As a senior in high school who had always had my own room, it was hard for me to picture myself sharing a room equivalent to the size of a shoe box with not one, but two, other girls whom I did not know. In fact, the thought was horrifying.
In the effort to make the next two semesters of my life as tolerable as possible, I searched for my possible roommates and came across two seemingly normal girls—or as normal as I could suspect one to be after conducting some serious Facebook stalking—and decided to room with them.
I wish someone could have taken a picture of my face on move in day when I walked into my cluttered, seemingly two-by-four room in Chestnut Hall with all my bags and boxes (half of which got sent back home with my mom upon my realization that I had nowhere to keep it all).
As my freshman year progressed, I slowly became accustomed to having no alone time or personal space, sharing a bathroom with 6 other girls, and having to hike my way up to my top bunk every night.
With winter break approaching, I can remember the bittersweet feeling; finally getting to go home and get some time to myself—but is that really what I wanted? After being home, in my own big room, I quickly realized I missed my little dorm. I missed my twin bed, the constant distractions from my roommates and all my friends being walking distance away. Freshman housing was truly a blessing in disguise.
I could have never imagined the inseparable bond that would be formed between the girls I shared my freshman dorm with. I cannot imagine anyone forming such a bond in any way other than squeezing all your personal items, including yourself, in such a small area and being forced to live with it. I made my forever friends. I made memories I will never forget. Living in that little room, I learned things about my friends that created a bond like no other.
Now, as a sophomore living in my off campus house, I miss getting ready in our little room all together, not knowing what the night held for us. I miss laying in all our little twin sized beds at night with the “sleepy-ha-ha’s” talking about the most random things imaginable. I most of all miss my little dorm room, 153 Chestnut Hall.
So, for incoming freshman who may be dreading their first year of college, let me assure you: freshman dorm living is not the most ideal situation, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you cannot get anywhere else.
By: Hailee Berardy, Marlton, NJ (Burlington County)
Public relations major, advertising minor
