My first year at school, I had the great opportunity to dorm on campus (thank you mom and dad). I had the best roommates, the best friends on my floor and in my building, and the best memories anyone could of had. Dorm life was great. I was living in the best and the most recently built building, which also made it the most expensive. Yeah I had the nicest room, my own bathroom and was able to control my own air and heat, but that heavy price tag caused some feels with my parents.
I went out on the weekends like everyone else. I had my fun. Once spring semester came around, I started to get over dorm life a little bit in all honesty. I was going home on the weekends. Sometimes I would even come home on a random weekday when my mom was off from work. My grandmother got sick and a month later passed away so I was miserable. I felt guilty because I wasn't home enough to be there if something like this were to happen again. Part of me even wanted to move out. But I just stuck it out. I was only 15 minutes away from home, 20 tops. I wanted to dorm, to get what I thought was the "college experience." To go out every weekend, to dorm room look like a Pinterest board. But it's not all rainbows and unicorns living on your own.
So this year I'm living at home.
Commuting wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be. The worst part would have to be the parking. Whenever I leave on Monday mornings for my 10 a.m. class, I have to make sure to be on campus no later than 9 a.m. Even then I have to park on the top floor of the CarParc Diem parking lot, which is eight floors. Montclair's mostly a commuter school so even if you tried to get to campus for your 8:30 a.m. class, even then you have to park on the 4th or 5th floor.
Other than that, commuting doesn't totally suck. I'm on campus all the time regardless, whether it is at my school job, my classes, or even at my sorority's events. It's like I never left. I have slept over a couple times to go out with friends so it's not the end of the world for me.
I don't have to worry about eating sh*ty food everyday and gaining weight because I have great home cooked meals for me waiting at home everyday.
I am able to be a little more independent and not dependent on others when I want to go somewhere and cannot because I don't have a car on campus. Now, I can drive wherever I want whenever I want.
I have a great job at home as well. Yeah it sucks working two jobs while in school, but I have to pay that $25,000 loan from freshman year because of dorming.
Now, school will be SO MUCH CHEAPER.
I'll be able to focus better on my studies because now, I don't have to worry about which frat or sports house is letting girls in for free to their party and whether I can make it a second night because of the night before.
I get to sleep in my own perfect little room and bed. The comfiest thing on the face of the world.
And, even see my little dog at home, who is the softest thing on the face of the world.
So future college kids. IF YOU CAN, try to dorm the first year of school or even at least for one year of your college career. Feel it out. Because dorm life isn't for everyone, and commuting isn't as bad as it seems.
