5 Lessons You Learn While Dorming at College

Since moving out of my house in late August and moving into a small college dorm, I have learned so many new things that I never thought I would have. I took things for granted while I was home, it was almost like a slap in the face once I got to college. Even though many things are different while living far from home, I definitely wouldn’t change my decision. Here are just a few of the life lessons I have learned since moving into my dorm…

1. There’s no privacy 

You’ll learn quickly enough that inside of the dorms you have zero privacy. You live with another person or people, which isn’t always a bad thing but sometimes you need your space. There are also people knocking on your constantly, after a while you get used to the noise, and the lack of privacy. 

2. It feels weird going back home

When you are home, you miss your friends at school and when you are at school you miss everyone at home. When you are at home you feel like a stranger in your house, your parents move things around and its almost like the place you lived for 18 years changed completely in 3 months. You get used to this feeling but it is definitely still there whenever you head home for a holiday.

3. A phone call home can change your whole day

If you’re having a bad day, talking to your parents can help. If you are on top of the world and need to tell everyone talking to your parents is great. Phone calls home keep you grounded and sometimes when you are feeling homesick, one of your mom’s jokes is all you need to get yourself back on track.

4. The girls floor is dirtier than you think

50 girls living on the same floor with 5 garbage cans, what could possibly go wrong? Sure everyone knows that the guy’s floor will be a mess, but for some reason I never thought the girls floor would be as well. On Fridays when we have to wait until Monday for the garbage to be taken out, there are some pretty weird smells and a huge pile of garbage waiting for the housekeeping ladies—Sorry!

5. The value of a home-cooked meal

After eating food in the dining hall for months at a time, you tend to forget how good mom’s cooking was. Something that you once took for granted every single night is now something that you crave. Sometimes you even find yourself wishing you could eat the one meal you couldn’t stand. 

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