Author: Strawberry

College can be very exciting to a new student. As a freshman there can be many new opportunities and challenges. There are more opportunities to meet new people and make new friends compared to high school. I am here to tell you that there will be bumps in the road in college. For example, many people I know and even I am struggling with having a roommate. That struggle could be because of different views or different schedules that collide. It also can be the struggle with living with someone in a small room. Not only is living with someone new but also have new and harder classes. Depending on how you were as a student in high school some of the habits you gain can follow you to college. For example, I had horrible studying skills in high school and now in college I struggled with my studying skills at the beginning of the semester but now I have figured it out.

On the other hand, there are so many positive and exciting new opportunities in college. Such as being in a dorm if you choose to and living on your own. That means being in charge of when you go to bed at night or how late you can stay out. You also have more opportunities to be more involved in extracurriculars. There are ways to still be in sports. It is called intramurals and you can play any sport but not have to be competitive. It’s just for fun. Personally, one way that I keep myself happy and successful in school is to hang out with my friends and work on homework together. This way we are able to both get our work done but we also can also talk about our days or anything that could be on our minds. College is one of the scary and most exciting milestones in everyone’s life.

Living in the dorm has its trials and tribulations just like anything else. Although exciting, it definitely has its challenges. For example, I now have to share my safe space with someone other than my family. I also must deal with the distance from my family. I do miss talking to them every day and asking how their day went when we are eating dinner together. Another struggle of living in a dorm is not having enough space. We are packed so close together that we don’t have enough personal space. We also don’t get the comfort of watching a movie on a couch and eating some good popcorn. There are lounge areas to use but they don’t give the privacy of someone’s own home would. Also, when living on campus we get to miss out on the enjoyment of having meals together as family. Now in college everyone has something going on so most of the students in college are eating by themselves. These are just some of the negatives of dorm life but so many more positives.

Living in the dorms is another way to be on campus and helps to be more involved. My parents and I both agree that I needed to be on campus for at least my first year. So, I can be more involved on campus. I also can be able to move out of the house and have a sense of freedom. But living with a roommate is a whole different story compared to living with family. I love living with my roommate to have my own place and only rely on ourselves. The room does remind me of living with my sister in the same room when we were younger. But now I am much older, and the room is not pink. Sharing a space with another person is a huge adjustment but by now I have gotten used to it. My roommate and I have no trouble getting along with each other. It also helps that her and I met in February and have gotten along ever since. We have even figured out a routine with both of our schedules for the morning and night. The worst thing about living in a dorm is having a small space with another person and learning to share. But living in the dorm does have an upside. Living on my own has helped me grow into a different person and not have to worry about what my parents would think. Don’t worry I have not gone crazy I just have had freedom. Being in a dorm also helps you grow and meet new people on campus. I have been able to make friends on my floor and meet them in my classes. There also have been many times I have made cookies in the kitchen and have shared them with my floor. I am so happy I chose to live on campus to have the full experience of college. 

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College can be stressful as well as enjoyable. It has been a huge change for me and my family with me being away from home. I do get to see them every other weekend due to my job. My dad has also taken me out for dinner to visit. Another difference is living with a roommate rather than living with my family. I have known my roommate since February. During the summer she and I were to develop a good friendship leading up to us moving in together. Both of our parents were concerned that we were hanging out a lot during the summer. They were concerned that once we moved in we wouldn’t get along. Luckily, we have no problems. We also have been able to increase our friend group with people we have met or graduated with.

I think college has also helped me break out of my boundaries. I have been able to make new friends, go out, and have fun. I haven’t been very involved on campus besides events that have happened. I just have not seen or heard of a club that I would like to take part in. I also have been able to manage my time wisely and prioritize my schoolwork. I don’t think the schoolwork has been that hard or challenging. Although I do have some challenging classes, I know there are people who can help me, and I know all I need to do is ask for help. There have been a lot of changes since moving in and I can’t wait for the rest of the year.