By Terri Bulan, Staff Writer, Emerson College
Now that my first year at college has ended, it hit me that I learned a lot while at school. I got a thorough education in life, not just in film history or whatever other classes I opted to take. Never before had my outlook on the world changed so much in such a short amount of time. Before starting Emerson College, I thought I was an appreciative person, but college taught me I was an ungrateful spoiled brat. I have compiled a list of things I have learned to appreciate now that school's over, things that I will never take for granted ever again as long as I shall live.
1. Toilet Paper
Never in my life has toilet paper been so important to me. I chose to live in a suite at Emerson, which means my roommates and I have our own bathroom. This also means we must get our own toilet paper. When living at home as a spoiled suburban kid, I never really appreciated toilet paper. It was always there in the house, thanks to my wonderful mother. At school, I learned that Mommy’s not always there, though.
During the freshman year of college, you begin to adjust to the life of an adult. This normally consists of making mistakes and learning from them, like when you go to the bathroom, realize there is no toilet paper, and have to use a napkin from Dunkin’ Donuts. Nothing is as fun as running to CVS at midnight because there is no t.p. in the room.
Back at home, not only is toilet paper plentiful, it is also soft. Like every broke-ass college student, my suitemates and I would opt for the least expensive toilet paper, a decision we always regretted later. When you spend $4.62 on toilet paper, you don’t get toilet paper, you get tissue paper. Cheap toilet paper is translucent and rough. It’s like thin sand paper. One beautiful day, one of my suitemates splurged on some Charmin. This stuff was the softest thing I have ever felt in my life. I wanted to rub it all over my face, but we had to use it for other necessities.
2. Money
In the words of my suitemate, “Being a real person is expensive.” Thankfully, money has never been an issue in my life. Yet coming to college and not having a steady job or my dad’s wallet with me made me come to the conclusion that money makes the world go ‘round. It buys toilet paper, clothing, food, and a college education. You do not really know how much money it take to be a person until you are living in a city at school away from your parents. Money goes fast and you need lots of it, especially if you cannot stomach college food 24/7. On that note...
3. Food, Real Food
I missed real food more than I miss my family. Most college food is nasty. Prisoners on Death Row get fed better than college students. Because universities have to cater to so many people, they have to make some sacrifices (taste, texture, quality, etc.). Food workers do their job by making the “food” in question, but within a week at college, you learn to appreciate a home-cooked meal more than anything. I couldn't wait to go home and make myself a meal that was of good quality and taste, and wouldn't make me feel like curling up in a ball in the bathroom afterwards.
4. Sleep
College kids are teenagers, which is a term used by adults to describe the clueless old children that are going through the hell of learning what the real world is like. Teens love sleep. Sleep is amazing. Unfortunately, when you get to college, you may not get to sleep as much as you like. You also may not also get to sleep when and where you want to. Between homework, extracurricular activities, friends, and various social events, sleep may be hard to come by. When you finally get to sleep enough or at all, you will be so happy that if you had the energy, you would dance.
5. Towels
In college, you never feel like you have enough towels. You need them to shower, to mop up whatever liquid you spilled, and to dye your hair when you drunkenly decide to color it fuchsia. Towels are tools used every day. Some days it seems you do not have any towels because the others are all dirty and/or wet. You don't realize that towels, like toilet paper, are a necessity, until you do not have any when you really, really need them.
6. Stoves and Ovens and Grills
See segment on food.
7. Pets
For all of those who have dogs, cats, and God only knows what else at home, there needs to be an on-campus support group. There are some days where you just need to see your pet because cuddling with a pillow will not make your crap day any better. Sometimes you also need the adorable ball of fuzz to talk to when no one else may understand. Sometimes the best people to talk to aren’t people at all.
8. Privacy
Dorms are always pretty crowded, and also very poorly sound proofed. So if the guy next door likes to sing show tunes, you better start liking them, too, because, you’re going to be hearing a lot of them. You may also hear him gettin’ busy, so perhaps invest in some noise-canceling headphones, earmuffs, or a giant fluffy pillow.
Also keep in mind that word travels fast, especially on a crowded floor. If someone does something that turns into gossip, you’ll hear about it pretty fast. People will hear you, too, so get ready for people to ask you why you were crying Sunday night and be ready to explain that the season finale of Girls was what made you so upset. People will hear all your business either through the walls or from someone else’s mouth. You’ll hear about other peoples’ business even if you don’t want to. It’s like being in a world with no boundaries. And you will love every minute of it.
Terri Bulan is a Writing for Film and Television major (WTF for short) and a Psychology minor. She enjoys long walks on the beach (seriously), puppies, nutella, & horror movies. Her writing inspiration comes from her intrinsic need to entertain people and thus tricking them into liking her and being her friends.
