Living off campus

Hello! When you get to be a junior and senior, many of your friends will start moving off campus. Having your own apartment can be pretty exciting, but there are also some downsides.

Pro: PrivacyOne of the things people are terrified of when they come to college is having a roommate. Especially those of us who grew up used to having our own space that we could escape to when necessary. I'm not going to lie to you, having a roommate isn't easy. My roommate my first two years of college was and is one of my best friends, but living together was hard at times. She had a boyfriend, I kept impossible hours studying all the time, I wanted to nap when she wanted to study, I wanted to study when she wanted to nap--you know how it goes. Living off campus, especially if you opt to live on your own like I did, means no having to work out schedules, no awkward "can my boyfriend stay the night" phone calls, no worrying about waking anyone up if you come home late.
Con: PrivacyAll that said, living off campus, especially at Transy, kinda isolates you. My roommate and I were best friends even though we had hard times living together. On campus, I knew that she would always show up soon if I needed someone to talk to or take a study break with. Now I have to pack up my stuff and haul myself over to campus every night if I want to hang out with my friends that still live there. Also, it distances you some from the social scene. You're not as aware when campus-wide events are going on. Yeah yeah, you can check columns, but sometimes events get lost on there--you don't get to see the posters and advertising tables set up in Forrer Hall, and those are the things that -really- keep you in the know about cool events.
Pro: Having your own kitchen
Having your own kitchen is, in my opinion, probably the best thing about living off campus. Not only have I learned how to cook, I have lost weight and I always know exactly what is going into my food. Now, I'm not dogging on Transy food necessarily, it always tasted good, but the unlimited options in the cafeteria (and that goes for any school) can often lead to over eating and can egg on the freshman 15--I gained it. When I decided to go vegetarian last year, it became harder to find what I was craving in the cafeteria--they always had vegetarian options, but sometimes it just wasn't what I wanted. Having my own kitchen gives me the freedom to control everything about what I put in my body. I know that what I'm eating is going to be healthy, and I have the ability to cook only the exact amount I want to eat. That freshman 15 is gone now!

Con: Having your own kitchen.

Cooking takes a lot of time and planning that most college students don't have to spare. Plus, the cafeteria is hands down the best bonding place on campus, aside from Greek events if you decide to go through recruitment. I made so many of my friends freshman and sophomore year because we just happened to be eating at the same time. The food's nice, but the company is better, if you will. Now, for me, I can't go to dinner. I get off work right when dinner is ending. If you don't have a job, though, and want to make the effort a couple of times a week, I'd recommend eating in the caf every now and again to maintain some of those close friendships and maybe make new ones!

Pro: NO SHOWER SHOES!


Okay, let's face it, having to share a bathroom with an entire hall full of girls can be kinda awkward sometimes. It's weird that you have to wear shoes in the shower, and sometimes you have to wait for an open sink to brush your teeth. This is why having your own bathroom can TOTALLY RULE. No more shower shoes; you know that the hair in the tub is yours, and you know everything is clean because you keep it that way. And hey, if you wanna walk around your place in the buff for a while, no big deal!

Con: Having your own bathroom.

Cleaning the bathroom sucks. Even one as tiny as mine. I hate scrubbing the toilet and cleaning the tub more than any other chore besides dishes. I keep it clean, but it's time out of my day that sometimes I don't have. At Transy, we have an incredible staff that cleans up after us, (don't take advantage, though! Their jobs are hard enough as it is--at least clean up to the best of your ability!) If a toilet is malfunctioning, or a sink drain clogged, no need to wait on your landlord, the transy staff will have it taken care of in no time! Also, awkward run ins in the bathroom in the middle of the night are a great way to make friends with people on your hall you never would have imagined getting along with. I can name off countless people with whom I started a friendship in the bathroom. I know that's a little weird and gross, but you'll see what I mean when you get here!

Of course this isn't every pro and con, but these are the biggies--hope maybe it's helpful if you ever consider moving off campus!

