Swipe, swipe, swipe. Life is as easy as a swipe of a card when living in the dorms. What's not to love?
Dorm life is an essential part of the college experience. For some people, it is the only time in their lives where they will be surrounded door-to-door with other people just like them.
I lived in Ellicott for three years and most of my friends are people I met living in Wilkeson my first semester here. Dorm life forces you to come out of your shell because everyone is in the same boat - don't know anyone, nervous, just want to call home and forget the whole college thing.
But the dorms help you through this transition from high school living to college life. It gives timid people the opportunity to reinvent their personalities, especially at a school like UB. With such a vast variety of students entering the college every semester, students can hang out and make friends with whatever type of people they want.
In an apartment, people become solitary, unlike the dorms where students have the chance to meet a new face every day, if they desire.
Not only that, but the dorms can be helpful for students academically as well. With easily accessible quiet study lounges and libraries open around the clock, students never have to worry about their roommate's band jamming up their study time.
Also, the motivation to get up and actually go to class is a lot stronger when you can look out your window and see the building your class is in, as opposed to a 5-10 minute drive and then the never-ending search for a parking space.
Let us not forget about the meal plans. Students take this golden ticket for granted. I am now a senior living the apartment life. Not a day goes by that I don't miss casually swiping my UB card for a meal, or rolling into the dining hall for brunch after a long weekend.
The best part of living the dorm life happens right around this time second semester, when the harsh Buffalo weather has finally let up and the sun comes out and graces the students with beautiful spring weather.
Students come out of their little hibernation coves and enjoy the sun. Frisbee and KanJam come back into play and the Ellicott community comes alive again. No one can argue that the landscape of Ellicott is anything but beautiful.
Living in a dorm is an experience every college student deserves. Perhaps it isn't for everyone, but it is the only place where your friends truly become your family. You build friendships that will last a lifetime. You get to see every side of a person - the good and the bad - by sharing a room with them.
An essential stepping-stone of life takes place living in a dorm room. There will always be barriers to cross when living in close quarters with others, but the dorms help take the edge off when it comes to apartment time.
Email: skyobryan@buffalo.edu
