I'll admit, the first time I visited Kellogg, I was less than excited to call it home. Perched upon a massive hill nicknamed "Mount Kellogmanjaro" and separated from the rest of New Dorms by the "Great Wall": an ugly collection of plants, 54 steps (yes, I've counted) and the biggest ramp you've ever seen, it literally could not be any further away from Central Grounds.
My friends who don't live in Kellogg are deterred from visiting me in my dorm because they refuse to climb those steps, and I can't blame them; on more than one occasion I've skipped dinner because I didn't want to have to hike back up all those stairs. Although living in Kellogg seems less-than-ideal, it has some definite upsides that make the hike up to my dorm absolutely worth it.
1. The View
Kellogg undisputedly has the best view of Grounds; from my bedroom, I can see the top of the Rotunda and the UVA hospital. What better way to start and end each day than watching the sun rise and set over my favorite campus?
2. Living with athletes
I've heard people referred to Kellogg as the "athlete dorm" because so many athletes live here; it houses players from basketball, track, wrestling, lacrosse, softball, baseball, and volleyball teams. One very average weeknight, I was hanging out in the kitchen and it occurred to me that I was surrounded by a lacrosse player, wrestler, volleyball player, and track runner. I felt so unbelievably cool. And I will feel so cool when I go home and tell my family and friends about my casual friendships with Division One athletes.
3. Proximity to Runk
If you follow McCormick Road up behind Kellogg, Runk (the undisputed best dining hall on Grounds) is only a short walk away, making Kellogg one of the closest new dorms to the best free food on Grounds. And best of all, we can take the Northline back to dorms, so we don't ever have to walk back. This brings me to my next reason...
4. Personal bus stop
You have no idea how convenient it is to have a bus stop right outside your bedroom until you've experienced it. The Northline has its own personal "Kellogg Dorm" stop, meaning I can wait until TransLoc says the bus is less than one minute away to flee my room and still catch it. Even better, I can ride the Northline all the way to my dorm whenever the weather is less than ideal or I'm just feeling lazy.
5. My best friends
I've found my people in this dorm and they've made my first year unforgettable. From our rockin' dance parties, Shonda Thursdays, homemade dinners, and runs to Crossroads for hummus ciabattas, Kellogg has brought us together to make some pretty amazing memories. For these amazing relationships, I have Kellogg to thank.
Even though everyone loves going home for summer, it's sad to say goodbye to my favorite dorm. I'll be sure to miss these few aspects of dorm living next year!
