One of the greatest things about living in residence is being able to roll out of bed 20 minutes before class and still make it on time. After grabbing a quick breakfast, I head to my first class, “The Evolutionary and Ecological Revolution.” This class is on held on the north side of campus, and it’s always a treat to witness the beautiful castle-like building in the morning light.

Although this is a morning class, I try to get there early in order to sit by people I know. This is something I appreciate about classes at CMU, because although I’m a third year International Development student, I still manage to be in classes with friends who are majoring in different programs.

After an interactive class with Dr. Rachel Krauss, I usually head to Marpeck Commons. I can always count on finding friends there to either study in folio café, the Library, or the Mezzanine. I move into the library to do readings for my Wednesday classes in my favourite sun-bathed spot. Sometimes, I send a couple of emails to professors concerning topics which I didn’t quite grasp from the reading material. An advantage of being part of a small university is the ability to build relationships with professors, knowing they will answer emails concerning readings, essay editing, and assignments.

At 11:30, I join the rest of the student body and staff in chapel, a great opportunity to come together to listen to faculty or a student share about life-shaping moments. At noon, I make my way to the cafeteria and although I live in an apartment, CMU offers meal plans for apartment students. This is very convenient because some days can get too busy to cook! Following lunch, I meet with the international student committee to plan events.

The rest of my afternoon is spent studying in the library and taking the occasional coffee break at folio café. My days at CMU are not ruled by routine though, thanks to student life activities, forums, and events which allow my days to be filled with opportunities to learn and share beyond the classroom.

César

When campus is home, you can grow ancient squash in the community garden

When I came to CMU, living on campus seemed like an obvious choice to me, and it’s one that I don’t regret. I am in my third year and have lived on campus for all three of those years. Dorm life was a great way to transition to living on my own, without having to make all my own food and commute right away. Being surrounded by a supportive community helped me to settle into all the new patterns of university life.

In my first year, I chose to live in dorm because I wanted to get involved in the community at CMU. I had an incredible experience. Dorm was a great living environment because I was surrounded by people who were doing what I was doing, and there was always someone to connect with. If I had a lot of work to do in one night, I was never doing it alone. It became normal that most evenings, I would be working on assignments and reading with a group of friends, in someone’s room or the lounge. We would work together, ask questions, and encourage each other to take breaks or focus when needed. I don’t think I could have got everything done without the support of the residence community!

Another benefit to living on campus is that you don’t have to look far for a good time. Even though the life a student can be stressful and busy, it is just as important to have fun and relax. Some highlights of living on campus include late night board games in lounges, impromptu movie nights, and deep, philosophical conversations in the hallways. These unexpected moments have made my dorm experience memorable. It was these times when I laughed the hardest, where I made deep friendships, and that I will remember the most.

One highlight of living on campus is snack every night. Between 9:00 and 10:30, the cafeteria opens and there is a tasty snack for all students living on campus. Pretty much everyone on campus pulls themselves away from their textbooks for this time, to take a break and build community. Even though I now live in an apartment on campus, snack is still part of my everyday routine, where I can check in with friends after a busy day.

I have made the choice to keep living on campus because everything is accessible to me. I don’t have to worry about the weather in the morning or busing home at night. I have a five minute walk to the library, my farthest class is ten minutes away, and I am surrounded by a supportive community.

Laura