Dorm Life

Living in a dorm is the ultimate college experience. You’re on your own for the first time; with no parents breathing down your throat, you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. Of course, this newfound freedom comes with strings attached, as does everything else in life. After spending the last 4 years of my life in a tiny dorm room squashed full of my belongings, I’m ready to divulge the lessons I’ve learned and the experiences I’ve had.


Advantages of dorm life at Taylor

Proximity
The dorms are as close to the classroom buildings as you can get. Any closer, and you’ll be sleeping on a desk. This makes is so much more bearable during the bitter cold of winter, when 10 seconds outside seems like an eternity and your hair immediately freezes over because you’ve just washed it (okay, maybe that only happens to me because I'm too lazy to blow dry my hair). They’re also close to the Dining Commons (most of them, anyway) and the gym, which is always convenient for you to work off that burger you just wolfed down. Basically, they’re close to everything. That’s why I can roll out of bed at 8.45am to stroll over to my 9am class.

Fellowship
You can never be lonely living in a dorm; there’s always something to do and someone to hang out with. Surrounded by people 24/7 and living with a roommate will wipe away any fears of being alone. It’s definitely a bonding experience, sharing the bathroom and learning people's little quirks. Really helps you learn how to tolerate one another and practice unconditional love. Plus there’s all the stuff like floor activities and events, movie nights, homework parties, pick-a-dates, floor retreats... And you know you’ll always have someone to sit with in the big old Dining Commons. Also, watching screaming girls run down the hallway in odd outfits is always entertaining albeit mildly shocking.

Simplicity
No need to buy groceries, pay the rent, cook or clean… Plus the rooms come furnished with beds, closets, desks, ‘free’ Internet access, and cable… That’s the life. All I have to do really is laundry. Oh yes, and we don't have to pay for laundry either. I'm sure the fee is included somewhere in our ridiculous $30,000 payment per year, but it's nice to be able to wash my clothes as many times as I want (which is once a week).

Disadvantages of dorm life at Taylor

Lack of privacy
If you are an introvert, like me, and you need time to yourself to recharge, then dorm life will take its toll on you. Constant companionship is definitely challenging, especially when there are 20 girls packed into your room for a party, and you just want to be left alone.

Roommate conflict
I’m lucky to never have had conflicts with any of my 4 roommates throughout the years, but some people have. And let me tell you, when they clash, it’s not pretty. Lots of shouting, hair pulling, and face slapping follow.

Never-ending noise
When you’re a freshman, everything is new and exciting, even at 2am on a school night. So yes, there’s plenty of noise 24/7, even during ‘quiet hours.’ From music blaring in the bathroom to people yakking on their phones to dance parties to people yelling their lungs out for no reason… Dorm life is definitely not quiet or drama-free.

Mandatory breaks
Break time comes, they kick us out the dorms, and we have to scramble to find some place to go. Great.

Mandatory meal plans
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Why do we have to pay for 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, when I don’t even use half of it?? Such a waste of money.

Random pictures of my room

Stuff on my shelves


TV + fridge, courtesy of my roomie


Fascinating photo of the door. haha.

So... dorm life does come with a ton of annoying shortcomings, but at the end of the day, it’s definitely an once-in-a-lifetime experience and the friendships you make will (hopefully) be long-lasting.