I’ve always wanted to live on my own and to live my own life.
Moving to Boston for college was just my first small step on that
path to adulthood. My first year at Northeastern University is
almost over and I’m looking ahead to what my life will be for my
sophomore year. Northeastern University guarantees housing for the
five years you’ll be in school. A problem I’ve encountered, though,
is that while you are guaranteed dormitory housing, you aren’t
guaranteed to live with someone you want in a building you want to
live in.
I’ve always wanted to live on my own and to live my own life. Moving to Boston for college was just my first small step on that path to adulthood. My first year at Northeastern University is almost over and I’m looking ahead to what my life will be for my sophomore year. Northeastern University guarantees housing for the five years you’ll be in school. A problem I’ve encountered, though, is that while you are guaranteed dormitory housing, you aren’t guaranteed to live with someone you want in a building you want to live in. Housing on campus is at such a premium that it is assigned by lottery. Unfortunately, my lottery number is bad. Out of more than 2200 numbers in the lottery, my number is 2132.
This is high number does not bode well for me and I could be left with sub-standard housing and roommates that are not of my choosing. In light of this dilemma, I decided to look elsewhere for a place to live. Three of my girlfriends and I decided by find an apartment. I never thought an apartment would be an option for me. I still thought of myself as the small town teenager freshly moved to the big city living in the safety of a college dorm.
I have had to change my outlook though: I see myself now as a young woman learning how to handle a new situations in a big city as a grown up. The first order of business: is you have to have a place to live! I found a beautiful apartment close to campus that ends up being cheaper than living in a dorm on campus. The two-story apartment has six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen and the rent includes heat and water. The apartment is within a five-minute walk to campus (which is closer than my current dorm), and will house me and all of my close friends.
Looking for an apartment at my age isn’t a game. I thought it was as simple as pick and choose, but the first order of business was convincing my parents that an apartment was a good idea. So I did what I do best. I put it all down on paper. I put together a proposal for both my mom and step-dad that itemized the prices for both on-campus housing and off-campus housing and showed how living in this apartment would save money. I also broke down the prices of utilities and food for the semester I’d be living there.
The proposal worked better than nagging and begging (which was my next tactic) and was even used to convince the parents of my other girlfriends. But it turns out the girls and I need a lot more guidance. There are so many “what-ifs” that I need answered. Because of Northeastern’s unique co-op schedule, I will only be living in Boston and in the apartment for six months before starting my six-month internship next January. At that time, I’ll be moving back to California to work, and then return to school the following August. But the landlord requires a 12-month lease. I’d need to sub-let the apartment for the time that I’m away. There are so many things that go into an apartment that I hadn’t even considered. I wish my family was closer to help with all these decisions, but conference calls with my step-dad and the landlord to ensure that my friends and I don’t get “screwed over” and the Internet for sharing pictures of the place it can be done with family help.
I also spoke to several of the girls who currently live in the apartment to get the inside scoop about what we should expect. The apartment is $630 a month, per person for a double bedroom, and $800 for a single bedroom. My share of the utilities (cable, internet, electricity) will come to approximately $30 a month. Living in the dorms costs $880 per month, per person for a double bedroom, and utilities are included. As for food, the school gives me $185 a semester as part of our dining plan to be spent anywhere that accepts our school’s “dining dollars.” That money, plus my roommates’ meal plan money and extra cash from our paychecks will take care of the food for the apartment.
I am the type of person who needs to have everything figured out. I need to fix everything and know exactly what is going on and what to expect. To me, uncertainty is unacceptable, and that is the situation I’m in now. I am happier when everything is settled. But nothing is certain, and I am learning that we have to work for and sometimes wait for what we want. I guess this is just another part of me growing from a small town teenager still trying to fit in and find her way, to a young woman learning how to be an adult in a big city. The apartment is so perfect, though I’ll let you know what happens!
