As my first semester at Champlain College comes to an end, I feel myself looking back on my experiences and finding a common thread in the best moments. Many of my closest friends and best memories revolve around living on campus in a residence hall. The importance of living in a residence hall your first year at college cannot be overstated.
For many students, it will be their first time away from home for more than a few weeks, and having a support network close by is always helpful. In my experience, I have made some of my best friends in my residence hall. Naturally, you will meet people in your classes, in clubs that you join, and tons of other places, but your residence hall will be your first point of contact to meet new people. For some, myself included, your roommates will become some of your best friends.
Your residence hall is essentially your home away from home. At some point you will probably find yourself referring to the hall as "home" and your family home as "home home." The more time that you spend at college and away from your family, the more true this feeling becomes. If you're able to make close friends quickly, especially within your residence hall, you will find yourself growing a family at college.
In my experience thus far, living on campus has done so much for me as a student. The ability to get to campus in under five minutes cannot be overlooked. On the off chance that you wake up later than intended, getting to campus quickly is a lifesaver. Additionally, having a meal plan can make living through your first year much less stressful.
Apart from having quick access to campus facilities, being close to your professors is also helpful. When you need help with a project, have questions about a test, or just want to get to know them, they are easily available from your house. I have been able to get to know some of my professors quite well this way, and I know that moving into the future, I will be able to do the same with new professors.
The benefits to living on campus outweigh the costs by far. The amount of opportunities to be missed by not living on campus your first semester are too great to list. The experiences that I have had and the friends that I have made within my hall are some that I know will be with me for the rest of my college experience. My roommates are both absolutely amazing (shoutout to Charlie and Josh).
If you're heading off to college next year, or already there now, reflect back on your first experience in a dorm, or think forward to how it will be next year.
