Moving into a TCC apartment for the first time is exciting, but might bring up some awkward questions. It's easy to feel stuck between a rock and a hard place when you're finally living on your own, looking to live alone, and your best friends hit you with the "Let's move in together!" With a difficult subject like this, you've got to know the right questions to ask yourself so you can thrive at Tallahassee Community College.
Introvert vs Extrovert
This may seem kind of obvious, but preferences change over time. People who were very extroverted as children may find themselves introverts in new situations. Additionally, everybody has a little bit of both, so it's best to know where you sit on the spectrum. We all like hanging with friends, but do you find yourself exhausted afterward? Think about how you spend your weekends. Do you look for opportunities to get away from people? Living in close quarters with three or more roommates can prove to be quite challenging if people drain your energy quickly, but for extroverts, they might thrive in communal living.
Habits
A lot of habits are hard to see, but over time, habits become routines. Think about the daily routines you have. What do you do before work? After you get home? During Zoom class? Before living with roommates, I had no idea how much stuff I left around my living space without giving a second thought. Even if it's for a small period of time, leaving things where they're not supposed to be or leaving things unfinished can impede on other people who share the space.
You should also consider how often you're home. If all of your classes are online and your apartment's near TCC, you might spend a good chunk of the week in the living or bedroom. If you work a nine to five in addition to in-person classes, you might only come home to sleep! Ask yourself, how much time every week will you be spending at home? Do you see yourself filling up free time at the fitness center, or filling up at your fridge between classes? A studio apartment not only works for introverts, but also offers an inexpensive, moldable alternative for people who need quiet time when they're not on-the-go.
Bad Day
The ultimate deciding factor is how you handle a bad day. Think back to the last bad day you had. What did you do to cope? Did you gorge on Ben & Jerry's by yourself, or ask your best friend to hang out? Did you do something special on your own that weekend, or did you make plans with loved ones? A studio apartment is the exact opposite of a 4-bedroom, so on your worst day, you've got to come home to an environment you can thrive in for the rest of the night.
These are not only questions you should ask yourself. If you are struggling to decide between these polar opposite living situations, you should feel free to ask your friends these questions as well. At the end of the day, not much is lost with either option; you can always visit your friends or have them come to your place if you don't live together. In either case, the decision you make is going to be the right TCC apartment for you, so enjoy the learning process and you will thrive.