Taylor dorms vs. apartments; have you ever wondered what the difference is? What does life look like off campus? Rising seniors, are you thinking about applying to live in the apartments next year?
Genesis Reynoso is now in her senior year here at Taylor. Student-teaching prompted Reynoso to live in Wolgemuth Hall, nicknamed Wolgie, this year.
“Because I am student teaching, it is encouraged for student teachers to live in Wolgie because my lifestyle is so different,” Reynoso said.
Early on in the year, Taylor had a call-out meeting to tell students more information and the requirements. It was very based on how many credits you had, said Reynoso. She is now living in Wolgie with four other girls, three of which are also student teachers.
Reynoso reflects on the newness of living in the apartments compared to living in Breu.
“I think that is one thing that I really love about the apartments, you are able to serve people,” Reynoso said. “I can have people over and cook for them.”
Reynoso, alongside her roommates appreciate the apartment space, allowing them to have game nights and friends visit often.
“I think that I really love the change,” Reynoso said. “It was something that I needed after just three years.”
The valuable lessons Reynoso learned living in Wolgie point to the importance of serving one another.
“There are some days where I am just really tired and my roommates do my dishes,” Reynoso said. “It is such a simple act of service where you just feel so loved and that just encourages me to do the same.”
Senior Seth Griswold is living in Wolgie as well.
He began his freshman year on Sammy 2, then moved to First East Wengatz for his sophomore and junior year.
“This year, because there’s so many freshmen, they had to ask people to leave (the dorms),” Griswold said. “My roommate, Steven and I both agreed to leave, because we did not want to take the opportunity for freshmen to live on First East … We want to make sure that we give someone else that experience.”
Griswold shares his hopes of being intentional.
Leaving First East was hard for Griswold. Sitting in chapel and leading a small group allows Griswold to stay involved.
“My sophomore year, a senior told me, ‘hey, I’m living in the dorms for four years because this is the only time you ever get to live in the dorm,’” Griswold said. “When I was deciding I was like, well after college, I probably won’t live in an apartment with my friends. So I should use this opportunity now.”
While students like Reynoso and Griswold have moved on to the apartments, other students stay in the dorms all four years.
Molly Gould is now in her fourth year living in the dorms.
“I started my freshman year in Berg,” Gould said. “I switched to English during J-term and have been living in Second East Olson since the beginning of my junior year.”
Each dorm has a distinct personality — something that Gould has experienced deeply living in so many different dorm buildings.
“Some people mesh and some don’t, Gould said. “I have been able to connect with more people since I have stayed in so many different dorms.”
Gould reflects over the sweet season living on campus has been the past four years, as she looks forward to what is to come… having her own kitchen!
Community is evident in both the dorms and apartments.
“My encouragement, continue to show up,” Gould said. “It is not always easy to get plugged in. It doesn't happen right away. A large part of intentional community is effort.”
