When it comes to locking in on homework and wanting to get away from distractions, one of the best ways to study is to find a personal quiet spot on campus. Students shared what their favorite places are when they want to get away from the world and outside their dorm rooms. These quiet spots don’t just live in the Learning Commons, but around the entirety of campus.
Maelin Brick, a senior graphic design major, longs for quiet spots, and even though she has noticed a lack of them on campus, she has found some. The best place for Brick is in the art building when classes are not in session.
“Usually I go there after three, or on the weekends, specifically Sundays when the art building is locked, only open to art students,” said Brick. “As an introvert who gets drained from being around people, these spots have given me a bit of my peace back. The art building on Sundays gives me a space to do homework and be creative while recharging my social battery. I find myself being most productive and feeling refreshed when I spend a Sunday afternoon there away from everyone.”
A little piece of advice that Brick shared was that quiet spots can be found just about anywhere at the right time. For example, Brick has been to Ramaker and the music building early on Saturdays around 7-8 am, VPH at 9 pm and the second floor in Christy Suites midday.
Ana Uscanga, a sophomore Spanish Translation & Interpretation major, shared that her favorite spot to have quiet time is the upstairs lounge in Ramaker. Often, there are not many people and there are multiple comfy couches to relax on as she gets her work done. Uscanga looks for a space like this when she cannot focus in the LC and needs to “lock in” on her homework.
Morgan Huls, a junior Music major, retreats to the theatre building lobby when searching for quiet.
“It is dead quiet, because there are often not many students there and even if there are, they are all there to have some peace and quiet.” Huls said.
Huls thinks it’s important to have a quiet spot to “protect my sanity from myself and sometimes others, and simply to decompress from college life.”
Another student who enjoys having a quiet spot in the theatre building is Theo Miller, a junior business admin major. He enjoys doing homework in the theatre conference room, since there are also not many people who go to the area and there is a door that can be shut when students need to get things done.
To Miller, it is important to have a quiet spot because there are times that he needs to focus and get a large portion of his homework done.
Ben Geary, a senior music major, has a unique quiet spot that he has found in Hospers Hall. Room 204 is not occupied, and often he finds himself heading into the room to get away. Obviously, there is no one else there, but at the same time he can still pop back to his dorm if he is in need of anything. He still gets the dorm atmosphere while not being surrounded by people.
“I often need to call my family, and since I am roommates with the RA, our room can be a communal one.” Geary said “So, there I am, in a way, able to get away from society and call my family when I need it.”
Maggie Kaup, a freshman theatre major, has also found her places of quiet, despite being an extrovert. She often retreats to somewhere in the art or theatre building and while there, she doesn’t have to be “on” in a way for anyone, it can just be her and her art.
“Campus is not a place that has a lot of spaces and the spots that are maybe supposed to be quiet, such as the library, are often not,” Kaup said. “It is important in the balance of school and wellbeing to have those moments of being alone and quiet.”
Ashley Montes, a junior Spanish Translation & Interpretation major, was the last student to share her space she found. Even though she is one to stay in her dorm room, she also has found peace in the second-floor study room in Christy.
“You can watch people, which is fun, but also it has a whiteboard which is helpful when thinking through things,” Montes said. “It is important to have a quiet spot because you can slow down from daily life, since to me a lot of noise takes a lot out of me, and this is a chance to get away from that.
There are some other spaces that students have shared that they find quiet. The prayer room in Ramaker, the commuter lounge in the science building or even the children’s books section in the lower level of the LC. Within the business of college life, it is important to balance the time that students need for themselves and maybe it’s time for everyone to find their own little corner to do so.
