I spent this past weekend helping a friend move into her apartment at her large state school. It was a school I almost attended, and over the past year, I've been wondering whether or not I'm missing out on the "full college experience." However, throughout the weekend, I realized how much I really appreciated my experience at American, and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. Here's some of the things I used to think were annoying, but I now realize are great:
1. A small campus is a blessing
After taking two hours to walk across an entire campus, I realized the walk from MGC to Katzen isn't the worst thing in the world. In fact, the walk to Tenleytown doesn't even seem awful in comparison to a giant state school. Plus, having a lot more buildings means having a lot more chances of getting lost.
2. AU genuinely cares about us
Sometimes it feels like AU doesn't listen to its students enough, or take as much action as we would want them to, but compared to a large state school that doesn't give much personal attention, I realize how fortunate I am to go to a school that cares about the safety of its students. It was a running joke all through Eagle Summit and Welcome week that AU Knows Consent, but I'm thankful that they want to create an environment that acknowledges these issues.
3. Political discussions are actually great
We all get a little annoyed over the political talk at AU. However, deep down, we really are all wonks, and I love the fact that AU is engaged in important issues of today. While most college students are keeping up with the Kardashians, AU students can regularly be found watching presidential debates.
4. It's a tight-knit community
Having a smaller student body means you tend to know a lot more people, which means that people generally care a lot more about each other. Even though I can be having a political debate with someone one day, I know I can hang out with that same person and know they have my back. I've never been in a situation where I've felt alone or unsafe because there's always someone I know around.
5. D.C. Is the coolest city ever
Need I say more?
