Junior year of college is a bittersweet moment in everyone's college career. While you're scared and unsure freshman self has been washed away by a wilder, more daring sophomore self, you're "high" is quickly fading. Junior year, while it is far from senior year, still holds some credit for turning all of us college kids, who still enjoy chocolate milk in the cafeteria from time to time, into real-life people.
My junior year hit me full-force with responsibilities when I decided to venture to off-campus housing and embark on my first-ever journey as an apartment renter. Some of my friends went straight to the big leagues, renting houses, but I figured I had no idea what in the world I was doing, so let's maybe start small.
The renting process alone made me dizzy. Renters insurance, do I need that? Why is the security deposit so expensive? Wait, my electric and cable aren't included in the rent price? My head was spinning.
Luckily, I entered this first step of adulthood with two roommates, so we helped each other out along the way.
By the time move-in day came, I had already opened an electric and cable account under my name and even figured out how to get renters insurance under my parent's policy: Life was good, this stuff was easy and I was more than ready.
After all the decorations went up, my mattress and furniture were delivered, my front door key was happily on my brand new keychain and my parents left. They left me in this small, kinda crappy apartment I was now paying for.
Months went by and I quickly caught onto all the things that go into living on your own and managing a place. I couldn't believe how often I had to vacuum and pay bills. No one was there to tell me to go to bed early, clean up after myself, or to stop running up the electric bill by leaving the lights on (those first couple electric bills reflected this bad habit).
Within the walls of my quaint apartment, I learned just a minimal, but important amount of what being an adult is. I learned to take responsibility and how to organize my time. I learned how to save and spend money appropriately. I believe one of the most important things I learned was how to share a home with roommates, which, at times, was hard. By taking somewhat ownership of what seemed like the biggest thing I had ever owned, I was forced to grow up and leave my sometimes-irresponsible attitude behind.
As my time in college is coming to a close, I'll always look back on my first apartment and consider it my first stepping stone into the next chapter of life. Renting an apartment showed me that while being an adult is definitely not easy, it also has its perks. I mean, hey, I ate ice cream for dinner at least 3 times a week, so that was cool.
Dear college apartment,
Thank you. Without you I would still not know how to work a dishwasher, pay a bill online with a debit card, or decorate an entire living room, kitchen and bathroom with a $100 budget. Most of all, thank you for forcing me into adulthood.
Sincerely,
A not yet, but soon to be, full-fledged, living, breathing, adult person.
