Going away to school brings challenges and trials that every college freshman must face and overcome.
One of these challenges is something called dorm life. Many college freshmen have never been away from home and their parents before so living on their own can sometimes be a rude awakening.
Whether you’re living an hour away from home or all the way across the country, there are ways to survive this sometimes overwhelming experience.
For many students, the new home of choice is one of the school’s residence halls. Dorms are an adventure all by themselves. You will be sharing a building with hundreds of other students, some of whom are just as awed by these new experiences as you are.
First things first, begin figuring out exactly what you will need to take with you when you go. Remember that you will be living on your own and will need to have everything you need on a daily basis.
There are basic items that you will definitely want to grab such as soap, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, a toothbrush, sheets, laundry detergent, an alarm clock, telephone and whatever else you’ll want to take.
Then decide on the luxuries for the dorm room. These include a TV, stereo, refrigerator, VCR, DVD player, computer, etc. These are items that are not completely necessary but will make the room more comfortable and cozy.
It is best though to check with your roommate first and see what items he or she is bringing also, so that you will not have two fridges, two microwaves, etc. You can normally get the name and contact information of your future roommate from the housing office.
That said, living with a roommate may be one of the biggest challenges a college student will face.
It can be hard sharing such a small space with someone that could be a complete stranger to you or even someone you have known your entire life.
Starting off with a good foundation is one of the most important things that can be done.
Decide how things will be placed, such as any furniture or posters on the wall. Figure out who will clean what or what time is OK for a boyfriend or girlfriend to come over.
You might even want to figure out if one of you is a night owl, while the other is the “early to bed, early to rise” type. Things like this can make the semester go by much more smoothly and will not cause complications later.
Understand though that there will be problems, and there will be fights. It is nearly impossible to live so closely with a person and not have a few bumps along the way.
Do not be afraid to go to your dorm RA though if things get too nuts. RAs are great problem solvers, and that is what they are there for.
Roommates have the potential to become the best of friends. However, sometimes, roommates will never get along. It is those times when your best idea is to contact housing and request a new room assignment.
First and foremost, just have fun.
College and living away from home are supposed to be fun and exciting, and it can be.
Even when things get hairy at the dorm or with your roommate, just take a deep breath and chill.
It always gets better.

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