It's crazy to think that I am about to be a junior in college, and I'm about to move into my first apartment. I am so excited to live off campus, but I have to admit that I will miss the dorms at Towson. From the late-night common room chats with my floormates, to roommate bonding, I have learned many lessons from the my dorm room experience.
1. Never, ever take the top bunk.
I unfortunately had the pleasure of spending my entire freshman year on the top bunk in a triple. I am 6-foot-4-inches tall, so climbing up to my bed every night was the not the best and getting down was not that much better. I regret taking the top bunk on move-in day ... but I persevered and slept in the top bunk the whole year, even with my feet hanging over the end. I mean it when I say be the first one to get your bed on move-in day.
2. You do not have to be best friends with your roommate(s).
When I moved into Tower A as a freshman, I thought I was going to be great friends with my roommates, but that was not the case. We were friendly, but we lived our own lives. A lot of incoming students have the expectation that they are going to be great friends with their roommates, and then they are disappointed when that does that doesn't happen. It is great to be friends with your roommate, but learn to be cordial so that you are able to live with them if you are not able to be friends.
3. Get to know your RA.
Luckily, I had two great RAs both years of living in Tower A. They were great resources for events going on around Towson and just great to talk to, plus they let me vent when I had an issue. I think RAs are under-utilized by students. Many students don't feel comfortable talking to their RA, but they're there for a reason, so use them!
4. Talk to the people on your floor.
I met my best friends at Towson on my floor freshman year. It is great to get out of your comfort zone and talk to new people. They are your neighbors, so go and talk to them! They could be in the same major as you are, and you can study with them. You don't want to be the only person who doesn't know anyone on your floor by the end of the year.
5. Don't stay in your dorm room all the time.
Yes, your dorm is your home-away-from-home, but that doesn't mean you should stay in all the time. I barely was in my room both years, and I am so happy I wasn't. I got to meet a lot of different people, and I have great memories at Towson. Go out and explore campus, and see what Towson has to offer.
