About being a writer and about quality of living

I've recently found out that I have a whole new group of readers. Welcome! I hope you enjoy the insights into my twisted mind. Haha. ;)

When I was younger, I wanted to be a writer. I still have this dream of writing a bestselling novel - or not even a bestselling one, just one that gets published. ;)
When I write, I don't really think about my readers. I mean, yes, I want people to read it. But I learned quickly that if you spend too much time thinking about what people will think about your writing - or you - you'll never be able to write anything. But then it sometimes comes as a shock to me, when someone comments on something I've written - because I completely forgot that people actually read what I write.

As a college student, I was on the editorial board of our student newspaper and wrote a column (yes, my Student Affairs-y column). And in spite of the hours we put into this paper and all the different places we dropped off copies (and yes, I had to help with delivery sometimes - not my favorite part of the job), it was still always a surprise when people commented on my articles or especially my column. You write those things and you put them out there for the world to read - and you want the world to read them - but then to think that they actually read it!!! I mean, people actually have an interest in what I have to say!?! (Whether it may be to agree or to make fun of me...either way, they're taking what I'm saying seriously; they're spending their free time on reading something that I wrote - I mean that's all a writer can ask for, isn't it?) It's kind of overwhelming and amazing and scary - all at the same time.

I remember at my previous institution (and I think I actually talked about that in my blog), I posted a column I had written as a college student about looks and eating disorders. I disclosed in the blog that I'm not always happy with how I look. I have those days where I wake up and I try on three different outfits and hate the way I look in all of them. That was my intro before talking about how media and society can affect how we think about our looks. My students read it - most liked it, agreed with it - but several of them commented on how they couldn't believe that I had actually posted that and disclosed this information about myself. But here's the thing - writing, like music and art, doesn't mean anything unless it comes from the heart. You have to let people in; you have to let them see you - that's what art is all about, isn't it?

Anyway, enough about writing...

I was also recently asked a very interested question - whether I was sick of living in a residence hall. I don't think I am. I'm fine with being available to students - I enjoy working with students. I don't mind the late phone calls and having to respond to emergencies in the middle of the night (not that I'll ever complain about not getting called one night). But I guess I wish I had a little more privacy. It's not the LIVING in the residence hall; it's the having to walk through the lobby - especially a lobby with a welcome desk that's staffed 24-hours a day. It just makes me feel like I'm being watched. If I go out with friends on a Saturday night and don't come back until very late, I know people will take note of that and will comment on it. If I want to have friends over and maybe bring in some alcohol (and we all know I don't drink but sometimes it's just nice to be able to offer a couple beers or some other drink when you're hanging out with friends), I have to sneak it in hidden in some bag as if I was an underage student violating a law - or if I don't do it, I know staff/students will comment/complain about it. at my previous institution - even though I had to walk through the lobby to get to my apartment, it wasn't that bad because at least there wasn't staff there 24 hours a day; and the chances of running into students was relatively small because students would much rather hang out in lounges or rooms than the lobby (at least at night).

I guess I just wish I had an outside entrance to my apartment. I mean, I get that in old building it's hard to add those; but please, for all of you there who're in positions where you have a say in the layout of new buildings being built, add an outside entrance for your hall directors. It'll increase their quality of living SO MUCH!!!