It's the time of the summer that all college students have been looking forward to for the past three months: getting ready to go back to school! The couple of weeks before move-in day are like the couple of weeks before Christmas. If you're anything like me, you've been counting down the days until you can move back on campus since the day you moved out at the beginning of summer! Although I appreciate the time spent at home with my family and high school friends, there is nothing as great as being at Bonas. As I enter my sophomore year of college, I have formulated a list of 10 essentials (other than the obvious bed sets and laptops) that are necessary for college.
#1: The first on this list is something that you cannot find in a store: an open mind. Being at college exposes you to many different types of people, whether it's their religion, race, sexual preference, etc. You may not like all of the people you meet, and not everyone will like you, either. It is essential that you are able to keep an open mind when dealing with these people because in life you have to be able to live with individuals from across the spectrum.
#2: Something else that I've found to be essential is food. At Bonas, there are not always many options when it comes to food because the dining hall closes at 10 P.M. and the La Verna Cafe mainly specializes in coffees, teas and desserts. Don't be like me and end up spending all of your money on fast food! Make sure to always have snacks in your dorm, along with some easy-to-make meals such as frozen dinners, Easy Mac and ramen. Your stomach and your bank account will thank you.
#3: This next essential may seem obvious, but it's so small that it is often overlooked: dental floss. I cannot express how many times I've needed floss at school and realized that I didn't have any because I forgot to pack some and then forgot to buy any whenever I made a trip to Walmart. Don't forget it!
#4: Something you shouldn't be too worried about is having enough clothes. You'll find that you will acquire many wardrobes as your time at school progresses. My friends and I all share our clothes and it makes it that much easier to find a cute outfit to go out in or that cozy sweater you've been wanting to buy, except instead of buying these things you can just reach into your friend's closet and grab them! I love sharing clothes with my friends because it's like going shopping without spending any money.
#5: This next essential may only be relevant for the first month or so of school, but is still essential regardless: a fan. The first few weeks of school take place when the weather outside hasn't quite cooled down yet. Most colleges don't provide air conditioning for their dorm rooms, and it really does get hot. My tip to you is to get a fan to put in the window at night, when the air is cooler. It'll cool off your room throughout the night, and then in the morning close the window to avoid letting any hot air in. Hopefully the cooler air will stay in your dorm for the majority of the day and your room won't be as sweltering as it could be.
#6: Medicine. This is something that is so important for college students to have. Remember that medicine cabinet in your house that is full of anything you could possibly need? My freshman year, I had a drawer that was designated for medicines of all types: Advil, Tylenol, allergy medicine, Dayquil, Nyquil, sleeping pills, Tums and any prescription medications that I was taking. You may find it unnecessary to have loads of medicine in your room, but anytime any of my friends or I were sick, that drawer was a life-saver.
#7: Any ID cards you may have such as your license, health insurance card or social security card are all great to have with you at all times. You never know when a circumstance could come up that requires you to have one of these cards, so it's best to just have them with you all the time.
#8: Watch out for f*** boys. In this period of our lives, many guys would rather hop into bed with a girl one time than be dedicated to her for an extended length of time. If you're the same way, great! There's nothing wrong with that -- college is the time in our lives to experiment. However, if you are looking for a serious relationship, keep your wits about you! Not all guys want a committed relationship, even if they say they do. Don't be too hard on them though, this is their time to experiment, too.
#9: Some things that are very important and you'll often find yourself needing are bowls, plates, utensils and water bottles. These items make living in a dorm so much easier. You will always need water and having a water bottle on hand makes life that much easier. Bowls, plates and utensils are necessary for being able to eat, and we all know what red solo cups are used for. ;)
#10: The last items on my list of essentials go hand-in-hand: an iron and a lint roller. When your clothes get wrinkled, you can't just hand them off to your mom to iron out (unfortunately). It is always a good idea to have an iron and a mini ironing board in your dorm for situations where you need to look your best. Lint rollers are also essential for looking as put-together as possible because if your clothes look clean and professional, you look clean and professional.
I could probably write an entire book out of things that are essential for college-living, but I think these 10 items/ideas are some of the most essential to have at school. I hope this article helps you have the best semester you've had yet! Go Bonnies!
