Starting out in college can be pretty scary, especially if you are far away from home, or don’t know anyone else who is going to be there. In my first semester, I was really nervous that I wasn’t going to be able to make any friends. I was out of my comfort zone and on my own for the first time in my life. I missed my family and friends, and although there were a lot of events on campus, it still took some time to get used to dorm life and college in general. During the first week of school, when I found out that I could have a small fish tank in the dorm without getting in trouble, I bought myself a little beta fish, lovingly named Omega.
1. They give you a sense of responsibility
When I lived in the dorm, I was the biggest procrastinator. I never did homework, my dishes, or anything else in a timely manner. But having an animal that actually depends on you forces you to actually focus on getting things done and worrying about someone other than yourself. While I was in the mindset of cleaning his tank, I figured I’d might as well clean the rest of my desk and all of my dishes while I was at it, because why not? I actually ended up getting a lot more motivation than I had expected, just because of a little five dollar fish.
2. They know when you’re stressed
All animals have this sixth sense of when we’re stressed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, your animals are there you help you feel better. Animal snuggles have an undeniable relaxing power.
3. They love you unconditionally
It’s comforting to realize that you mean so much to someone, especially when you’re so far away from family and old friends. Pets are like an extension of your family, and they always will be there for you like you are for them. Even though it might not look like it all the time, they secretly love everything that you do for them (even if it’s putting them in sweaters or Halloween costumes).
4. They forces you to wake up in the morning
Before I had a cat that needed to be fed at almost the same time every morning, I would sleep until the last possible moment. With Alfie, I can’t sleep in. He wakes me up incredibly early consistently every morning. Your pets don’t care if you’re tired when it’s breakfast time. At first, it might be terrible, but it gives you some time before class to get organized and get ready for the day.
5. They keep you company
When you live with roommates, it’s really hard to find alone time. But it certainly makes for a big change when they aren’t home. It feels really strange to actually be living on your own, without anyone else around to be with. It can make you feel pretty lonely when you’re in an empty apartment for a length of time. But having a pet gives that comfort that you actually aren’t alone.
6. They don’t judge you
Pets don’t judge you if you don’t wear pants in your apartment, or if you sing really badly when no one is around. They even sit with you when you marathon Netflix instead of writing your paper. And they’ll even sleep just as much as you do. Even if they actually judge you, they can’t say anything about it.
Having a pet in college is so much more fulfilling than you might initially expect. Even if it’s something as small as a fish, or as big as a dog or cat, they all bring wonderful things into your life, and it makes the college experience that much better. They can be some of the best friends that you can have in college, and they will always love you just as much as you love them!
Source: Cover, All photos courtesy of author