The anticipation and build-up started when I got my acceptance letter to my school. The idea of this place petrified me. I had only ever heard of people recalling on the negatives: a small, cramped, and dirty space full of germs and noise. Yes, I'm talking about a right of passage that most people experience: the traditional college dorm.
To no surprises, the apartment-style dorm I originally applied to live in my first year were given to upperclassman and athletes first, and I was stuck in a traditional dorm like most freshman. I didn't know what to expect. Because I chose to live in a quad, I didn't have anxiety about just one roommate, but three. I wondered what they would be like... would we get along? Would they be messy? Would we all be friends? Or just cordial with each other? Will they have boys over all the time? And of course... what would the dreaded communal bathrooms be like? How well would they be cleaned? The thought of having to wear flip flops in the bathroom depressed me. I know how much hair goes down the drain for me after one shower... but 55-ish girls sharing only 8 showers... *cringes.*
The only way to find out JUST how "horrible" dorms are? I started with move in day. It was a zoo, with parents frantically moving their kids in and so many goodbyes. After the initial rush of what my school calls "Welcome Weekend," my first few weeks went by. My roommates and I got to know each other very well, after sharing such a small space for many days. I got to know their sleeping habits, eating habits, studying habits-- their daily routines. It was nice to have someone around going through the same thing. I was able to talk to my roommates when I felt homesick, if I had a question on my anatomy homework, or just needed some company over a meal. Although going away to college is overwhelming and intimidating, having people that are going through it with you is so comforting. More importantly, living with my roommates taught me valuable life lessons that I wouldn't trade for the world.
1. It is OK to disagree.
This was something I learned in my freshman year with all of my roommates. Each and every one of the girls were raised differently and might have different opinions on things. It is okay to disagree, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but it is how you handle the situation and find a compromise.
2. Talk it out.
In high school, instead of talking to a person directly, you would let it go and bottle it up. When you live with someone, it is hard to let something go. If something is bothering you about another person, confront them. Usually it is something that can be a quick-fix, and sometimes the person doesn't even know they are doing it. It's important to always talk out the issues and work through them: don't bottle things up.
3. Respect people's space.
For those who have never shared a room before, it can be a bit of an adjustment. Especially in my situation. It's important to understand that not only is it your space, but it's also three other peoples' space as well: clean up from time to time, take the trash out for everyone, maybe sweep the floor up.
4. Respect people's space, part 2.
Another thing to respect is sleep. If your roommate has an 8 AM exam tomorrow, it might be convenient to respect that they want to get to bed early. If you're staying up late to study, it might be nice to go to another friend's room, or if you're lucky enough, the study floor. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't love getting a good night's sleep, especially before an exam!
5. Honesty is key.
It's amazing how close you can become with someone in the span of nine months. It's almost something that one has to experience in order to believe it. But within this 9 months, for example, I've learned to tell my roommates that no, they probably shouldn't take a 2 hour nap and need to get their lazy butt out of bed and go study. Or no, they probably shouldn't wear the pink shirt with the green pants, but instead the white one because it's more flattering. Lying to someone you live with will only lead to problems and awkwardness-- avoid this by telling nothing but the truth.
Living in a college dorm helped me to become a better and stronger person. I learned some very valuable lessons. In addition, I made some kick-butt friends along the way. My roommates turned into my best friends. I never thought that living with complete strangers would turn into living with my best friends.
Along with roommates, it's also common to meet your "floormates." After all, we all lived on the same floor for nine months. Living with a bunch of girls on one floor turned out of be an awesome experience. Some of my best friends today were people who lived either directly across the hall, down the hall, etc. Familiar faces turned into people you go out with; and sometimes the people you have sleepovers with on nights in. As the year progressed, more and more doors started to open and remained open. Sometimes you would even meet people in class and find out later they lived on your floor, or you would talk to someone in the elevator and find out you are in the same major! It was so great to meet a bunch of girls who were just as excited and nervous as you were. You meet people on your floor who could study with, usually girls in your classes. You meet people who are your size for sharing clothes. You meet people who went to the next high school over from you, but you would have never known had it been for that one elevator ride.
All in all, I would suggest the college dorm to any incoming freshman. Yes, seeing hair on the walls of the shower stalls was gross and yes, fire drills (especially living on the 11th floor) sucked. But I wouldn't trade it for how much I grew as a person and the friends I made for life.
