Whenever I tell someone I’m living in the dorms this semester their first response is usually, “But, wait… you aren’t a freshman. Why would you want to live in the dorms?” I usually freeze up when asked this question, because honestly, I don’t really know. You see, when I first realized it would be possible for me to graduate in December I kind of panicked about housing so I just signed up to live in the dorms. 

A lot of the time when you think of living in dorms, you think about freshmen. Especially at Winona State because after freshman year a lot of upperclassmen either live off campus or in the university apartment. But there are a few upperclassmen who live in the mix of all these new faces on campus. And I am one of them. So let me share with you a little bit about why I chose this route for my last semester.

It was the cheapest option for me for the time being.

While I am aware that it would have been cheaper in the long run to live in a cheap off-campus apartment with a bunch of roommates for my final semester, it just wasn’t feasible for me. I lived at home for the summer and worked for my family’s business, and while I did save up some money from doing that, I wouldn’t have had a job while in Winona for the semester. Not having a job while in Winona and living in an apartment would probably make me the worst roommate in the history of roommates if I couldn’t pay rent. Instead, my housing AND dining goes right into my tuition. I mean, I’m already paying to be here, why not really pay to be here.

It’s safe.

Obviously bad things can happen anywhere, but I feel much safer knowing I’m on campus rather than in a beat down rental house. When I lived off campus, I lived in a house about a five minute drive from campus and close to downtown, and let me tell you… that house had its problems. I did not feel totally safe walking from my car to my apartment at night. Not only that, but from the second my roommates and I moved in we had major bug problems. I would much rather live on campus than wake up to a baseball sized spider crawling by me. Thank you, next. 

It’s just so easy.

When it all comes down to it, living in dorms is just the easiest option. I can think of a lot worse things in the world than living in a dorm hall with a bunch of freshman. Like, for example, that baseball sized spider I mentioned before. Not only am I right on campus, but I have access to everything I need. The dorms have community kitchens, showers, bathrooms, printers, laundry services, and if I need to be on campus late to meet with friends I am already there. 

In conclusion, while it is weird living back in the dorms as a senior, this is a choice I made. I knew it wasn’t going to be the most ideal situation going into it, but in less than four months things will be totally different yet again. I’ll be graduated, (hopefully) have a job, and living in a new city. But for now, I just have to stick with it. I got this.