Caffeine Addiction

Hi, my name is Amanda (Hi, Amanda!), and I have a problem…

Friends, it’s time to discuss a palpable problem. It’s one that directly affects me, about a bajillion other college students, and will likely be haunting you shortly. Yes, I’m talking about addiction, caffeine addiction.

In college you’ll be exposed to a lot of things. Alcohol, cigarettes, sex, drugs; I’m not going to lie to you, they’re going to be there no matter where you choose to go to college. But the consequences of the above are easily recognizable, and it’s pretty easy to say no if you make up your mind to avoid them. Other problematic behaviors are not so obvious, though, and often it will completely escape you that you have succumbed to them until you’re lying in bed at 3am wondering why on earth you still can’t get to sleep.

Ah, caffeine addiction. It lurks in dark dorm halls and 24 hour study spaces, in the library and in classrooms all across campus. College students face an incredibly heavy workload in addiction to multiple extra-curriculars and perhaps even an off-campus job. Naturally, if we care about our academic performance and find ourselves strapped for time to complete everything, the first thing to go as a priority is sleep (which is bad, bad, bad!). To compensate, some students’ blood flows with Diet Coke (gotta watch those calories), energy drinks, coffee, or, my personal vice, tea.

My "tea corner" in my kitchen.

Now, I genuinely enjoy the experience of a nice cup of tea—the smell of the leaves, how the green/yellow color slowly overtakes the clear water, the bitter bite of the first sip. I love it. But sometimes, especially during a rough week where assignments are never ending, I rely on it, and this is a very bad thing. I find myself with the classic caffeine headache if I’ve gone too long without it. I find myself unable to get to sleep no matter how late it already is. If I only have time to either make tea or eat in the morning, I’ll almost always choose the tea.

It’s hard to break the habit once you’ve started, because it fulfills its purpose beautifully. I always get my work done, but at the expense of sleep and sometimes even health. It’s not worth it, so just consider this a warning for when you begin your collegiate experience. Don’t even let it start! Order decaf!

Break 2009!

Hi, folks!

Another winter break has come and gone and classes will begin again on Monday. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it! This semester I’ll be in for a double dose of each of my majors with Social Psychology, Statistical Analysis for the Social Sciences, Edith Wharton and the 19th Century British Novel. I could stack my books to the ceiling, but it’s going to be so worth it!

Honestly, break was bitter sweet. I had a lot of bad things happen all at once, none of which I had any control over. I spent a lot of break in tears, but some time with books, friends and family eased the pain. This is part of the reason that I can’t wait for school. School is one place I am completely comfortable. It’s something I can pour myself into. I can disappear into my books for a little while, or into a club or committee, and honestly all that other bad stuff goes away, if only for a few hours. I know I’ll be complaining here in a few posts about all the late nights and tests and papers and projects (oh my!), but at the end of the day, it makes me happy, and I think when you take a walk around Transy’s campus, you’ll see that the majority of students feel the exact same.

The books I read this break: Ender's Game, The Theory of Light and Matter, and The Diary of a Nobody

I cleaned up this Christmas. My biggest surprise was having my Dad pay for my upcoming May Term trip to South America. He had agreed to pay for half the trip if I’d cover the other half, but when I opened an envelope that contained a deposit slip for what I assumed was just his half, he had put the full amount in my bank account. I was extremely grateful, as that’s one less concern off my mind for this semester. I also felt extremely silly and officially grown up when I got a new vacuum cleaner and the spice rack and apron I’ve wanted for my apartment. My inner feminist may have cried a little, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love to cook and keep my apartment clean. I vaguely recall jumping up and down when I opened the vacuum. It was only slightly embarrassing. I also FINALLY got a new digital camera (the flash on my old one bit the dust), so I can stop stealing my blog pictures off the internet or reusing old ones! All in all, a good Christmas!

Some of my gifts! Apron, spice rack, make-up mirror, my favorite bubble bath and lotion, beautiful leather gloves and scarf, camera and vacuum cleaner!

New Years was fun as well! I went to Louisville to bring in 2010 with some old friends I hadn’t seen all semester, and it made my break. Now it’s back to work and back to class! Can’t wait to keep you updated this semester!