I love decorating my dorm room. I love picking out just the right posters to put on my walls. I love taking out my glow in the dark stars and scattering them everywhere. I love placing my mugs on my desk and my Christmas lights across the ceiling. But this year, I made a slight change to what I used to add some color to the bare, sterile room.

I added plants.

Last year, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind to put plants in my dorm room. This year, it was all I could think about. I started planning in June the kinds of plants I would have. I did a lot of research into what sorts of plants could survive on little light; plants that were durable enough so if I forgot to water them during finals week, it wouldn't kill them; plants that were supposed to be the best for dorm rooms. I asked Mom if she had any ideas. She ended up helping me get a cutting from this vine plant we've had since I was a baby. It now sits on my bookshelf.

Along with this plant (pictured above and named Delilah, because I name everything), I have a polka-dot plant named Roger

A Venus flytrap named Gregory

And a succulent named Frederick.

I love each of these plants, and cannot express how important they are to me. Seeing these little patches of green in my room can sometimes brighten up even the worst day. They look great as decoration, because what room isn't improved by having plants in it? As an added bonus, they serve as testament that I don't suck at everything. If I feel like I'm behind in any classes, or I'm having trouble pronouncing that one French word, or I couldn't get that run right in band, I can look at my plants and say to myself, "At least I can keep a plant alive. I must be doing something right."

If you're a struggling college student (or even someone who just feels super stressed out), I would recommend getting a plant. They're easy to take care of, they look fantastic in your dorm room or home, and having that spot of color can remind you that life has the ability to be beautiful. Plants don't want anything of you besides a little sun and some water every once in a while. Plants aren't disappointed in you when you bomb that test. Plants don't care if you look like shit today. They are simply there to serve as a gentle reminder that you can get through this. You are capable of doing something right, something good. I mean, if you can manage to take care of something so beautiful, so complex and wonderful as a plant, how bad of a person can you really be?

Having a plant brings a bit of the calming atmosphere of nature into your space. If you're feeling stressed out, disconnected, or just plain awful, maybe buy a small plant to place on your desk and look at while you work. You'll be surprised how much better you feel.