It’s your first year of college, and you’ve finally gotten settled in. You actually know where all your classes are, you’ve learned the best shortcuts to sneak into the football stadium and you’re essentially an expert on all the best flavors at the dairy bar.
You’ve also probably started to form a circle of close friends, and chances are that many of them live on the same floor of your residence hall - these are the people with whom you spend time studying, hanging out, partying and maybe even singing karaoke in the lounge until 5 a.m.
All in all, the people on your floor form a one of a kind community of incredibly diverse people – here are just a few of the types of people you’ll run in to.
The DJ
Need some music to liven up the room? No problem, the DJ’s got you covered. This guy definitely has some of the sickest beats on the floor, and everyone knows it too – he makes sure he plays his music "25/7." Some of your friends from other floors may become slightly concerned when they feel the floor shaking on the way up the stairs, but you assure them it’s no problem – it’s just the bass.
The Gym Rat
Do you even lift, bro? You’ll often spot the gym rat with a protein shake in hand after an intense workout, or just lounging around in athletic attire. When asked about his gym routine, he is shocked that anyone would even suggest working out for fewer than six days a week. However, all jokes aside, you can’t help but admire his dedication.
The RA
While many people go into college being a little nervous of what their RA’s will be like, it soon becomes clear that they are some of the coolest people on your floor. They organize floor bonding events, help you with homework, give you life advice and are obviously experts at door decorating!
The Night Owl
No matter what time of day it is, the night owl is always out and about. You can’t help but wonder whether she actually ever sleeps – what if she’s secretly a vampire? However, her productivity when it comes to schoolwork is impeccable, and you’ll envy her as you lay in bed at 10 p.m. struggling to keep your eyes open.
The Secret Agent
Student by day, superhero by night – this resident lives a double life that no one would have imagined. Maybe that guy down the hall is actually a juggling world champion, or the reason your roommate disappears for hours on end is because she’s a firefighter on the night shift. As you get to know your floormates better, you may be surprised by how many have some crazy hidden talents.
The Nonresident
This guy is always hanging out on your floor, whether in the lounge, dorms or study rooms. When you ask him what his room number is, you’ll be surprised when he answers that he lives halfway across campus, because you could swear that you’ve never even seen him leave your floor. He’s clearly perfected the art of tailgating not only into the building, but all the way up the stairs too.
The Genius
It’s no secret that this guy is by far the smartest one on your floor. If you couldn’t tell from his exceptional grades and the giant stack of books on his desk (vector calculus, anyone?), his love of math humor and chemistry one-liners definitely seals the deal.
The Social Butterfly
She’s always out and about meeting and talking to new people, and even in a group of strangers she’s always the life of the party. She knows how to have a good time and loves making new friends, so make sure to talk to her if you’re looking to expand your social circle or just want to go out and have fun!
The Bookworm
Wherever she goes, she always has a good book in hand. In the lounge, around campus and even in her designated hallway study corner, you’ll always spot the bookworm deeply focused on whatever she’s reading. Not only does she complete her required readings for class on time, she’s passionate about the subjects too – if you’re ever looking for a good conversation, she’s definitely the person to talk to.
The Jokester
Regardless of the situation, you can always count on the jokester to lighten up the mood. In the middle of a study session, chances are he’ll be dancing, zooming in on someone’s face on Snapchat, drawing faces on the whiteboard or just hysterically laughing along with everyone else at his own jokes.
The Sweetheart
What else is there to say? She’s kind, funny and always in a good mood. Whenever anyone is feeling down, she’ll be there to offer encouragement or a shoulder to cry on, and she always makes sure to greet you with a cheery hello when you pass by.
The Pre-Med
On any floor you’ll always find the pre-med student – she’s probably on credit overload, spends most of her time in the library and chances are you can’t even pronounce the name of her ideal medical field. However, don’t be fooled – in between studying and involvement in cutting edge research, the pre-med can definitely party with the best of them.
The People Watcher
This resident doesn’t usually have the most to say, and when spending time in a group always seems to be observing everything going on. You can never tell what she’s thinking when she’s silent – you’re not sure if she’s judging you, staring into space or plotting to take over the world – maybe even all three. However, once you get to know her you’ll discover she’s actually one of the chillest people you know.
The Out-of-Stater
You can definitely tell that this resident isn’t from around town. It could be his accent, lack of understanding of the local slang or the fact that he “learned to use a lasso before he could ride a bike.” Whatever the case, his charm will quickly win everyone over, and you’ll come out of freshman year with an excuse to travel somewhere new!
Special thanks to everyone on the second floor of Ellicott Hall (E2) for their help with this article!
