A reflection of my dorm life
As I enter my last semester of undergrad (and Her Campus), I have many emotions: sadness, nerves, excitement and anticipation. Someone is always asking me what my plans are for the future, and I ask the same question, as I try to figure it out in every waking moment. Between managing classes, applying for jobs and apartment hunting, while still trying to enjoy my final semester, reflective-ness is a feeling that always seems to be lingering. I’m on memory lane as I walk to class. Instead of keeping it all in my head, I want to use this space to look back at my three and a half years and counting in a mini-series, by focusing on different places in Madison that have been impactful for me. The first place that I think back to is my Freshman year dorm, Leopold.
Leopold is one of the fancier dorms on Lakeshore and my number-one living destination coming into college. The walk-in closet was perfect for storage and having alone time. I didn’t feel like I was on top of my roommate, and we were right next to nicer bathrooms and lounges. And of course, we can’t forget the lake and trails next to it. From a living perspective, I was very lucky to have the dorm that I did. But Leopold was more than just a living space (yes, I’m well aware of my cheesiness here). It was the place where I found my first real friendships, I had some first lessons about love, and just overall where I learned to be independent.
The first-floor lounge became my spot. If I walked in with my friends, the space would suddenly be ours like how Central Perk was in Friends. I remembered having a late study sesh, trying to finish up an essay and stay on top of readings. It was 2 AM when two of my friends and I decided to have Dr. Peppers, making our night last longer and no longer feel like a school night. The first-floor lounge was where on a Saturday night when the Big Ten Football Championship was on, I cried to my friends because a dating relationship didn’t go as planned. Only, at the same time, I didn’t feel that sad because my friends were all around me, comforting me, and I felt so lucky.
The lounge was where we watched the Super Bowl and I don’t even remember who won or played, as I was just focused on my company. We had homemade chili, another girl doing everyone’s make-up and all of us collectively watching the game. It was the space where we played Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour over and over again, we made Tik Toks that were never posted and the first time I felt the effect of a drink that made my life feel like a movie. Finally, something that sticks with me is the day the world shut down because of Covid. We all got together one final time before lockdown, eating the food in our fridges, reminiscing about our memories, and trying to process the rest of the year. I did my best at that moment to really appreciate what I had because I knew a consistent space made for us wouldn’t exist for us in the future.Â
With that, Leopold, specifically the lounge, has a special place in my heart as it was where it really kicked off my college experience. Although there were obviously some parts of dorm life I didn’t enjoy, overall, it opened the door to friendships, lessons, and memories. This is one of the spots in Madison that I’ve thought about and I hope you enjoy the start of memory lane with me.