Just like the diverse cultures, majors and students at the University of Rochester, this campus offers a variety of places for any student to relax or work. From the academic buildings to the gymnasium to the dorm rooms, I am always able to find places to have fun with my friends and focus on my coursework. Since I lived in different dormitories every year, I’ve spent my time experiencing various locations around campus and after 5 years, I can say that I know a few places that I always feel comfortable going to.
During my free time, I love to play different sports and stay in shape, which is why I spend most of my days in the Goergen Athletic Center. Whether playing basketball or going to the weight room, I love to stay healthy, and it offers a great stress reliever when I am tired of studying. Not only do I enjoy playing the sport, but I also relish the idea of always making new friends on and off the basketball court. Also, I consider myself a very competitive player; so being able to challenge myself in something other than school work is always a plus for me. When the weather is nice, I love to run outside to see the beautiful campus that is normally covered in snow as well as play outdoor games with my friends at Fauver Stadium.
Although I love to move around and keep active, I still enjoy my quiet time to sit down and work. There is not one place on campus that I can say is my favorite place to study just because I like to change my scenery here and there. There are, however, places on campus that I go to the most and those are: the new Ronald Rettner Hall for Media Arts and Innovation, Goergen Hall for Biomedical Engineering and Optics, and Schlegel and Gleason Halls of the Simon Business School. During my four years of undergrad, I definitely studied in Goergen Hall most of my time just because of my major, my friends, the open space in the building, and the resources that are offered. This year, as a Master’s student, I have been studying a lot in the new Rettner Hall and the Simon Business School because of the diverse atmospheres and the quiet spaces offered.
The University of Rochester has been home to me for the past five years of my life, and every year I’m able to find new locations to enjoy my time here. Every student here has their distinct preference, and these locations I have just mentioned are what defines my learning and social experience at the University of Rochester.
– Stephen Zhang ’14 (MS) 