Signing up for housing right now, and my parents are arguing that I should select the Healthy Living (substance-free) option. I’m a bit worried what this might mean for my college life, however.
Anybody have any experiences or knowledge of people with the Healthy Living rooms? Does it hold to the typical stereotype of “dorky kids” or “kids who are grumpy because they were forced to choose substance-free”? Is there any potential negative impact on social life? Is it even actually “substance-free” to begin with?
My son was in a Healthy Living room for his freshman year. We did not push him to make that choice. It is just the environment that he feels most comfortable in. He had wonderful suite mates who did not necessarily chose Healthy Living for themselves. They made a contract in the beginning of the year and had a very open discussion about this choice. There was a mutual respect for each other. I know my son had far fewer problems with his room mates than others I have heard about. My son has told me that he was very happy with his choice. I know his room mates and none of them were dorky or grumpy. (As a matter of fact, I have never met a Wash U student who didn’t love their school.) While their suite was substance free, I have been left with the impression that everyone’s lives were not necessarily substance free.
Also, from what I understand, the Healthy Living rooms are integrated with the regular rooms on each floor (as opposed to having an entire floor to themselves). Are there are any issues with the Healthy Living room people getting to mesh with the non-Healthy Living room people because of the difference in restrictions?
I did not choose that option, so take my info with that in mind.
It’s a mix of kids who chose it and kids who were pressured into it. The only issues I heard that came up were when some roommates chose not to follow the agreement (not to the disruption of anyone or to a dangerous extent) and they had uncomfortable living situations when their roommates were critical/judgmental, hurting the relationship. It’s not a dorky thing, and people are integrated with non- sub free suites, so it’s not like there’s a quarantine from social life or anything. You’re just less likely to have a roommate who throws alcohol/drug-fueled parties.