Part of the glamour that comes with attending universities that keep up with the times is the new luxurious, spacious, apartment-style dorms or the new with a twist on the traditional style dorms they offer a student. It's nice that most students these days don't have to suffer from the dreaded cinder block walls, community bathrooms, community kitchens, and even possibly sharing one single room with another person. I wasn't fortunate enough to have this "privilege" and although it has only been a couple of months, I wouldn't trade my ancient looking, community bathroom sharing dormitory for a moment.
I was heartbroken when I logged on to secure my beautiful new living space for the fall of 2018 and found out all the new dorms were filled. As I searched for a spot, every time I clicked, I was locked out — it was already filled. I was crushed. Not only did I NOT get to room with the three girls I had been communicating and establishing a relationship with for the past few months, I got left with an old, all girls dorm (not Tut, thank God), and worst of all, I would be sharing this incredibly small, one room space with a roommate that I didn't know. I was seriously devastated. It was a disaster, but man, I am relieved at what I got!
While it might sound insane, I am dead serious. There is something about the culture and struggle of living in an original, traditional style dorm that brings character to the college experience. The things that occur on my floor alone are stories I can tell for a lifetime. I can't tell you the number of times the fire alarms have gone off because someone burnt a pot in the community kitchen, it's insane. Not to mention the neighbors who stay up until 4 in the morning on a Tuesday or the girl who dyes her hair, leaving our community bathroom looking like the elevators from "The Shining." Sounds horrendous, right?
What they neglect to tell you is location, location, location. It's everything, especially your first year. And all those new, shiny dorms come at a price, and I don't just mean financially, because they do cost quite a bit more per semester. I am talking distance. When you live in those glamorous new dorms, you are all the way on the other side of the world. I am spoiled. All of my classes are within 20 minutes of my dorm, my sorority house is only five minutes away, and I can see Bryant-Denny when I walk out of my building. The best part is I live right above the best-kept secret at Bama, Burke Dining Hall. The meals I get there are the best, not going to lie, it is my favorite part of the week.
Looking at all those dorms with plaster walls and nice lighting and home-like decor is unrealistic. I put so much effort into my room, and it still looks like a dorm, but I love it. Being a part of college is having that traditional college dorm room. Your bed being lofted, having that chair underneath it that you take a nap in between classes, having a micro-fridge (that's a mini fridge with a microwave on top) inches away — you can't beat it. Although I have those tragic cinder block walls and giant, wooden closet, I love it.
When I stayed at one of those fabulous new dorms during Bama Bound Orientation, I started to realize they were not all that they seemed. My cinder block walls keep out a lot more noise from thoughtless neighbors than those new drywall dorm rooms, and I don't have to ever worry about cleaning a bathroom or buying toilet paper. Yep, they have someone here that does that for us. And to be totally honest, it's amazing how difficult it can be to keep our one room clean. I'm happy I don't have to worry about cleaning up a bigger space.
Probably the best thing about living in that old traditional dorm is that roommate you sleep only a few feet from. It sounds creepy, but it's true. Sharing that tiny living space brings you too close. I had so much pressure on me for months to find the perfect roommate(s), and I did, but stuff happens and plans change. And I am so glad they did. Within days, I had this person who I pretty much spend all my time with and laugh with. I hear people getting into fights with their suitemates, people who they don't even share a room with!
While it has only been a couple months, I don't see anything like that happening. I enjoy having a roommate, especially one who is as crazy as me. I know it sounds cliche, but everything happens for a reason, and I am very thankful it did, otherwise, I would have never met my roommate, someone who I see as a permanent fixture in my life, and I would have never had the traditional college dorm experience that I love.
It is still pretty early in the school year. High school seniors are either sending in college applications or just getting their letters from universities. While the investigation and work begin planning on where you will live in the fall as a new college freshman, you may have your sights set on getting into the prettier new dorms, but think about what you want your college experience to be, and remember location, location, location.