Baby Steps to the Real World

Housing at SU for students is among the best I have seen at a college or university. The dorms for freshman are really nice with big rooms and common areas hosting microwaves, couches, and tables on every floor. For upperclassmen, SU has built brand new apartment style suits with their own kitchens and living rooms. Because every student is garunteed housing all four years, many students choose to take advantage of that and continue to enjoy the perks and ease of meal plans and cleaning staff throughout their entire time at SU.

Despite the awesome amenities SU offers for living, some students choose to enter the real world slowly by moving off-campus during their junior or senior year. This is a route that I chose to take because I was curious about what it would be like to live on my own. This choice has allowed me to slowly learn the responsibilities of taking care of myself. I now have to pay my own bills, buy my own groceries, clean my own kitchens and bathrooms, and even have had to learn to cook for myself. This has been a fun and enlightening experience. I enjoy the freedom but definitely have had my fair of stress due to all the new responsibilities. I love to live off-campus but I still get jealous of the students who have held on to their meal plans and easy on-campus living style!

Here is a picture I took of my first attempt at breaded chicken. Had to first buy all the ingredients, cook and make the chicken, then pay for the gas bill after using the stove. Who knew dinner could be such a process!