Personal Narrative: My First Day At Spokane Falls Community College

As a first time student attending Spokane Falls Community College, I honestly thought the only buildings and areas of campus involving my class schedule would be of importance. Little did I know that one room encountered would become my safe haven. I remember the first day stepping out onto the campus and seeing only a giant riddle waiting to be solved. Bountiful parking spaces, buildings, rooms, classes, and students bombarded me. Just after my first class, my mind overflew with information. Due to this stressful situation, all I wanted was to relax. I came across a room conveniently located, possesing plenty of comfortable couches, and radiates the attributes of a casual environment. I found the room helps students stay refreshed between

After my second class in the science building, being famished I walk two buildings down to the SUB Lounge to obtain a snack from the vending machine. If my hunger remains ravenous, a sandwich from the cafeteria is always an option. I pass the SUB building everyday on my way to and from classes. It probably takes me 3 minutes to get to the SUB Lounge from my farthest class. Not to mention, it’s a very nice location to meet friends. My friend Danielle sends me multiple text messages during the week saying, “I am in the SUB Lounge, meet me here after class.” Although my friends and I do not share the same classes, our interaction does not deteriorate. Even though I have a friend in the wellness center while I am in the humanities building, the SUB Lounge is right in between allowing us to come together, pick up from our last conversation, and disperse to our next classes. I find it humorous that I thought a map would be necessary to find the SUB Lounge, when I came across it without even intending to. For example, I went to buy books for my psychology class and I ended up venturing through the SUB Lounge to get there. Moreover, one day a teacher sent me to the Cashiers office to buy a parking permit and I once again ended up passing through the lounge. It could be said the SUB Lounge found me. Lastly, now that it’s Fall the air feeling crisp and cool causes me to appreciate the closeness

While libraries are known for their environment where eating, drinking, and conversations are taboo, the SUB Lounge isn’t created for reading and studying. This casual environment allows me and my friends to sit together and tell stories about our day and what happened in class. We typically tell stories about homework assignments or what our families did over the weekend. I usually end up laughing so hard my beverage comes pouring out my nose. Last week Danielle, Aaron and I decided to watch a Jimmy Kimmel video about parents pranking their children before we headed off to our classes. The SUB Lounge is created for students to converse with friends, use the Wi-Fi to search the web, eat and more. The SUB Lounge is not one of our classrooms; it is the “Lounge”; the place we go to escape from class to partake in a relaxing, laughter filled activity. It seems the picture I just painted is not a beneficial place for improving student intellect, but having an accessible, laid-back environment on campus allows students to recharge for their next lecture, therefore reducing stress and allowing a promising coping mechanism. Likewise, (Çivitci 566) states “Students naturally seek social support to cope with stress.” The SUB Lounge provides that social environment that many students use to cope with stress after lectures. The SUB Lounge is