Picture this: it's after your graduation party and you start opening up your presents.

You get the typical money, gift cards, things you wanted to decorate your room with, essentially stuff you are excited about. You saved the biggest present for last because you were hoping it was going to be the best one, you open it and it's nothing that you wanted.

Going to college can be a scary yet totally awesome thing, but you will be away from home so there are things that you will need that you won't realize until you HAVE to have it. So, I have compiled a list of things that you will need, but may not be so thankful for right now.

1. Command Hooks/Strips

SUPRISE! You have all of this lovely artwork that you want to hang in your room but you can't put any holes in the wall. Command hooks and strips can literally be used for anything that you need. Need to hang a picture, done. Need something to hang your towel on, done. Need something to hang your shower caddy on (if you have your own bathroom or share it), done because they make ones that are WATERPROOF!

2. Extension Cords/Surge Protectors

These will save your life and I am not kidding! With such a small space, odds are that you will not have a plug where you need one all of the time so that extension will be a life saver. Also, the surge protector is amazing because it gives you more outlets than just the two AND just in case lightning strikes and fries everything else, you can make sure that your electronics are safe.

3. Heating Pad

Ladies where you at? Mom has always had one stored around the house for your use, but what happens when you aren't home and need it ASAP. The one you get will be your lifesaver. Now, if you don't get one, my cheat is a tube sock filled with rice, pop that puppy in the microwave for like 2 minutes and you are golden.

4. Medicine

You name it, you WILL need it. Luckily I had a sister who was in college before me so we learned from her, but having a fully stocked first aid box, drawer, cabinet, whatever you choose, is super important. Headaches, nausea, muscle pain, cold, flu, literally any sickness doesn't care if you are at home or not, it will find you, and it will feel like it is killing you. Some good things to have are Tylenol, Asprin, DayQuil AND NyQuil, Theraflu, band-aids of all different sizes, an ACE bandage or two, and some cold and flu tea.

5. Baskets/Bins

No matter how little you think you are bringing, you more than likely won't have enough space to put everything up that you want to, so extra storage (because there is a lack of that as well) is key to making sure you have a place for everything. Also, they are a cute and easy way to make your room feel homier.

6. Wax Warmers/Oil Diffusers

My first year away from home, I will admit, I really struggled. The first couple of weeks were fine because I was so ready to be out on my own, and then it really set in that for the next 12 months that dorm room with three other girls was my home. No mom and dad to tell me what to do or cook me dinner. It didn't feel like home to me, because, well, it didn't smell like home. Every place you go has a distinct smell and that was something I was really missing from home. One day I remembered that somebody had gotten me a wax warmer so I went to Walmart and found the closest thing I could to what I thought home smelled like and let me tell you, it made a huge difference. I sleep better than ever before and when I would be doing homework in my room I could turn it on, turn the T.V. on a low volume and I swore I was home.

So, yes making sure your room is perfect it important because it will be your home for the next 12 months, but don't hate on the small stuff, they can really help you out. If I could go back and make sure that all of my friends and I had this stuff when we went to school, I would. So, make sure you say thank you to everybody for everything you get, because even though these things are small, the cost adds up, especially for a college student living on a budget.