If you're like me and you just started apartment hunting within the past week or two, you've probably noticed that your BP has risen, you're breathing faster, and probably can't focus because of the stress of getting that one apartment that you'll call home for your upperclassmen years.

I mean, c'mon, I'm currently writing this during the second week of school and as of right now I know a good handful of friends that have already signed their leases for the 2018-2019 school year. Emphasis on the 2018 part. I just got out of syllabus week and now I have to research how much rent is, what utilities are included, how much the initial deposit is, etc. It is like I've been pushed and shoved into the adult world (much more than I already was) over the span of 24 hours.

It's a bundle of stress that I don't really need within the first (full) month of school. Nevertheless, I go through with it because it's either that, or I go homeless for the 2018-2019 school year- and the latter really shouldn't be an option.

I go through every freaking website from "Rent College Pads" to "Marquette University apartments." You name it, I've (more than likely) searched it. It's also really really hard to find an apartment when you can barely afford three textbooks at the beginning of the year. I mean, the cost of my textbooks this semester alone probably cost a good month or two of rent for an apartment, so looking at a really nice apartment and staring at the price on the computer screen really doesn't help the cause.

And it goes without saying that it's just way too expensive to live alone so you gotta find roommates that would like the same place as you, have the same budget, etc. Plus, searching for an apartment only gets worse when you live in the city. I can tell you this- the struggle is definitely real.

So again, and again, and again, I trudge through the struggle and I go on the apartment tours. I get excited and happy now that at this time next year, I'll be in my place and won't have to check people in or try to sneak anyone in because it's my place and I can have all the freedom I want.

Upperclassmen know the struggle. They've been through it and survived, and that means we can too. Expect the place to be trashy, expect the place to be nice, expect conflicts with froomies, plans falling through, and all that stressful jazz. But also expect that next year, you're just taking one more step toward becoming even more of an adult than you are now. Within the next year, you'll be signing some big lease contract and soon enough you'll be keying into your new apartment or house. At this time next year, the struggle you're going through right now will be nothing but a memory.

So to all you current sophomores here at Marquette that are currently struggling to find home for next year, I wish you good luck (and please don't take the apartment I want to live in) And to all of those who have yet to start...Godspeed. (Pro Tip: A LOT of the university owned apartments are still open).