Apartment hunting fosters optimism
Friday, July 9, 2010 at 1:48PM By Johnathan McFadden
Ahh! That sweet feeling of the semester coming to an end is in the air. The days are getting longer and classes are getting more or less hectic as we welcome another spring season.
It’s a time to frolic in the flowers, listen to the birds sing, up my dosage of allergy medication and be on the hunt for some of the cheapest apartments I can find.
Just a year ago, I was a freshman living on campus, eating out of Thomson practically every day and enjoying the convenience of Café Cash (even though it tended to run low quickly).
Now, I am a rising junior and am preparing to make my big move off campus. Here I am about to take a huge step into maturing into a competent adult. Finding an affordable apartment that’s within reasonable walking distance of campus and will fit into my budget has been an adventure indeed.
Last spring, I really wanted to move off campus but figured that I would spend all of my four years on it. Imagine my surprise when I found out the contrary.
Initial reactions aside, I have decided to take the high road and think of the blessings this could potentially hold:
No cramped bathroom space; a more hygienically-controlled environment; a place to call my own (to some degree); nothing owned by Winthrop; and the list can go on.
Right now, the search is on. I can’t get anything too expensive or extravagant because I wouldn’t be able to afford it. I can’t get anything too far away because I don’t have a car.
Decisions, decisions.
During my search, I’ve learned that it’s important not to be too picky, but at the same time not to be too cheap.
I’ve visited my award history on Wingspan more times in the past week than probably this entire semester.
I’ve also realized how fierce the competition is. Other juniors and seniors are moving off campus and then there’s an entire class of seniors graduating — all of who will need a place to live if they plan to stay in Rock Hill.
Apartment companies must love this as landlords are probably seeing big dollar signs on the face of every student showing the tiniest bit of interest.
A year ago I really thought moving off campus would be a good, beneficial thing. At that point in time, I had the budget ready. Then I realized that rising sophomores weren’t allowed to leave the confines of the residence halls.
Sophomore year came and during that time, money became a wee bit tighter and a pair of car keys had not yet manifested themselves into my clutches so I decided moving off campus wasn’t the best route for me to take. But now, due to circumstances out of my hands, I’m ready, set, go.
A first apartment is a big deal in a young person’s life. Paying the rent may be difficult, budgeting income may be tedious, but at the end of the day, when I walk into Casa de Jonathan and admire a bathroom that’s not the size of a closet, I will feel good and know that it’s all worth it.
