Getting to know a whole floor of a dorm isn't always easy, especially if you are at a bigger college. Lucky for me, my small floor of thirteen (including my RA!) bonded immediately during the first mandatory floor meeting. We didn't need ice breakers. We turned what was supposed to be a short thirty-minute meeting into a full two-and-a-half-hour long conversation. A floor bonding as well as mine is honestly pretty uncommon from what I have heard. That being said, I have people I know at college that have told me they don't even know the people in the room right by them! I think there's a lot of benefits to knowing your whole floor so I have decided to share them with you!
1. It makes dorm life a lot less awkward.
If you know the people you live with you won't have those awkward run ins in the common areas of the floor. This means less awkward moments of silence in the bathroom while you get ready next to someone who also has an 8 AM class. You don't have to feel uncomfortable in the common areas and lounges as well. You can relax even more in what should feel like your own home, because for the next several months this IS your home.
2. SAFETY
On top of no awkward moments, it's also a lot safer to know the people you are living with. Now that I know my whole floor and I trust them, I often times will leave my door unlocked and even open because I want them to feel comfortable coming over! (Leaving your door unlocked also keeps you from getting locked out of your room!) When I leave the building, I of course usually lock my door, but if I am on my floor why lock it? If you have this trust with people, you also have a group that will keep you safe in any possible problems college might throw at you. You have people that will help take care of you if you need it!
3. Mom friends
Speaking of being taken care of, if you get to know your floor you will probably end up with a "mom friend". I know this because I am the mom friend of my floor. College isn't easy and sickness hits frequently. You don't have a mom to get you a glass of water or to tell you what medicine to take and how much to take. Every floor seems to have a mom friend, whether it's the RA or just another floor member.
4. BIGGER CLOSETS!
One dorm closet can only hold so many clothes, but when you are on a floor with thirteen other girls, your closet seems to grow quite a bit! While you might not all be the same size you can still borrow shoes, accessories, and even fashion advice! The girls on my floor have a whole panel of judges when they are dressing up to go out. No one leaves looking bad, that's for sure! We build each other up and make sure that no matter the occasion, the girl feels beautiful and confident just like she is!
5. Fashion designers and teams of stylists
While this goes along really well with the last point, I think it deserves its own paragraph! On top of having constant clothes advice, you also have a team of stylists because there is most likely a girl great at makeup, one who absolutely slays braids, one who can do an updo like no other, and a girl who kills winged eyeliner. Best part is, if you know them well enough and they are nice enough, you don't have to pay them!
6. There is ALWAYS someone around.
Whether you had a bad day and need a cruising buddy, need a ride along for some steak and shake, or need a shoulder to cry on, there is always someone around. You are surrounded by tutors and cheerleaders and nurses and friends if you get to know them. You will have a whole support system behind you. I love that when I have good news, I know that I can go to my girls with it and they will be excited for me! There is always someone to talk to whether it's a happy or sad talk.
7. The absolute fun you will have.
Whether it's debating current news or conspiracy theories, trying new foods like a Mexican dish called Mole, hospital runs when someone has an allergic reaction to the Mexican dish, or late night movies. If you get to know your floor like I have, I guarantee you will have a year full of memories with more years to follow! I have found some of my best friends at college just on my floor. We are inseparable and I wouldn't want it any other way. We fight like family and keep each other on track sometimes pushing each other a bit too much, but at the end of the day we are a family first and a floor second.
