College Dorm Life

/Home/e. College Life/College Dorm Life

College Dorm Life
Sharing your space, shower, laundry facility, and more
By Megan O'Leary-Buda
CollegeView

Going to college and living in a dorm is a living and learning experience. It's probably the only time in your life that you will ever be living with a community of people with the same interests, goals, and, not to mention, fears.

You should always understand that sharing a floor could sometimes pose a problem with only one washer and dryer and only a few showers. The key thing to learn is that patience is a virtue for college dorm life.

Building a great community is something that your resident assistant can do. But it definitely helps if you leave your door open to say "hi" to the people walking by. Participate in floor programs as well as all hall programs. This is a great asset to meeting new people aside from your roommate and the people on your floor alone.

Often, students find noise an issue while living in a residence hall. You must remember that kindness goes a long way. If your neighbor has their stereo too loud during quiet hours while you're studying for an exam, just kindly ask them to turn it down. Chances are, you would do the same for them.

Adjusting to college life in a residence hall is the first step in understanding how to live and face challenges on a daily basis. You will probably meet people who you don't like; however, you will probably meet some of your best friends for years to come. Remember that you are not alone. If you have questions, always know that there are many people throughout the buildings who have the answers, normally it's your resident assistant.

Megan O'Leary-Buda holds a master's degree in higher education administration from The University of Akron. She works at Quinnipiac University as a residence hall director for off-campus properties, a position that allows her to create new programs for first-year transfer students, sophomores, and juniors. She also supervises resident assistants living in the neighborhoods surrounding the campus.