I'll be the first to say I wasn't particularly looking forward to it.
For one, I don't think many people choose to live in a dorm because they're thrilled about sharing their personal space bubble with one to three other people. People choose to live in dorms their freshman or sophomore year of college because they want to have people around them, people to establish connections with. That's exactly the way I looked at dorm life when I was first moving in. I knew I wasn't going to be crazy about sharing space with another person because I'd had my own space in all the years prior. Like I said, however, it's not about that. Living in a dorm was an experience that led me to making friends with some of the best people I've ever encountered. That's why I'm more than a little bittersweet about having to move out in a week.
I don't know if it's because I'm a little scared to move into an apartment on my own or if it's because I've gotten used to living in the dorms, but something about it all is making me feel nostalgic already. I haven't even left the building yet, and I'm sitting here thinking over all the memories that have been created here. I've laughed and cried countless times here, had good memories and bad. Looking back on it, I wouldn't go back and change a thing.
It's crazy to think that nine months ago, I was living a completely different life surrounded by completely different people. I never would have predicted that I would meet the people I've been fortunate enough to become friends with, and at this point, I can hardly imagine going a whole summer without them just down the hallway or next door. Even thinking about that feels like an impossible task, but I know that if I was capable of packing my bags and moving in on day one, I am more than capable of doing the same thing next Friday.
While going a whole three or so months without the people I care about right next door kind of frightens me, there's something else that excites me. I'm moving into a whole new place. There will be brand new people living next door to me, and all I have to do is work up the nerve to introduce myself and make small talk. That's how it all starts. One minute you're talking about the weather, and the next thing you know, you've found yourself a friend for life.
I'm not saying I expect it go that way with every single person I meet at my apartment. What I am saying, however, is that you never know who you're going to cross paths with. That's why I'll forever be grateful I got to experience living in a dorm, and why moving out is bittersweet.