Being a germophobe in college is definitely something that is a challenge. You probably have thoughts about how gross your dorm is, the bathrooms in the buildings, or various things that are just not well kept whatsoever. Every time I walk into the bathrooms in my dorm, I brace myself for whatever is going to confront me on the other side of the door. You would think in a shared environment, such as the dorms, that people would try to keep things nice and orderly for the rest of the people in the building. Well, that is certainly not the case. Clogged drains of hair in the showers and gross food residue from washing dishes in the sinks is not uncommon at all. Sometimes I will walk into the bathroom, and just walk back out, because facing that disaster is honestly not worth it.

In addition, the dining hall is not the most sanitary place either. You try to find a nice place to sit, but every single table has crumbs and ketchup smears on the surface. Take a look under the table, there will be horrors you never even considered. Is it that hard to clean up after yourself? Apparently yes...yes it is. You see people sneeze or cough on the food without any regard for others. Then touching the buffet style serving utensils that 1,000 other people have already used. Someone could have sneezed into their hand and then served themselves with the same pair of tongs you now hold...just think about that one.

Now let's talk about the classrooms. The desks have disgusting greasy marks and who knows what covering the top. Let's not even talk about when your hand accidentally brushed the underneath of the desk and you are met with old gum that people so generously stuck underneath. Touching all the doorknobs that everyone else has touched is not too pleasant either. Who knows what other people have touched throughout the day and are now distributing onto that very doorknob you are touching.

If you have a bus system in your school, you know how gross those things can get. Between the stained bus seats and smudged windows, you are basically sitting in a germ infested metal tube. Everyone stuffs into that small space. Sometimes, on really busy days, you are smushed right up against other people. Smells run rampant, and people sneezes and coughs just hang in the air. Buses are definitely the ultimate germ sanctuary.

So everyone grab a Purell bottle and Lysol wipes, because people are gross, and germs run rampant in college. Better yet, just wear a sanitary mask over your face and gloves on your hands, maybe those are the only things that can save you.