It’s an annual source of grief many of us. Early April rolls around and suddenly your seemingly grounded sense of place is absolutely uprooted by the housing lottery, namely your number in the housing lottery.
Unfortunately, this goes against the advice (albeit banal) some of us receive in high school when SAT and ACT and AP numbers taunt us. Unlike those exam scores you are quite literally defined by your housing lottery number. Maybe it just feels that way, but it can certainly stratify a group of friends when half live north and half live south or when half live in iconic buildings and the others are sprawled out in a measly conglomerate of Caples, Bushnell, and maybe Mather.
Regardless, the housing lottery is a necessary evil, but luckily you are guaranteed housing. You will live somewhere. Sometimes, the most unexpected housing can come from the largest and “worst” numbers in the lottery.
For three years in a row, a current senior received a number in the last 20 for his class. Assuming the numbers were randomly assigned, the chances of this happening were 1/10,000. Maybe he’s the most lucky at being unlucky. Where did he live those three years he had pretty poor numbers? He lived in Hannah, Old Kenyon, and Leonard. No buys outs happened. No cheating happened. No swaps. No pulling strings. Sometimes a roommate with a great number can help too.
That being said, make the most of where you will be living. Maybe where you are living isn’t your first choice, but these nooks can come with perks. As with most of college, this experience is what you make of it. Here are a few places to focus on in your new digs to make the most of where you live.
1. Windows
Give those babies a little wipe down and be amazed by how much accumulated dust and dirt you will be able to wipe away. Your room will feel brighter with those few extra rays of sunshine flooding in.
2. The Smell
No doubt, dorms and apartments have a certain scent. It is musty and dusty and generally unpleasant. Solve this problem by opening windows, vacuuming, and keeping the space clutter-free. Febreze is a good friend too!
3. The Location
When buying property the saying is “location, location, location.” Well, the lottery can rip that choice from you. Think about transportation options. You can bring a car to campus, but that brings up the parking lot issue which is a whole other can of worms. Biking is always easy and can help you travel a little bit more quickly. Sadly, hoverboards are banned on campus, but those would be a primo option for chic and quick travel around campus if your dorm location isn’t where you’d like it to be.
4. Your Roommate
Do not let the new space overshadow other important facets of college. Despite your location, you’ll be living with your friends! This time, you have the upperhand. The college hasn’t placed you with a rando. Knowing the personality and lifestyle of your roommate can help alleviate some anxiety.
5. Friends Everywhere
With friends sprawled out all over campus, you have a great excuse to do some more exploring. Kenyon is small, but it is not void of nooks and crannies that remain unclaimed by you. Take some time to adventure and understand that the campus as a whole is your true home, no matter where you are.
I understand I’ve probably reiterated things you’ve heard since the beginning of freshman year, but sometimes everyone needs a refresher in how to embrace what is given to you. Make your space your own and it will soon seem like home no matter how much trepidation you have at the moment.
Image Credit: Kenyon College Special Collections on Flickr