Despite what I was told before moving into the dorms, I cherished my time at Collins LLC. Although the rooms may be small and the meals may be repetitive, she was able to make friends and participate in activities that made her freshman year experience at IU even more enjoyable. I found it easier to make friends in the hallways than in giant lecture classes. Although I’m excited about the next chapter and living at home with roommates, I do miss my dorm days.
Some of the negative stereotypes I heard were that the food was bad and that they wanted more distance from their roommates., And I hated the dormitory. When I arrived at IU, I was worried about what life would be like in the dormitory. What about sharing a toilet in the hallway? Will I meet people with the same interests as me? Do you remember waking up to your alarm? It took me a while to get used to it, but I quickly realized that living in a dorm opened doors for me and helped me expand my field. It was easy to walk to class. I learned to take care of myself. I found a friend. And it was a lot of fun.
Dormitories provide the connection and community that we humans crave.
The friends we make during our first year in the dorms can completely change our social structure throughout our college experience. You meet friends in the hallway or at a coffee shop, they introduce you, and your network grows. You stay up late at night in your room or in the courtyard and get to know each other. You go to a concert or a football game.When school is tough, we lean on each other., Or people bring you down. You will form new bonds with people who will be with you for the rest of your time at IU and, hopefully, the rest of your life.
Living with lots of people has helped me feel more confident in social situations. Dorm life stimulates daily interactions with friends and strangers. They greet each other in the hallways, sit at communal tables to eat, and participate in group activities. Sometimes we sit in the hallway until late at night, sharing stories and laughing. It might not be fun for everyone, but I really enjoy simply walking down the hallway to take a break or bumping into someone on my way home and it becomes a fun time all night long. .
These supportive communities will help you make friends, find opportunities, and find support
Although I will miss living in the dorms, I am also looking forward to sharing the next phase of my university life in rented housing with the friends I have made at Collins. There’s more freedom and space, no more quiet time, no more dragging shampoo down the hallway. Host a dinner party, play ping pong in the garage, turn up the music, and when the weather is nice, bring the chairs outside to soak up the sun.
It is bittersweet to say goodbye to this part of my college life. I am grateful that I have been able to meet friends and make memories over the past eight months. This one-year dorm transition for her helped prepare me for living on my own. I am grateful for the support I received while living in Collins. But I’m ready for a new adventure. And I’m excited about what’s next.
Jack Davis (he/him) is a freshman studying journalism.
