By Paizlee Writtenhouse
As the end of the year approaches, seniors are choosing between the hard decision of living at home or on campus. There are so many benefits to both options.
Living at home during college cuts down on costs like room and board, groceries and laundry. For some students choosing their childhood bedroom over a college dorm means paying off student loans more quickly.
On-campus housing puts you within walking distance of campus resources and conveniences, such as the library, fitness facilities, study groups, counseling services, and more. It also allows you to make new friendships and relationships, meet new people and try out new activities.
One senior who is choosing to live at home is Dalton Royal. He is a four-year FFA member and a four-year tennis player. Dalton is going to Ivy Tech Bloomington to be a Radiologist. However, he is taking a gap year and living at home his first year out of high school.
During the last week of April, Dalton decided to live at home “because it was the most optimal option for what I want to do.” he said.
Dalton decided to stay at home to try to save money to move to Bloomington in the beginning of the school year 2025. He will also be taking a gap year, to get everything he needs and to prepare himself for the rest of his life.
“Staying at home will definitely help me to gather money and work toward getting my degree,” Dalton said.
Dalton’s way of preparing for college is different from another DHS student, Nevaeh Brown, who is deciding to go and live on campus. Nevaeh is going to Marian University Ancilla College in Plymouth, Ind., to become a nurse.
Nevaeh’s college is two hours away from here so it is mandatory for her to stay on campus.
“I also want to really adapt to college life and I think that living on campus will really help with that,” she said.
She says she is most excited about “just being able to live on my own and make my own decisions.”
Nevaeh believes she will adapt well.
“I have friends going there as well so I think the transition will be smooth.”
Nevaeh will room with Hannah Carter, a senior at DHS. She feels confident Hannah will help the transition go easier.
Although Nevaeh is choosing to live on campus, another DHS student who is choosing to live at home like Dalton is Hanson Heintzelman.
Hanson’s decision to live at home came upon him “around two months ago.”
He is going to college for Construction Management at a to-be-decided college.
His parents, Hans and Cindy Heintzelman, are his supporters in this decision.
Hanson is involved in the Muncie Area Career Center welding program, which he is attending in his second year. Hanson is a 12-year Eagle Scout and a four-year tennis team member.
Hanson is planning on going to school for construction management.
“I also plan on pairing this with my prior education in welding.”
He chose a career in construction/welding because “I enjoy working with my hands and doing physical labor,” he said. Hanson also finds the trade to be “very intriguing and fun at the same time.”
Each one of these students is going to experience different college routes. Whether they are living on campus or at home they still must prepare to move into the real world. College is a great opportunity to start preparing them for this world.
