Going away to college for the first time, I brought so much stuff; random stuff to be exact. Things I thought I would need, or would use at a later date, ended up just being crammed into the drawers of my desk. After your first year away, you start to realize that you really don't need to bring your whole room from home to school. I'm going to give you the top five items you really should bring:

1. Vacuum

I'm so glad I brought a vacuum to school. If your floors are carpet, then you'll want one of these!! Whether its popcorn from movie night with the girls, or dirt from the sports field ager practice, a vacuum will keep your personal space and the rest of your room spotless. Everyone on my floor used mine; I should've made some profit off of it!

2. Keurig

I. Love. My. Keurig. If you're a coffee lover, hot coco drinker or tea fanatic, then get yourself a Keurig! When I didn't have time to go to the dinning hall to grab a coffee to go before class, I'd use it! Its quick and easy, and dummy proof. It comes in handy when its snowing, and you're just craving a nice cup of hot coco. Yum!

3. Command Strips

Before going to school, almost everyone is figuring out what they want to put on the plain walls of their new home. Instead of using masking tape or thumb tacks, Command Strips are an easy hanging tool! You simply stick it to the area you want it on the wall, and then bam! You're ready to hang pictures or canvases. You can get them in white or clear, and can find them at pretty much any home store, or office supplies store. Plus, they're easy to remove and won't damage the walls.

4. Planner

On a serious note, I know personally I like to write down homework and when assignments are due, as well as appointments, games, and other important information. Having a planner keeps you organized, and stress free! College gives you enough stress, why add more?

5. Headphones

Headphones were my best friend in the library while trying to get homework done. Having headphones handy allows you to block out the annoying people in your hall, the people a that gym, and well, I guess everyone. I like using headphones when I work on homework because then I stay focused. You'll probably find that there will never be a time when you don't have them on you.

Now, there are definitely other items that you may figure out that you need, these are just the ones that helped me survive. There are all sorts of packing lists that you can find on Pinterest and Bed, Bath & Beyond, but in reality, after your first year away, even those lists seem like too much.