Living off campus puts the college experience in a new perspective. While living off campus definitely does give students more freedom, there are definitely some downsides. For example, during Hurricane Isaac campus got power after two days. All seemed good for Tulane students because the dorms and dining hall had power. What about the kids off campus? We were left without power for 5 days. We weren’t visited, we weren’t tweeted at, and we aren’t the school’s responsibility. Not being under the protective sphere of Tulane is, at the very least, bittersweet. (The picture above, for instace, shows President Scott Cowen visiting students in Bruff during Issac)
Another downside is bills. No longer can we leave our lights on willy-nilly, or take hour-long showers. Well, we can, but we see the impact of those choices with every incoming bill that we receive. Paying for water, cable/Internet, electricity, rent and groceries is definitely a strong push towards the “real world.” Paying bills is something everyone will have to do eventually; however, for now, it’s just one more thing to think about in addition to schoolwork and jobs.
Even though there are definitely some downsides to living off campus, they are outweighed by all of the benefits (freedom)! Yeah, we are no longer Tulane’s immediate responsibility, and yeah we have to pay bills like grown-ups, but it is an expected part of growing up, that with great power comes great responsibilities. I’ve gotten over the neglect during Isaac and paying bills is now just another thing I do–it’s not a foreign concept anymore. Living off campus is like the cocoon that the college-student-caterpillar makes to turn into the adult-butterfly.
If you have any questions or comments- leave them below or feel free to email me at bgrief@tulane.edu!
–B.