Wow! Can you believe it almost time for school to start? Where did the summer go?
Well, I will be returning back home on Saturday for a week before I come back to Hope. During my week home I will be job shadowing, hanging out with friends, getting my wisdom teeth pulled, and packing! Quite a list, I know. If you are anything like me, last year when I was packing for college I had all of my stuff laid out across the basement floor, it was nearly impossible to walk from place to place. However this year when I pack, I am going to strategically pack my belongings so it will be easier to find all of my stuff when I unload it all. When it comes to packing I load all of my stuff into 6 basic categories. Here are some ideas for what you’ll need in each category.
1. Eating
Food of course is an essential! I recommend picking up some basic snacks for your dorm room. You don’t necessarily need to buy all your food before you come, but it is nice to have some food in your dorm. I brought plates, cups, silverware, mugs, water filter, chip clips, water bottle, and a coffee maker.
2. Sleeping
You’ll need a comfy mattress pad, plus extra sheets, comforter/quilt, throw blanket, loud alarm clock (make sure can hear it), and pillows.
3. Studying
While at school, you will be studying more than you planned (at least I hope you do). I personally did not study too much in my dorm room, but sometimes it was nice to study there between classes. Hope has a lot of great places on campus and off campus to study. Try out the local coffee shops in Holland to study. I have bought some of your basic school supplies. I did not buy too many binders or notebooks, because I wanted to wait and see what I’ll actually need for each class. However, I recommend a laptop and sleeve. I used a dry erase board a lot to do math problems. I also bought a dry erase board for my dorm door and a dry erase board calendar. You can buy a planner from Hope, or bring your own, but I definitely recommend one! I also recommend a book light, back pack, pencil case holder, pushpins, dry erase markers, and USB flash drive.
4. Relaxing
It is important to relax in college as well as study. Classes can be overwhelming, but sometimes relaxing in your room can be the best thing. I recommend an iHome or some type of speakers, area rug, fan, art/posters for your walls, floor lamp, air fresheners, ottoman, and a comfy chair for your room.
5. Washing
My mom always told me to never forget personal hygiene… So be sure to pack towels, don’t forget a beach towel as well. You’ll need washcloths, luffa, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toiletry items, shower caddy, laundry hamper, laundry detergent, and cleaning wipes to clean up your room from time to time. Also, I brought my own vacuum, they are provided, but I enjoyed having my own personal one.
6. Organizing
Organization is key! Space is limited, but if you keep everything organized you shouldn’t have any problems. I honestly was freaking out when I first saw my room last year, but I ended up maximizing my space and keeping everything in its place. Last year I brought a shoe storage hanger for my closet, drawer organizers, storage cubes, storage bins, and a lot of hangers.
These are just some of the big things you’ll want to pack for college. Several students hang up Christmas lights in their room to jazz it up a bit. Be creative and have fun decorating your dorms!
Remember to pack smart and try to preorganize your stuff in storage bins BEFORE you arrive to school. Best of luck packing! Have a great week!
Until next time,
CoLLeeN
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My basement floor while packing
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My organized dorm room desk!