If you would've asked me at the beginning of my first year of college, “Are you going to miss living in a dorm room?” I would have probably laughed and asked if you were crazy. But now, looking back on my dorm life experience and all of the things that I have gained from living there, I would actually have to reconsider my initial answer and say that yes, I am going to miss living in my dorm room. Don't get me wrong, residing in a 10 x 8 ft room in a building with 400 other people definitely has its downsides, but there are many perks to living in a small community as well.
1. Being so close to friends
I remember last summer, right after I graduated high school, current college students would come up to me and start sharing advice about what to expect next year. Most of the things they mentioned included late night adventures, countless hours spent in the library and the large amount of ramen noodles they consumed. But one thing stuck out in particular, and it was the fact that they seemed to always be with their friends or meeting new and exciting people. I was nervous that it would be hard to find close friends in college because the amount of people in one area is so large, but it was quite the opposite actually. Living in a dorm room gives you access to such a diverse group of individuals, and honestly when else are you going to get the chance to live with hundreds of other people? I am going to miss living only ten feet from my best friends, and simply asking a neighbor for a cute shirt to wear or some granola when you run out of groceries. Living in a dorm offers you a sense of accessibility and comfort while you are away from your actual home.
2. Asking for any item you don't have/run out of
Like I mentioned above, you are living with tons and tons of people. Chances are, they will have whatever you don’t. For example, there have been multiple times I have needed something like a towel, cute shoes for a night out, or a phone charger when I have lost mine or forgotten it somewhere. Instead of going to the store and purchasing these items, living in a dorm offers you the convenience of just walking down the hallway. It’s like your own giant grocery store/Target/closet all in one place.
3. Roommates
Okay, so sometimes roommates may not be the best thing you will remember about living in a dorm room. One thing it has taught me though, is how to live efficiently. You are no longer living in your own room like you are at home, so you have to learn to clean up after yourself, compromise, and communicate effectively. And speaking from experience, living with my roommate is honestly one of the best things that has come out of living the dorm-life. We had numerous sleepovers, late-night chats, and study sessions. She was someone that I quite literally shared a home with, and that brought us closer than I ever thought possible.
4. Learning to keep the bare necessities
I have learned that if you live in a dorm room, there is no space for clutter. Everything needs to be organized and have a “place”, otherwise there is no way you will be able to have a useable and functional living space.
5. Paying bills
No monthly rent! You're still paying for your housing, which is usually included in tuition and fees, but not having to pay a monthly rent is something you will appreciate later on down the road. Plus, living in a dorm room is typically much cheaper than buying a house or an apartment, so savor it while you can.
6. Not having to clean your bathroom
If I am being completely honest, this is probably one of the things I will most most. You essentially have your own cleaning service, and I never truly valued that until now. Our community bathrooms (I say community, but in reality only about 10 girls share a huge bathroom) are cleaned every.single.day by the most amazing and sweet staff. I am not exactly looking forward to scrubbing a shower or wiping down countertops, so I will always appreciate the fact that living in a dorm means that people will do that for you.
7. Meal plan
Another perk to living in a dorm room is that you are close to a variety of different food options, and you don't have to cook these items for yourself. I actually love to cook, and it was quite the adjustment to go from having a fully stocked kitchen filled with fresh fruits and veggies at home- to having a 2 foot refrigerator that can hold some hummus and store-bought baby carrots (at most). Having a meal plan and being accessible to dining halls has been essential this year, especially when you don't have a lot of time in between classes or you don't have a car on campus to drive somewhere to eat.
8. Getting to know a variety of different people
I never thought I would say it, but I am genuinely going to miss living with literally 400 other people. This is because it has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing individuals who I would have never had the chance to meet otherwise. There are so many activities going on all the time in a dorm room, so my tip is to take advantage of these opportunities and reach out to those who you may not normally hang out with. You get to grow as an individual and experience new cultures, which is what college is all about right? Right.
9. Always something going on
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s true. When you live in a dorm room, there is always something going on. It can be overwhelming at times, but overall I think it gave me the chance to branch out of my shell and try things outside of my comfort zone. For example, there were two girls who lived on my floor this year who were from Hawaii. One day, I was sitting in my room doing some homework when I heard some people laughing in our “neutral zone” (it’s basically just the hangout area on our floor). I mustered up some courage and wandered out there to see what was going on. Turns out, they were introducing themselves to everyone on our floor by handing out authentic coconut treats from Hawaii and teaching people how to do a traditional hula dance. It was so much fun getting to know them and learn about their background, and I will truly miss moments like this when I move out of my dorm room.
10. My bed
All right, I admit that it may sound strange when I say this— but I actually love my bed here at college. It is warm, cozy, and feels like I'm sleeping on a little slice of heaven. Plus I invested in a memory foam mattress and I swear that has made all the difference. I am genuinely going to miss sleeping in that twin sized bed, but I’m sure upgrading to a larger one next year will also be greatly appreciated.
