Have you ever
lived on campus before? If not then you truly do miss out on a part of the
college experience. I have lived on campus and it has been great so far, but
there are also some horror stories out there as well. This week we will tell you
guys some of the awesome events that unfold once you sign or pay your housing
deposit, as well as what to prepare for if something occurs along the way.
The Freshmen halls, here at Mason
specifically, range from President’s Park, the Commons, Eastern Shore if you
are honors or an athlete, and maybe even a chance of living in Piedmont if you
are lucky. I was lucky enough to live in Piedmont my freshmen year because I
was in the Cornerstones program. Our first year can make or break how we spend
time the rest of our years in college, whether that is along side good friends
or having to make new friends, because of clashing personalities.
Good dorms are where anything can
happen but are places that are still protected. Lightsaber battles and Nerf gun
wars where people stay up all night just to be the last person standing or to
even get lucky and pull an upset victory. This dorm may have certain times where
everybody really hates each other or where everyone surprisingly loves each
other a little too much, but overall it is a positive experience because
everyone is just helping everybody enjoy their freshman year.
Dorm rooms specifically are a little
weird, especially if you are a single child and have to share a bedroom with up
to three other people that you barely know. Now the fight to determine who gets
what bed can always be tricky, so in preparation of next semester of next year,
remember to come a little early than your move-in time, so you can call dibs.
Many a times have I been left with the bed I’ve slept in because I arrived on
time but not just in the nick of time. Besides that, go into finding out who
your roommate is on a positive note. Often times we go into new relationships
thinking negatively of someone causing an early disconnect in what could
possibly be the best relationship you have throughout most of your college
years, until that special lady or guy shows up.
When the end of the first week
happens, you should definitely try to catch up or introduce to people on your
floor. Now it may be awkward, being that almost everyone is completely
different from what you are used to, but give it some time, and most of the
time they grow on you. These new friends can change a lot in your life,
sometimes negatively, but most of the time positively. They help create
memories and stories that you tell around what seems like the biggest turkey
ever when you first come back home for Thanksgiving. These stories may be about
simply going in to the surrounding city, staying in and watching scary movies
together or building a pillow and blanket fort. Try to capitalize on all the opportunities
in your hall freshman year, even if you already have friends or are in a club
on campus, because these people on your floor add variety and a new outlook to
your life.
Now there are some bad things in
living with new people in a foreign place that is totally different than where
you have lived the past 18 years of your life. There may be breakups that tear
up a friend group, fights between roommates that create silence, or someone
gets hurt by being too friendly or goofy, but this is a part of life. Each dorm
hall is a little microcosm of life, where everyone can do their own separate
thing or spend the first year of their life away from home together. A place
where anything can go, as long as you do not mess with the RA, and a place
where you define who you are for the rest of your life. So now you know
what actually goes on in dorms a little bit better and you can thank that all
to the PATRIOT!!!!
