Undergrad- What Counselors Didn't Tell You To Look For Your Freshman Year

College. Some of the most exciting years of your life. You have just graduated high school, and you are ready to embark on the next stage of your adult life. You have been instructed and prepared to tackle your books, create new study habits, and even make new friends. You get to your dorm and you have all the things going for you, and as soon as you get comfortable everything you were not prepared for begins to make its way to your life.
One glorious day, as I was sitting in one of my morning classes, I thought to myself “Boy, it would be grand if I could get out of here and get to my dorm and play some NCAA Football on my Playstation before my next class.”
So I am sitting in my chair, extremely antsy, because I really need my college football fix for the day. I have entered into the Campus Legend mode, and I am currently looking to win the Heisman Trophy for the second time, and I am in my sophomore season. So as soon as my professor calls dismissal, I dart for the door and head down the hill to get a to-go meal from the café. I am pretty popular, so this 10-min venture ends up taking about half an hour because I never meet a stranger and everyone I see I have to talk to. After I get my nutritious meal of hot wings, and pepperoni pizza I bolt towards my dorm room. As I am climbing the stairs to my collegiate sanctuary, I am bombarded by the smell of Ramen Noodles, smelly sneakers, and urine. I have not yet gotten used to the all male dormitory living. As I am approaching my door, something feels extremely off. I look and for some reason my door is left open. I am praying that all is well, but as I look around my reality is immediately transformed. My Playstation is gone, and so are all of my games. My roommate is somewhat of a techie and gaming nerd so he ended up losing much more than I did but I was the one more upset about it. He comes in smiling, and says, “What’s the matter with you?”
“What the hell do you mean what’s wrong with me, my room has been ransacked and the money that I spent on a years worth of entertainment has just vanished!”, I exclaim frantically. “Did you leave the door unlocked?” I asked.
“You left after me remember.” He says
“Yeah and I know for a fact I did not leave my door unlocked, I check it every time I leave.” I reply.
“Well I don’t know what happened man.”
So as I storm out of the dormitory and go to the Residence Life office to report this incident, people seem to already know what has happened. I get to the office to speak with the dean of ResLife, and I tell her what happens. Come to find out, maintenance has been doing room checks all morning and the could have possibly left my door open.
“Well I have had over $1200 of merchandise stolen out of my room, what is going to come of this?” I ask in utter panic.
“We are not liable for any lost goods or damages done, if you would have had renter’s insurance you could file a claim.” , replies the dean of Res Life “I am sorry but there is nothing we can do.”
So I immediately leave the office and walk to the nearest corner store and purchase a pack of Black and Mild Cigars, because I feel that my life is now in shambles. While puffing on one, a friend of mine strolls up and asks, “What’s going on?”
“Man, I got problems! Some goons got me for my Playststation, and a boatload of other stuff.” I reply, talking through a cloud of smoke. Another guy cuts in and asks,
“Hey did it happen around 11 or so?”
“Man I am guessing so, maintenance was doing rounds and I was in class so I don’t know.”
“Dude, I saw some hoodlums running out the door with a bag of stuff around that time and I think they went back towards town.” By this time I am elated at the thought of beating someone up and taking back my game of glory.
“Or, there is this awesome party going on tonight and it would be cool if you came out and let off some steam. Plenty of beer, and plenty of women!” says my friend with a slight smirk on his face.
I decide to go with the party that night and that’s what I continued to do for the remainder of the semester. I ended up forgetting about the game altogether, and did my best to party my way out of my problems. Little did I know this was the beginning of the end.