Imagine waking up every morning to the reality that you are going to walk or travel some miles to college? Discouraging, right? This is why many college students prefer to live on campus. This article will examine if a 17-year-old can live in a campus college.
Although some colleges do not allow 17-year-olds to live on college campus, it is still the case that you find them around, because they were made to sign a lease, agreeing to follow the school campus rules. Besides, staying on campus comes with advantages, which would be explored subsequently.
Why 17-Year-Olds Freshmen Are Advised to Stay On-Campus
Many colleges encourage freshmen who are likely between the ages of 17 or 18 to live on college campus because to a great extent, it is better than staying off-campus or coming from the home. Some of the benefits of staying on campus, especially for fresh intakes are:
I) Saves money from reduced transit
II) High academic performance
III) Building social networks
IV) Convenient and clean environment
V) Security, safety, and support.
VI) Healthy transition into adulthood.
VII) Provision of utility service
Benefits of staying on campus:
Saves Money From Reduced Transit
Staying on campus results in spending less. A 17-year-old who had just moved into college campus would need to be careful about how he or she spends. This is made easy because whatever they attempt to spend their money on would likely have been taken care of by the school management. Most importantly, they save up the money that they would have otherwise used in transporting themselves to school or getting gas for their cars.
High Academic Performance
A lot of college students have good results when they stay on campus. Staying on campus makes many students intentional about their books. It is only natural that when you are in a school environment, the sight of the library, research centers, students studying, the quiet environment, etc, would make you want to study. On the school campus, there are fewer distractions, and this generates good grades from the majority of the students staying there.
Building Social Networks
College is a good place to make lifelong friends and create relevant networks. Staying on campus improves the social life of college students. Even introverts are forced to associate with their roommate(s) once in a while. There are so many clubs and activities on campus that students can participate in, thus, building their social lives, and developing themselves.
Convenient and Clean Environment
School campuses are located in student-friendly locations which are within the school environment or close to the school environment. This means that students do not have to undergo the stress of walking miles just to make use of the computer lab, research centers, or even the library. They also need not bother about cleaning their campus surroundings because the school management takes care of that often. A clean and convenient learning environment is one of the things every student looks forward to.
Security, Safety, and Support
The school campuses provide students with adequate security and safety that they are likely not to get if they are leaving off-campus. They are well monitored, guided, and advised by the Residents Advisors(RAs). The school management goes as far as installing a Closed-Circuit Television(CCTV) camera on campuses to regulate crime rates and promote the safety of the students.
Healthy Transition Into Adulthood
Staying alone might be very challenging especially when there is no proper foundation preparing a young person to do so. As a young person, you can start your journey of staying alone by staying on a school campus. There, you don’t have outright independence, rather, you start with controlling your time, amidst gaining some support from the Resident Advisors. This way, you learn the art of total independence gradually and come out a better and more responsible adult.
Provision of Utility Service
Staying on campus also comes with having your utility bills covered. You don’t have to pay extra money for electricity, gas, food, water, internet and so on. You can stay in the comfort of your room and do your research with your phone, connect with loved ones at home, etc., and you don’t have to pay for it. All these bills have been added to your housing fee, and in a way, it is more economical than having to pay for every utility service off-campus.
The benefits above are enough to convince any freshman to want to stay on campus, irrespective of the maximum privacy that they might enjoy off-campus.
Challenges Faced By 17-Year-Olds In Their First Year On-Campus In College
Freshmen are affected by some challenges in their first year. This affects some of them negatively and makes them lose focus. These challenges include:
I) Depression
II) Homesickness
III) Troublesome roommates
IV) Peer Pressure
Depression
Young college students on campus are prone to falling into depression in their first year in college. There comes the responsibility of being in charge of their time, engaging in a more advanced curriculum, and ensuring they start with a good grade. This can be a whole lot for a 17-year-old, especially when at the end of each day, he doesn’t get a family embrace.
Home Sickness
Many freshmen on campus often miss home. It’s what they have been used to for a long time and adjusting to change suddenly might not come easy. So feeling homesick makes them sad and unfocused.
Troublesome Roommates
Sometimes, as a freshman, you might even be given a roommate with a different ideology who is not willing to compromise anything. This roommate might do anything that pleases him or her without considering your interest.
Peer Pressure
This is common among young people. If you are a freshman and you have no principle that guides your behavior, you are likely to fall into bad company. It takes a great level of discipline to stick with your values and not be influenced by what other people do.
All these challenges can be managed if you seek the help of our counselors and resident advisors who are ever willing to assist you.
Conclusion
As a 17-year-old, staying on campus can be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. But, you must be careful of the challenges above and seek help if you begin to experience any. This is one of the ways you can give a good campus life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is a 17-year-old too young to stay on a college campus?
Answer
No, a 17-year-old is not too young. After all, 17 years is a good age for college
2) Is it preferable to stay on campus in college?
Answer
Yes, it is preferable. It exposes you to fewer distractions and more comfort.