LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Logan Mohr — THE BATTALION LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Special Sections editor Lauren Discher says living in Aggieland has been memorable

Howdy, and welcome to Aggieland!

This town is so special to me, as I grew up performing at dance recitals in Rudder Auditorium, taking field trips to campus for scavenger hunts and even sleeping on a Reveille Pillow Pet.

As the Special Sections editor, I’m honored to be a part of this year’s Housing Guide. Where you live influences every aspect of your life, and Aggieland has so much to offer, not only in culture and spirit, but in terms of its ever-growing catalog of housing and amenities.

There is a distinct learning curve when it comes to leaving home and taking the huge step of living independently, but it can be mitigated with proper knowledge and preparation. Some may be used to the luxuries of having their own room, familiar people surrounding them and hot meals on the table. For many college students, Howdy Week marks the first time they will be without one or all of those things, and the adjustment is not always easy. In addition to assuming the responsibilities that come with being an undergraduate student, one must take on the additional stress of living in a new location with new people and fulfilling their own needs such as food and transportation.

This Housing Guide acts as a resource for those who are undertaking the exciting, but sometimes daunting, task of transitioning from hometown living to college life. These pages offer guidance on the benefits of living on campus versus off campus, signing a lease, navigating relationships with roommates, dealing with pets, cooking for one and more. They advise on the best ways to get around town, the importance of décor and the many amenities Texas A&M has for students. It is my hope that this guide will help you navigate this new chapter of life.

I encourage you to take advantage of all Aggieland has to offer. As my time here as a student comes to a close with graduation in May, I look back not on the grades I made on one exam or another, but on the many experiences unique to A&M — pond hopping late at night, fangirling when I finally met Reveille, standing with the 12th Man at football games (no matter how bad my legs hurt), witnessing VeoRides in odd places, from random trees to the top of the Academic Building, and taking more naps on various couches across campus than I’d like to admit. I encourage you to do those things and more; make campus, and better yet, Aggieland, your home.

Lauren Discher is an English senior and Special Sections editor for The Battalion.