ACU dorms. There’s not really much you can say about them. The usual complaints include their small size, lack of privacy and, if you’re a guy, the smell. As someone who spent two years living in a dorm, I can tell you they are necessary for every student here. Plus, haven’t you ever heard “you never know what you got until it’s,” well… you know.

As a junior, I spent last year in Edwards Hall with my best friends, and, needless to say, there was never a dull moment. There was always someone to hang out and chill with no matter what time of day or night. Living in an apartment alone now makes it clear how unique of an opportunity that was.

The atmosphere that comes with living in a dorm can be found in few places other than a dorm. Friends are always one or two, or maybe three, doors down, which means a good time is never far away. Living on campus promises a shorter commute and is just minutes from anywhere on campus. And perhaps most importantly, who doesn’t love curfew?

OK, maybe that last one isn’t so great, but hey, you take the good with the bad. As a first-time apartment resident, I can tell you that it definitely has its perks. Cooking meals, quietness for homework and a TV all to myself. But the community has been greatly missed. Spontaneous plan-making with friends now results in back-and-forth communication just to go grab a burger. And Chapel has become more of a social gathering than an ACU requirement (sorry Mark).

The point is, young underclassmen, don’t take the dorms for granted. Sure, they’ve got their low points, but for now, it’s your home. It’s where you find your friends and make your most memorable moments live forever. Mabee was my home. Edwards was my home. And it was because of the people I met that made it so.