Little did I know that when I made the decision to attend college and live on campus at the University of North Florida, one of my fondest memories would involve eight new friends crammed in a residence hall bathroom with a deck of cards and a box of Oreos.

The first week of freshman year, Tropical Storm Faye hit the First Coast. And with her came a tornado warning. Everyone had to get on the bottom floor of the residence halls and into either a study room or bathroom. Eight of us piled into a bathroom and for an hour and a half, we chatted, played cards and ate Oreos, waiting for the storm threat to pass. We had a great time and to this day, every time I see one of those people on campus, I think back to that day and smile to myself. It was one of those crazy college experiences that you hope to have as a Freshman, that you will be able to tell people about for years to come. It was funny and unique and I am so glad it happened.

I am also glad I chose UNF. When the time came to select a college, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, but I felt it was financially responsible to attend a local state school. I had heard very positive things about UNF, so it seemed like the right choice. At the time, I thought I would attend UNF for two years, and transfer once I decided on a major. But once I arrived here, I absolutely loved it, and have been so happy with my decision. I am also in my fourth year of living on campus and would be happy to stay here through my graduation.

There was never any question that I would be living in the residence halls, actually. My family has a policy that once one of the children turns 18, they move out. My mother’s father had had that policy and my parents decided to continue it with my sister and me. And since I had been homeschooled, I had a completely different point of view than a lot of kids. My parents wanted me to get the most out of college by living on campus, and I agreed with their choice.

I roomed blind my first year, and initially I was a bit apprehensive about it. However, I discovered my roommate to be a wonderful person, and she remains a good friend today. We found each other on Facebook before we moved in, and learned we had many things in common. We also decided who was going to bring what for the room. We had so much fun that year, and it was a great way to begin my time at UNF.

Little did we know that we would move on to campus and into our room during Tropical Storm Faye. That added a whole new dimension to our experience. Because of the weather, our Honors Orientation was canceled and our resident assistants (RAs) became our pseudo-orientation leaders. They really rose to the challenge. That first week really bonded everyone in the building. We all developed great relationships with one another, despite the ominous weather conditions. That first week built a sense of community that was totally unplanned, but it was a defining experience for my subsequent time at UNF. It was during that week that I met the girls with whom I have lived for the past three years, and if Tropical Storm Faye had not happened, we might not have become so close, so fast.

That first year, I lived in the Crossings, which is a pretty good walk to the center of campus. Even so, I was grateful for the exercise! The Crossings is not as convenient as the Village and the Hall, but it still had everything I needed, and I was still able to access all the resources on campus like the library and bookstore. When I first moved to campus, there was no Student Union, and I didn’t know we were going to have the new recreation center or the new cafeteria — those just add to what the campus already has to offer resident students.

Living on campus also means I don’t have to worry about parking. I brought my car with me to campus, which allows me to commute to my job with the Army Corps of Engineers downtown, or to run to the store when I need something. I have never had to worry about finding a place to park before class, since my classes are just footsteps away from where I live.

My first year on campus was probably the one in which I took the most advantage of all the social amenities UNF offers. That first year, we hung out in the atrium of the Crossings all the time — we even took ballroom dancing lessons right there. Now that my friends and I are upperclassmen living in the Village, and heavily involved in our majors, we don’t need the organized socialization so much. We still take part in programming, but we have our own groups of friends and are living in fully outfitted apartments. Being on campus has made it so much easier to be involved in the University, especially in a program like Honors. So much happens on campus, that I would miss out on a great deal if I did not live in the center of it all.

For a time, I debated moving off campus, but it seems like it is always the better bargain to live on campus — especially for the convenience. You cannot find a much better deal this close to campus for what ends up being about $500 a month. Consequently, I would recommend living on campus to anyone, especially Freshmen. The people you meet those first couple of weeks in your building or around your building can become great friends and help define your college experience. Also, learning to share a space, whether with a roommate or a large group of people, is an important part of the transition into college. There is also the advantage of a common experience. Particularly in the first-year halls, everyone is in the same boat, and this makes it easier to adapt. You are not alone in your anxiety and stresses — all the people you are living with are experiencing the same thing. If you take advantage of the opportunities for camaraderie and community, they can really help you learn to love college on every level.

One of the most important lessons I have learned at UNF is that you get out of college what you put into it. I am taking an extra semester to graduate because I want to truly invest in my college experience. I have studied abroad for a semester in England, I have spent three weeks in Ghana, West Africa, and I have participated in faculty-led research trips to archeological digs and historical archives. I have tried to make the most out of all my classes. I have worked my way through school and have taken 12 to 15 hours a semester so that I could retain what I was learning. I did not want to just study for a test and a grade. I wanted to learn lessons for life. I have the privilege of getting an education, so I want to get my money’s worth. I put a great deal of effort into my time at UNF, and it has been tremendously fulfilling. I am getting a first-class education from excellent faculty members and having life-changing experiences, all while living the college life on campus.