Being in college definitely has its benefits. The freedom, independence, ability to manage your own time, and even the cool things you learn in your classes all add up to one awesome opportunity of a lifetime. That being said, of course, there are those days when you miss things from your pre-college life. So just what do you miss the most?
15 Things You Miss the Most While in College
- Quality toilet paper. There really is only so long that a person can go on using one-ply that is bought in bulk. True, the university has to buy a lot of toilet paper, but who ever knew you'd miss the good stuff back at home?
- Your privacy. College can be amazing because of the diverse people you'll meet there. But every once in a while, not running into people everywhere you go -- from the library to the bathroom to the mailroom -- might be nice. It's pretty darned hard to get some good, old-fashioned privacy on a college campus.
- Quiet. 2:00 in the afternoon in your residence hall? Loud, with sounds of people moving about. 2:00 in the morning in your residence hall? Still loud, now just with sounds of people running about. It's hard to find a quiet place on a college campus. Even the library has little tufts of giggles, chit chat, cell phones going off, and that ridiculously loud sound of someone trying to sneak open a bag of chips. (Finding good, quiet places to study on campus can be one of your biggest challenges.)
- Not having to wear shoes everywhere. Chances are, back at home, you could plop out of bed and walk to the kitchen for breakfast without even thinking about where your shoes are. Chances are, too, that you'd rather walk on hot coals than through your residence hall (or any other part of campus) without something protecting your feet.
- Comfy, clean chairs. Most chairs on a college campus are designed for heavy use by a wide range of people. And given their heavy use, they often aren't the cleanest things around. Don't you miss being able to curl up in a small chair, designed to be cozy and comfy and just for one person, instead of the huge, kinda funky chairs they have in the coffee shop?
- Seeing little kids and families around. While your professors and some community members may come on campus with their kids, it's often a rarity. Seeing little kids run around, ride bikes, and play with toys can be something you'd never thought you'd miss while being away at school.
- Having your pet around. Strangely, you may miss your pet more than some members of your family while you're away at school. (Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.) You can't exactly Skype with that quiet, soft companion of yours, but you surely can miss him or her!
- Having your own bed. Do you have a place to sleep at college? Of course. But having your own bed, that hasn't already been used by a million people (who left some funky stains on the mattress that need to be cleaned, but we'll just ignore that for now), suddenly seems like such a gift. And there are few things as comforting as crawling into your own bed during visits home.
- Home cooked meals of reasonable portion sizes and prices. Chances are, when you lived at home, your family wasn't cooking meals for 400+ people. And you weren't required to pay $8.50 for a plate of gummy pasta that's been sitting under a heat lamp for 40 minutes. (Not to mention that, at home, you never had to worry about what to do if your meal plan is running low.) Being served out of a nice, normal-sized baking dish never sounded so fantastic!
- Taking a shower in a regular shower. In college, it's a true rarity to have your own shower. If you're in a residence hall, you've learned the delicate art of showering with other people in the bathroom while maintaining your own privacy. (You know all the rules of the college shower -- including just how far you can make that icky curtain stretch!) Who knew the simple, traditional shower/tub combo could be missed so much?!
- Being able to keep your things in the bathroom. The shower caddy is a good idea in theory. But good heavens, wouldn't it just be nicer to be able to leave things like your shampoo and shaving cream in the bathroom without having to worry about 15 people using it?
- Not having to wear flip-flops in the shower. Speaking of things you miss about your home bathroom ... when's the last time you had to wear flip-flops in your own shower at home? Who knew the feeling of clean tile on your toes could be considered nostalgic?
- Being able to talk on the phone without anyone hearing. Even if you talk in your room, your roommate might be there doing the don't-worry-I'll-pretend-I'm-not-listening-even-though-I-totally-am act. And if you don't have a roommate, you know from experience how thin the walls are in a residence hall. And if you don't talk in your room and decide to go outside or for a walk, it's nearly impossible not to run into someone else. Don't you miss just being able to shut the door and have a private phone call?!
- Coming home to the smell of someone cooking something hearty and tasty. Now let's be clear on this: You often smell things cooking in a residence hall or apartment building. But when's the last time you smelled something delicious that took a long time to prepare, like lasagna or baked chicken? The smell of canned soup reheating, popcorn being microwaved, or ramen boiling doesn't exactly qualify as "home cooking." And there really is nothing better than walking into a house -- especially after a hard day -- and smelling something delicious cooking. (Fortunately, there are some feels-like-homemade meals you can cook in your residence hall microwave.)
- Using non-industrial plates, bowls, cups, and silverware. In the dining hall, you have 2 choices: Super heavy, industrial dishware -- complemented by bent forks and dull knives, of course -- or disposable stuff. And back in your room, you have your one little set of cheap dishware that you have to wash every time you use it. Did you ever think you'd miss your dishes back at home, too?
No comments:
Post a Comment