By Kelanie Cuadrado, Staff Writer
Living in your first apartment is like being a real person without actually becoming a real person. An apartment means independence and a new set of responsibilities. It also stands for the perfect hangout/party spot that isn’t under the careful watch out for RAs. It’s like being an adult, but better.
Firstly, roommates. I’m pretty sure that it’s actually impossible to act like a mature adult when you’re with your best friends all the time. You may be worrying about “adult things” like figuring out how to pay the rent and bills together, but chances are you’re spending even more time learning how to twerk on Youtube and accidentally burning countless batches of cookies while discussing how you should have saved your money for some healthy food.
You are not yet a “real” adult despite your apartment, as is made obvious by the actual adults living near you who wake up at 6 AM every weekday for work and go to bed early on the weekends. Shout out to the woman with the early morning job and a newborn baby. That’s taking responsibility for things. Staying up all night while watching Netflix is not being responsible. Just because you are living on your own and may feel like an adult doesn’t mean you are acting like one. Being calm, cool and collected at all times probably won’t happen. You see a roach or some kind of nasty bug, most people freak out thinking the bug will kill them if it touches the skin. Or maybe there is a smoke problem in your new place. Do you run and save yourself? Or do you panic in the room hoping nothing gets destroyed.
Any college student, on the other hand, can tell you that the nighttime is probably the least likely time for them to be relaxing. Most students seriously struggle to relax or get work done in the apartment, because something more interesting than homework or sleep is always going on. Productivity is at an all-time low when roommates are getting ready to go out, watching the newest episode of Modern Family or just eating snacks and chatting about life. Many adults would have the self-control to avoid such distractions. They know when it is time to wind down and get ready for their dull life. College students? Not a chance. Once the word part is heard, pajamas are swapped with party clothes.
While living in a dorm has its perks (proximity to campus, security, you can make friends with people in your hall, etc.), an apartment means you can live by your own rules. You have more freedom, plus it prepares you for the real world in terms of paying your own bills and cooking your own meals. Also, there’s no RA or anyone for you to answer to, so it’s a lot more fun.” All true. And I can’t deny that I still secretly feel awesome when I whip out my key card to my apartment building and swipe in every day.
