I did not have the same fear like most of my classmates had during their first days here. Theirs was the fear of going into college for the first time, mine was the dreadful fact that I am not sure of the decision I made – I had given up my previous university, has to live in a dormitory, and study while working.
I had lived alone in a house for three years since I graduated high school. No one ever touches my things, I can walk in the house with messy hair without worrying that someone will notice me, in short, I have the utmost privacy. That was the reason why to live in a dormitory was a challenge to me. I have to live with strangers, worse was I have to share a room with six other people I barely know.
During the first week, someone took my hair straightener without asking permission, two of my dorm mates want to borrow clothes from me, and an annoying classmate always borrow my phone. Because of those, I had put curtains to cover my bed on our second week. That way, I felt like I have a bit of privacy at least. However, I feel like I can no longer bear that kind of environment — no privacy, late duty time resulting to lack of sleep, and few classmates (boring). One morning I woke up, I had this strong urge in me to pack my things and stay out but for unknown reason, I stayed.
Weeks passed and I started to build affection with my roommates. I started sharing some things with them, I started having a cup of coffee late at night on this cold weather of Benguet, and I even found myself removing the curtain – the wall, I’ve hung. I started showing them my crazy side and started being comfortable with them. Little did I know, I am starting to build a “family”.
Studying in Concordia College of Benguet wasn’t as boring as I thought it was. Since we are few in class, we have the privilege of learning well. Living in a dormitory, indeed wasn’t as horrible as I assumed it was . I learned how to adjust and blend myself with others, I had learned to be more patient, and I realized that I have to embrace the life I was born with because there are a lot more who have worse situation than me. In here, I had learned and experienced things I can’t gain outside this school campus. The work we are doing are preparing us to be unleashed in the real world. n Loren
