I just finished my first semester of college. From gross dorms to near-impossible classes, here’s what surprised me about college life.
Story by insider@insider.com (Kate Derdowski)
Before heading to college, I worried I would hate my dorm and that I wouldn’t make any friends.
Luckily, I made my small dorm room at the University of Michigan work and found food I loved.
I also found friends easily, but classes were harder than expected.
After researching my freshman dorm using the incredibly reliable resource Reddit, I was slightly terrified to live in the Mary Markley building, which was built back in 1959 and is the oldest residence hall on the University of Michigan’s campus.
Rumors of cockroaches, a lack of air conditioning, and the dreaded wind tunnel during the winter season increased my nerves tenfold.
After my parents had hugged me goodbye, it dawned on me that this was — as my roommate and I now like to call it — my home sweet dorm. I still don’t understand how I managed to fit all my belongings in this tiny living space of 11 feet by 11 feet.
But, throughout my freshman year, I adjusted to my college life — and there were many surprises….