Freshmen Experience Column:

Living in Cedar is definitely interesting, to say the least. At first, I didn't think I wanted to live in Cedar because it was so loud and crazy, but I've learned to love it. How could anyone not love the thongs dropped in the hallway, the puke in the sinks and all over the toilets, the cramped showers that tend to flood the hallway (often), the music being blasted at three in the morning, the movie nights in the common room, and the other random shenanigans that happen in this wonderful place that 500 members of the freshmen class call home?

I know it doesn't sound like a five star hotel, which it's definitely not, but all of these things are what make us love it in Cedar. It's exciting to live in a place where there's always something going on and there's always someone to talk to. Just the other day, some kids on my floor built a fort in the com­mon room. It was awesome.

I've finally started to get used to the little quirks in Cedar that I used to hate. For ex­ample, shaving my legs in the 2-foot by 2-foot shower has gotten exceedingly less difficult – I don't cut my legs shaving nearly as often. Also, going to the bathroom in a stall every day has gotten a little less weird and wearing shower shoes doesn't even faze me anymore. Plus, it's great that there is always someone around in case I forget my towel or shampoo in my room. Sadly, it happens more often than I'd like to admit but luckily everyone is really sweet about it.

Something else I've learned from living in Cedar is that people are nice to each other – and genuinely nice, too. Everyone shares food and looks out for everyone else. I live in Cedar 2 South and everyone offers each other food all the time and is very considerate. It's like we've built our own little family.

From what I've heard, this experience doesn't happen as often in Willow, Maple, or Stonewall. This is because both freshmen and upperclassmen live in these dorms, whereas Cedar is all freshmen and we all are forced to go through the ups and downs together. It turns into something to bond about and it creates more in common with each other.

Yes, all of Willow and Stonewall air-conditioned. Yes, Maple has 8 people to a bathroom instead of 50. But not everyone in those buildings knows each other, or at least recognizes each other. I feel a lot safer knowing that I'm con­stantly surrounded by people I recognize and feel comfortable with. I even know some kids from other dorms who come to Cedar to hang out because everyone's so friendly over here.

Personal space is a little bit of an issue because there are always people everywhere but you learn to get used to it, especially if you are in a forced triple like I am. My roommates and I get along great consider­ing the small amount of space we have to deal with. However, we've realized space is always limited no matter where you live, but it makes you a lot closer to people, both literally and physically.

Before I came to school, one of my friends that is already in college told me that some of the best memories of her entire life were made during her freshman year. While living in Cedar, I've already made some great memories and I now have some crazy stories to pass on when I get older. My friends and I talk about things that happened weeks ago and laugh harder each time we talk about it because we get to remember how much fun we had doing it.

I'm afraid that if I ever lived in another building, I wouldn't have gotten to know nearly as many people as I do and I wouldn't be nearly as close with them: that's my favorite part of living here. It's not perfect, but it's home.