This year marks my third year at Fredonia, which means I am officially allowed to live off campus for the first time. I’m now required to do more “adulting” than ever before. Most people are afraid of this term “adulting,” but not me. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life.
For the first time I have my own house, which I share with my two housemates and four more tenants who live downstairs. This is the first time in my life that I’ve been able to look forward to coming home at the end of the day. There are no parents to yell at me, no strange roommate to stare at me while I sleep.
My cozy home downtown has, since move-in day, been decorated and personalized by myself and my housemates. It’s cozy and welcoming. My roomies and neighbors are all wonderful and friendly. In the mornings, I wake to the beautiful chiming of a clock downtown.
My own house means — finally — my own kitchen. I can actually cook myself a meal. I am spared the anguish of on-campus food. I have not once visited Starbucks or Cranston. Nope, I can sit on my couch with my homemade spaghetti and meatballs while watching “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
Last weekend I bought my first pet ever — a leopard gecko. He is yet to be officially named, but currently goes by variations of Lazarus Leonardo Hallelu Hale. He is the most precious thing, and I adore him already. He sits contentedly on my shoulder whilst I go about my adulting.
My point here is, adulting is wonderful. Live off-campus when you can! I adore living downtown, so close to nightlife and Calio’s and Upper Crust, etc. Having a car helps for sure, but there’s also a bus schedule for those who don’t.
Sure, I have to pay rent. I have to pay for wifi that sucks and cable, too. I have to buy actual groceries and take out my own garbage. I pay to do laundry, and I clean my own bathroom. But guess what? No more shower flops!
Living off-campus doesn’t take away from the college experience — I still spend a huge chunk of my day there. But, when I’m done, I take great joy in leaving the dog food-smelling place and coming home to my own incense-scented home.
I’ve always been ahead of the game when it comes to growing up. I’m only in my third year here, and I’m graduating in the spring. People always tell me to slow down and enjoy childhood. But if I’m being honest, I hated childhood. I hated being told what to do and given no reason. I can’t wait to end this string of education and get a real job that means something.
Last week my boyfriend Brendan came up to Fredonia from Long Island to visit me, and I finally felt like I was where I want to be in life. It felt like we were two happy people living together. We came home together, made dinner together, went to bed together. The only thing that could have been more perfect would be if I didn’t have to waste half my day in class.
So, on that note, I say, bring on more adulting. I can hardly wait.