Communal bathrooms. Shower shoes. Paper-thin walls. One of the biggest adjustments that freshmen face during their first semester at Villanova is housing. For a majority of students, this is the first time they will be sharing a room with someone else, let alone a shower, as well. There has been a large debate sparked across campus as classes of Villanovans have come and gone, is there a good place to live during your first year? Are all dorms equal, or are some freshmen severely missing out on levels of cleanliness and privacy? I am here to break my first harsh reality of this semester which is, no matter where you live on Villanova’s campus, your experience will not be all that different. 

I remember when the housing portal opened during the spring of my senior year of high school. I was eager to jump on and select my list of dorms, hoping I ended up on South Campus. Rumors spread fast, and let’s just say, the Main Campus didn’t seem like it was going to be the place to be. I was convinced that my entire first-year experience was in the hands of Residence Life. Oh, how mistaken I was. 

Of course where you live matters. It is where you sleep, eat, do homework and the one private space you have on campus. However, no matter how big or small your room is, or whether it is Delurey or Stanford, there is no way to determine how this will impact your year. It is what you make of your experience on campus, not about where you are placed. 

I was lucky enough to be in St. Katharine Hall on South Campus, which is considered a prime spot. Yet, my first semester was extremely rough trying to make friends and find places I belonged. Sure, it was nice to have an extra foot or two off in the corner of the room, but was it brightening my day after eating lunch alone? No. 

Freshman year is a transition no matter how you slice it and it is definitely helpful to have nice neighbors or a cleaner bathroom, but it is not going to save you from the struggles of such a big transition. Make the best of your situation, no matter what that may be. A small room? Utilize the space the best you can. Is the room too stuffy? Order a fan on Amazon. The most minute details will be affected by your living situation here at Villanova. Sure, it will dictate who you meet first however it won’t determine who you ultimately decide to become and the impact you want to make during your time here. 

“I love being on South Campus with other freshmen, but Villanova has such a variety of activities and clubs that provide opportunities to meet new people across all parts of campus, regardless of what dorm they live in,” said Sarah Abboud, a freshman living on South Campus. “Because of this I’ve made friends that also live in dorms on main campus.” 

There is no need to pigeon hole yourself the minute you receive your housing assignment because while it impacts your experience, it will not make or break it. If you want to put yourself out there and get to know new people, no housing assignment will stop you from doing that. The only time that your freshmen housing will truly hinder your experience is if you allow it to. Join clubs, get involved and get to know new people. 

Your first year is a big adjustment on a multitude of levels, but by embracing your situation and making the best of whatever cards you have been dealt, a huge difference can be made. I understand it can be difficult feeling like you are far away from the action if you live down in Simpson or Delurey. Trust me. But, that is no reason to not put in the same effort if not more to immerse yourself in campus and your fellow first-years. 

At the end of the day, Villanova is not defined by cinder block walls or the number of steps it takes to get to the dining hall. It’s defined by the people you meet, the memories you create, and the ways you push yourself to grow. Freshman year is less about where you live, and more about how you choose to live it.