Now that my first year at college has ended, it hit me that I learned a lot while at school. I got a thorough education in life, not just in film history or whatever other classes I opted to take. Never before had my outlook on the world changed so much in such a short amount of time. Before starting Emerson College, I thought I was an appreciative person, but college taught me I was an ungrateful spoiled brat. I have compiled a list of things I have learned to appreciate now that school's over, things that I will never take for granted ever again as long as I shall live.
1. Toilet Paper
Never in my life has toilet paper been so important to me. I chose to live in a suite at Emerson, which means my roommates and I have our own bathroom. This also means we must get our own toilet paper. When living at home as a spoiled suburban kid, I never really appreciated toilet paper. It was always there in the house, thanks to my wonderful mother. At school, I learned that Mommy’s not always there, though.
During the freshman year of college, you begin to adjust to the life of an adult. This normally consists of making mistakes and learning from them, like when you go to the bathroom, realize there is no toilet paper, and have to use a napkin from Dunkin’ Donuts. Nothing is as fun as running to CVS at midnight because there is no t.p. in the room.
Back at home, not only is toilet paper plentiful, it is also soft. Like every broke-ass college student, my suitemates and I would opt for the least expensive toilet paper, a decision we always regretted later. When you spend $4.62 on toilet paper, you don’t get toilet paper, you get tissue paper. Cheap toilet paper is translucent and rough. It’s like thin sand paper. One beautiful day, one of my suitemates splurged on some Charmin. This stuff was the softest thing I have ever felt in my life. I wanted to rub it all over my face, but we had to use it for other necessities.
2. Money
In the words of my suitemate, “Being a real person is expensive.” Thankfully, money has never been an issue in my life. Yet coming to college and not having a steady job or my dad’s wallet with me made me come to the conclusion that money makes the world go ‘round. It buys toilet paper, clothing, food, and a college education. You do not really know how much money it take to be a person until you are living in a city at school away from your parents. Money goes fast and you need lots of it, especially if you cannot stomach college food 24/7. On that note...
3. Food, Real Food
I missed real food more than I miss my family. Most college food is nasty. Prisoners on Death Row get fed better than college students. Because universities have to cater to so many people, they have to make some sacrifices (taste, texture, quality, etc.). Food workers do their job by making the “food” in question, but within a week at college, you learn to appreciate a home-cooked meal more than anything. I couldn't wait to go home and make myself a meal that was of good quality and taste, and wouldn't make me feel like curling up in a ball in the bathroom afterwards.
4. Sleep
College kids are teenagers, which is a term used by adults to describe the clueless old children that are going through the hell of learning what the real world is like. Teens love sleep. Sleep is amazing. Unfortunately, when you get to college, you may not get to sleep as much as you like. You also may not also get to sleep when and where you want to. Between homework, extracurricular activities, friends, and various social events, sleep may be hard to come by. When you finally get to sleep enough or at all, you will be so happy that if you had the energy, you would dance.
5. Towels
In college, you never feel like you have enough towels. You need them to shower, to mop up whatever liquid you spilled, and to dye your hair when you drunkenly decide to color it fuchsia. Towels are tools used every day. Some days it seems you do not have any towels because the others are all dirty and/or wet. You don't realize that towels, like toilet paper, are a necessity, until you do not have any when you really, really need them.
6. Stoves and Ovens and Grills
See segment on food.
7. Pets
For all of those who have dogs, cats, and God only knows what else at home, there needs to be an on-campus support group. There are some days where you just need to see your pet because cuddling with a pillow will not make your crap day any better. Sometimes you also need the adorable ball of fuzz to talk to when no one else may understand. Sometimes the best people to talk to aren’t people at all.
8. Privacy
Dorms are always pretty crowded, and also very poorly sound proofed. So if the guy next door likes to sing show tunes, you better start liking them, too, because, you’re going to be hearing a lot of them. You may also hear him gettin’ busy, so perhaps invest in some noise-canceling headphones, earmuffs, or a giant fluffy pillow.
Also keep in mind that word travels fast, especially on a crowded floor. If someone does something that turns into gossip, you’ll hear about it pretty fast. People will hear you, too, so get ready for people to ask you why you were crying Sunday night and be ready to explain that the season finale of Girls was what made you so upset. People will hear all your business either through the walls or from someone else’s mouth. You’ll hear about other peoples’ business even if you don’t want to. It’s like being in a world with no boundaries. And you will love every minute of it.
Terri Bulan is a Writing for Film and Television major (WTF for short) and a Psychology minor. She enjoys long walks on the beach (seriously), puppies, nutella, & horror movies. Her writing inspiration comes from her intrinsic need to entertain people and thus tricking them into liking her and being her friends.