Residence life; this either strikes fear or joy in the minds of students in their first year. For many, this is the first time they've been away from their home. The University of Lethbridge meant I was five hours from my parents. The freedom I experienced has never tasted as delicious.
It's not true. Freedom sucked for the first two months.
There were numerous events that were meant to expose students to one other, but it was hard to remember the names of anyone or even to establish strong relationships.
I'd like to think that I've learned a thing or two about how to get the most of my the house, so I've put together some helpful suggestions for those thinking about living in residence:
Leave your door open.
If you're always in your room, it's impossible to meet new people. Plus, it's way more comfortable to have a conversation with someone who is on your area than trying to get heard in a crowd. Jade, my best friend, was born this way. After a few weeks, power was cut off, putting our entire floor into darkness. My dad is employed by Parks which is why I have a huge collection of mini flashlights that he used for his promotions events. I turned the lights on and then hung on my ceiling so that they appeared like stars. After seeing my customized light show Jade invited herself in and six glorious years of friendship flew by.
Spend the time to create friendships.
It's not just about the books. The grades are important, but it's not all about the grades. It's the people you have with you who will be there at 2 AM with Little Caesars, beer and an arm to cry on. Your social life will be what makes your post-secondary journey a successful one. Little Caesars is right, the freshman fifteen does exist and will happen.
Create a menu program and gain some basics in cooking.
I don't know how many times I've started a alarm when I tried to cook. There is nothing more guilt-inducing than seeing the fire trucks come in because you are unable to cook. It is crucial to note that there are many housekeepers who are not great at maintaining a home. In the sink, you may find maggots because your roommate hasn't washed their dishes in a while will make you glad you have a food stamp for backup!
Make your choices and don't stress about the minor things.
Jade was crying the first time she entered my bedroom. A group of the girls in her quad decided it would be a good idea for her to treat her urine from Saturday night with Jade's vacuum. I can't recall telling Jade. Jade probably should have done something right away instead of keeping her anger to herself , only to become more upset after three weeks, the same roommate accidentally damaged one of her cups. If you don't address the major issues once it occurs, it can spill over into the small stuff and completely destroy the relationship between roommates. Although you don't have to love your roommates, it's crucial to show respect and respect. You're stuck with your roommates for the entire year, therefore it's best to set ground rules early.
Get a towel on the floor and flip-flops.
Let's face it, apartments aren't exactly the cleanest of spaces ... especially the bathrooms shared with roommates. It's possible that you didn't like cleaning the bathroom at home, so why think that it will change when you're on your alone with roommates who are doing the same things? I'm sure after witnessing someone else's hairballs that are rotting in the middle of the shower, you'll want to have something to put on your feet. I recommend getting a plastic tote with a handle , so you can easily carry your stuff between your room. It is likely that someone will take your shampoo, your razor, and brush your teeth if you leave it unattended.
Wash your sheets.
There will be company at one point. Jade my best friend and I spent many nights cuddling up in our beds watching How I Met Your Mother replays when we felt alone. My mom came to my rescue when I was in the second semester. She slept with us both and I experienced a breakdown. This isn't a common practice. terra hill took a vow to not clean his sheets for a full year. The smells that arose from Dan's room were so bad that a group of us put duct tape across his door to block the stink.
You'll be feeling homesick so make sure you call home frequently.
Living on your own helps you appreciate the little things that your parents can do. Before going to university I didn't know that my mom was making sure that all my socks were matched for years so I didn't lose them. Your parents are going to miss you, too; they love you more than you realize and leaving is more difficult on them than you believe. Even if it's sending a text in the morning letting them know you're alive, make sure you send it. It's important.
Be careful not to share too much on social media.
I'm all for sharing photos of you and your friends having fun in the corn maze however, living in a house can reveal the worst and best of people. It is best not to share anything you don't want your grandma viewing, and avoid mentioning anyone else in situations which could compromise. You're all learning and growing and deserve an amount of security to do that. You are going to screw up, you are going make some bad choices, you're likely to be embarrassed, and your family and future employers do not need to see that. Don't keep the pictures however, save the memories.
Do not attend 8 a.m. classes If you are able to.
They suck, and as even if you think that you've got the motivation and dedication to make it to them on time, you probably don't. You don't get enough sleep during your time here. It's unlikely that you'll get eight hours of each night, so be sure that you've got enough sleep to get up and walk about the next day.
Be you
Many people may think that moving into property is an opportunity to make a change, but I say don't take the time to think about it. It's way too hard to act like somebody you're not. So what if you were the nerdy kid at high school? You'll be surrounded by similarly awesome nerds in postsecondary! There will be a variety of people from different backgrounds living in your house. But, you have two things in common: you live in the same house and you're all students. This brings you closer. They will become your family, regardless of your differences. Do it!
Living in residence is a one of a kind experience that helped me learn a lot about myself and allowed me to make lasting friendships and great memories. I would recommend it to all students who are in their first year regardless of the option of staying with your family or friends outside of the campus.