Living on-campus has its perks

By Meredith Lyverse

Moving off-campus is a rite of passage for most college upperclassmen. Whether it’s with roommates, solo, in a house or in an apartment, moving is daunting and exciting.

I lived on Bellarmine’s campus from fall 2018 until spring 2020. Life on campus seemed boring and inconvenient at the time, but there are aspects I miss, too.

I would never live in a dorm room again if I had the choice. It was moldy and made of concrete walls, but the convenience of living on campus was almost worth it. Walking to class was a part of my day that I cherished. It was a chance to get fresh air and take in the campus for 10 minutes. I didn’t even mind the hills. My calves haven’t looked the same since I lived in Quarto.

Although my apartment is just down Bardstown Road, getting in the car and waiting to cross traffic is a hassle. It’s possible to be late when you live only 30 seconds away from school.

Dining hall food seemed unappetizing and repetitive until I had to buy groceries, cook my own meals and wash the dishes. On top of classes, an internship and a job, I miss the ease of swiping my student ID and having access to ready-to-eat food and placing my plate on a conveyor belt when I’m finished.

I loved studying at the library then meeting my friends at UDH. It was a nice break from schoolwork, and we had such quick access to our meals.

For two years straight, I heard people say, “There’s nothing to do on campus.” When you live in an apartment by yourself like I do, there’s nothing to do there either. It’s the same amount of homework and studying, and avoiding homework and studying, but now I pay rent.

Senior Caymin Harper moved off-campus her junior year and said there are aspects of on-campus living she misses.

“It was nice to have a sense of community where you lived,” Harper said. “I would see, like, five people I knew right before I went to bed and that was nice.”

Harper said she likes living off-campus more now that she’s older but her time in the dorms was priceless.

“I wouldn’t have done it any other way,” Harper said.

Living on-campus is not that bad. I made friends in my halls, and now I have stories from my dorm days. Living off-campus is better for 21-year-old me, but I encourage everyone to take advantage of everything on-campus living offers before moving and commuting.