre-gaming and drew all over your whiteboard. You can't help but wonder how these girls aren't constantly in trouble, and how they haven't been kicked out for their constant obnoxiousness.
4. Your dorm has the crappiest WiFi/cell-phone service.
Whether you're in the middle of a call with a LD boyfriend, or your mom, or your best friend at another university, the WiFi must have a personal vendetta against you. It always seems to shut down or disappear the minute you need to turn in a paper or bid on that super cute dress on eBay. (Priorities, people.)
5. The food doesn't compare to your mom's food.
I know it depends on the dorm, but after three weeks of stale sandwiches and crusty chicken tenders, I was really missing my mother's homemade food. I mean, come on, how are you supposed to avoid the deadly freshman 15 if all they serve is high-fructose corn syrup and lard?
6. The complete and utter lack of closet space, or space in general.
Okay, you and I both know you brought WAY too many pieces of your closet with you to school. But you didn't want to believe the myth that you won't have enough space for all of your clothes. But you had to bring that "Frozen" sweater and your hiking boots. You never know.
7. NOT. ENOUGH. PLUGS.
God bless whoever invented extension cords.
8. Sharing a bathroom with 40 other people is gross.
I can only speak for girls on this one, but sharing six toilets and six showers between 40-45 girls is just plain gross. From the aftermath of Bar night, to hair clumps the size of a kitten, girls are super nasty. God bless those souls who have to clean the bathrooms each day.
9. You feel like you're surrounded by your own hair, bacteria, dust, etc.
Because you are in such a little space, your dead skin cells, hair, bacteria, etc. have accumulated in this 6 by 12 space. It's disgusting, and you have most likely resorted to cleaning everything at least once a week.
10. Your roommate isn't always the best person to live with.
Some are blessed to have the perfect roommate, and someone they really get along with. And then there is everyone else. We have to deal with some crazy people. Those roommates who steal your things, or drink at every given opportunity, or have a personal goal to sleep with someone from every frat, or never leave the room, or live like a pig, or try to perfect everything about the room, and you... It's a lot of togetherness for two people, and when push comes to shove, some ugly things come out of people that are together that much.
But with all of these struggles, I think that living in the dorm is an essential part of college life. It places you in a building with other people going through the same thing you are. There are multiple people there at a moment's notice if something happens. It shapes you to be ready to step out on your own as an adult, and guides you in your first experiences in college!
