College is full of so many amazing experiences and opportunities that you won’t find anywhere else. They aren’t lying when they say that these will be the best four years of your life. But there are certain things that are less than ideal when it comes to being away at college, things that I wish I would have cherished when I lived at home.
1. Having Your Own Room: It's quite a luxury to have any form of privacy when you’re living in the dorms. Living in such close quarters makes it rare to have any time to yourself, which can be fun at times, but it can get a little old.
2. Having Your Own Bathroom: Growing up with siblings meant I got used to sharing counter space, but college dorms take it to a new level. Sharing everything from sinks to toilets with a whole floor of people is just unsanitary and unappealing.
3. Showering Without Shoes On: There’s something a little disheartening about having to put shoes on to take a shower, and it feels a bit counter-productive to be bathing yourself in a place where you have a risk of getting a fungal infection. Letting your feet go free in the shower at home now feels like such an indulgence when it was once a simple part of our day.
4. Not Having to Climb a Ladder to Get to Bed: This was one of the simplest things that I didn’t give a second thought about at home. It may not seem like a huge deal to have a lofted bed, but when your alarm goes off for an 8 A.M., that ladder can feel a million miles high. Those few feet can take me from “Time to take on the day” to “Is it really worth it?” in no time at all.
5. Not Having to Walk Outside to Eat: You thought you had it bad at home when you had to will yourself out of bed to walk downstairs for a snack. College really tests your hunger when you have to bundle up in the heart of winter and make the trek to the dining hall. You start to ask yourself, “Does ramen really sound that bad?”
6. Food Quality: Yes, Ramen really does sound that bad. Especially after you’ve been eating it every day for the past week. With a microwave being the only option to cook food in your dorm room, you resort to some pretty depressing meals. Ramen, Easy Mac, and Pizza Rolls quickly become both your best friend and worst enemy in college.
7. Having Your Pet With You: Going from your pet greeting you at the door every day to staring longingly out the window at random passersby walking their dog across campus is a tough transition. No matter how many pictures you have adorning your wall or how many cute videos your parents send you, nothing can fill that void in your heart quite like spending quality time with your pet can.
8. Having a Car: This is the perfect example of “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” Having the freedom to hop in the car and go wherever you pleased was a luxury that we took for granted throughout high school. You can only share so many free Uber rides with your friends before you realize the simple joy of having your own set of wheels.
