When 'Managing Director' Meets Student Dorm: A Comedy of Entitlements
Ever had someone waltz into your workplace, chest puffed out, business card ready, convinced the world should bend to their will? Now, imagine that person demanding student accommodation—because, hey, the rules don't say "no midlife crisis allowed." Welcome to the wild world of managing a student dormitory, where the guests are supposed to be young, but the entitlement sometimes has a few gray hairs.
This is the saga of a managing director who thought he could outmaneuver logic, common sense, and the laws of youth—all in the name of scoring an affordable place to crash. Spoiler: It didn’t go well for him, but it makes for one heck of a story for the rest of us.
Picture this: It’s house tour day at the local student dorm. The air is thick with nervous excitement as prospective residents (and their helicopter parents) file in. But among the sea of youthful faces stands a man in his 50s, exuding the confidence of someone who’s climbed a very tall corporate ladder—and perhaps hit his head on a few rungs.
As the managing director (and our story’s unwitting hero) approaches, they ask the obvious: “Are you looking for an apartment for your child?” Reasonable! But no, our silver-haired visitor is shopping for himself. He’s a manager, he announces, and he needs a place to stay during the week.
Cue the record scratch.
“But… this is a student dorm. For STUDENTS,” comes the reply.
“But your website says it’s also for working people,” he counters, a glint in his eye. Technically true! After all, some young professionals and trainees are welcome. But this man—let’s call him “Mr. CEO”—is about as fresh-faced as a 90s sitcom rerun. He’s not here to relive his glory days; he’s just looking for a cheap place to crash, and he’s not taking “no” for an answer.
“But there’s no age limit anywhere,” Mr. CEO says, triumphantly, as if he’s discovered a cheat code in The Sims.
Here’s the thing: Some rules are unwritten, and some needn’t be. Sure, the policy is flexible for the rare mature student, but dorms aren’t designed for high-powered execs with expense accounts (even if they claim otherwise). They’re meant for students scraping by, maybe their first time away from home, not for someone who probably still calls his secretary “Miss.”
Our managing director, ever the diplomat, gently suggests a nearby residential complex—one with plenty of vacancies and, crucially, no beanbag chairs in the lobby. But Mr. CEO isn’t having it. “Surely the prices are different there?” he retorts, suddenly less “captain of industry” and more “bargain hunter at a yard sale.”
Let’s pause for a second. Here’s a guy who five minutes ago was flexing his C-suite credentials, now balking at market-rate rent. He wants the student rate, the student vibe, and, let’s be honest, probably the free Wi-Fi.
The real kicker? He’s indignant that he’s being denied. You can almost see the one-star review brewing: “Didn’t get my way. 0/10. Would not recommend for fellow titans of industry.” Our managing director, for his part, is already drafting the perfect reply—equal parts professional, pointed, and (hopefully) viral.
So, what’s the takeaway from this delightful slice of front desk life?
1. Entitlement knows no age limit. There’s always someone who believes “the rules don’t apply to me,” whether they’re 18 or 58.
2. Student housing is for students (mostly). Yes, some flexibility is kind, but affordable dorm space is a lifeline for young people, not a perk for penny-pinching executives.
3. The customer isn’t always right. Especially when the customer is trying to pull a fast one with a LinkedIn title.
4. Front desk tales are the best tales. Where else do you get to witness the world’s strangest loophole lawyers in action?
Next time you’re tempted to bend the rules for someone with a fancy job title, remember: That dorm bed is a stepping stone for a future leader—not a safety net for one who already made it (and apparently doesn’t want to pay for it).
Have you ever run into a customer who thought they were above the rules? Share your story in the comments! And if you’re a front desk hero with a wild tale of your own, drop us a line—we love a good laugh.
After all, in the hospitality world, you don’t have to be young to be young at heart. But you do have to be a student to get the cheap rent. Sorry, Mr. CEO.
Original Reddit Post: I'm the managing director and I'm allowed to do anything!