I don’t mean to complain, but I am tired of living in Helaman Halls. It may seem nice, to have a dining plan and a “buffet,” not have to do dishes, and only clean one room (yours) for cleaning checks. Well, let me tell you some things you might not have realized about Helaman Halls.
About the cafeteria… have you ever wanted to be a pig, but are embarrassed with everyone watching you? When you were a kid, did you used to like eating a bowl of ice cream in front of the TV, in the privacy of your own home? Well, how would you like to eat all of your meals with people you know seeing you, and judging you by who you sit with, if you sit alone, if you choose not to sit with them, etcetera?
So, you get to clean only one room. Well, how would you like it if your living room was your roommate’s bedroom? That’s what it’s like. How are you supposed to work out with a DVD at six a.m, in the comfort of your own home, (as opposed to walking in the scary dark to the RB), if your roommate is sleeping in until 8:15? You would have to go to some public area, like the basement. Moreover, you’d have to do it sneakily, because you aren’t allowed to watch movies in public dorm places. (I’m assuming Workout DVDs count.)
Being a young adult having barely moved out, of course I tend to desire freedom to choose my own recipes and to be able to have a part of residence designated for people who are awake. Being introvert, of course I like solitude once in a while. Perhaps that’s why I am attracted to the house apartments, which are just houses, because I want to be able to escape from the social atmosphere of college once in a while. Dorms just remind one of college. Houses can let you forget and pretend you are an independent working adult. I have been warned that I might not like living in a house (instead of an apartment complex), but because of these reasons, I am biased towards the houses and see them in quite a good light.
I totally understand what you mean. I was the same way. There were definite perks to living in Helaman Halls but there is a different sense of freedom and capability that comes from living off campus. I was in Helaman Halls my first semester and moved out at the beginning of January. Its a decision I definitely do not regret making. I do understand though that there are those that love the dorms and prefer to stay there. I think its all a matter of preference and attitude. I'm a tad jealous actually of those that are able to make the most out of living in the dorms. Perhaps I just didn't have the right attitude about it- definitely a possibility.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean on eating alone in the Cannon, but i've come to terms with it and decided that I really don't care whether or not people see me eating alone. Hope you make a wise choice on your housing situation next term!
ReplyDeleteYes thank you! I agree that there is a lot to like, and hate, about where we live. I think we are lucky and blessed to live somewhere as safe and nice as Helaman Halls. Although there is a serious lack of privacy and it's hard to make this feel like home!
ReplyDeleteWow, you just took the words right out of my mouth. The dorms are terrible the way they are set up. I actually just moved out of them at semester. Ya the meal plan is nice, and being with all freshman, but it has more cons than pros in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI have felt exactly the same way many times since living at the dorms. There are definitely many things that I don't like about the dorms, and sometimes I wish I didn't live in the dorms. There are also many times when I love it here. It just depends on the attitude, and the way you interact with others. It's great in the sense that you get to meet a lot of people, but,as you said, there is never that sense of "home".
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