From boring and cluttered to fun and organized

 

My roommate organized her closet with small bins that she labeled herself.

 

Sure, Cal Poly provides the dorm rooms with the basic furniture, and you’re told to bring other items such as desk lamps and what not, but these items simply aren’t enough.  Every room needs decoration and organization.

 Since the rooms are compact, it’s important to be space conscious.  Things will tend to get crowded with two people living in one room, so the only solution is organization.  In order to stay organized, consider purchasing the following:

 -Closet Organizers: These organizers are basically shelves that hang in your closet.  My roommate uses one to create more storage for her closet.

-Fabric Drawer Storage Units: These drawers are perfect to place anywhere in the room. I have one next to my bed that serves as a nightstand.  I use it to store snacks.

-Desktop Chest: For all of the books and papers that will end up on your desk, get a small chest to store pens, paperclips, index cards and other small desk materials.

Decoration in a room is just as important. Who wants to live in a cement cave with nothing on the wall?  I know I don’t.  Decoration gives a room life while also displaying the personalities of the people that live inside it.  Here are some decorating tips for both girls and guys:

 -Posters: Posters are an easy way to decorate your walls with your favorite movie titles, sports teams, buildings or scenic landscapes. 

-Pictures from home: These are the best items for decorating.  Print out lots of pictures of friends and family to remind you of the fun times before college.  Don’t forget to add to your collection, though, as the year goes on.

-Floor Rugs: The carpet in the dorms is elementary school style- blue and boring.  Dress up your floor by getting a colorful rug.  It will bring color and style to your room.

-Hooks: Purchase a few plastic hooks to stick on your walls.  You can hang scarves, jewelry, hats, purses and coats from them.  Not only do the hooks allow you to put things on bare spaces of the walls, but they also create another form of organization.

-Dry Erase Board: These are useful for communicating with roommates and floor-mates.  You can use these to leave each other notes or make lists.

 Of course, keep in mind that there is another person who will be bringing their tastes to the room.  I’m not saying that anything has to match because my room certainly doesn’t.  Just be aware that your roommate may have a completely different sense of style.  If you can agree on a color scheme or what not, by all means go for it- but if you don’t, that’s fine too. 

 For more ideas on room decoration and organization check out this site:

Bed Bath & Beyond

Tour of the Sierra Madre dorms

Making the move- Room Essentials

 

Sierra Madre- The dorm that I moved into this past September

 

When moving into a college dorm, it’s important to know what to bring and what to leave behind.  It’s obviously not as simple as figuring out that you have to leave your dog at home and bring your computer with you. 

If you go to the Cal Poly housing website, you can find a helpful catalog  of all the information you would need for preparing to move into the dorms. 

 Each dorm room is equipped with the basic furniture, including: an extra-long twin bed, chest of drawers, desk, chair, bookshelves and wastebasket for each student.

In addition to the previous list, Cerro Vista Apartments and Poly Canyon Apartments are furnished with a kitchen table, chairs, end tables, floor lamps, and a coffee table to accommodate for each apartment’s kitchen.

 No matter where you are living, though, Cal Poly finds it necessary to bring the following items:

-Bedding: this includes sheets, a comforter, pillows, etc.

-Desk lamp: essential for those nights where you must stay up later than your   roommate to finish homework

-Towels: make sure to bring towels for the shower, the beach and smaller face-size towels

-Laundry soap: the campus only provides the washer and drier machines – everything else is up to you

-Hangers: the room comes with a built-in closet, but make sure to bring hangers to hang up your clothes

-Compact storage containers: you can purchase plastic bins that will fit nicely underneath the bed for storage.  The bins I have are 23” x 16 ¼” x 6”.  The Poly website says the storage space underneath the bed frame is 10”.

-Electrical surge protector power strips: for plugging in computers, televisions, etc.   

-Toiletries: don’t forget to bring toothpaste, soap, shampoo, shower shoes, etc.

-Kitchen utensils (for the on-campus apartments)

From my experience thus far, I have found other items just as essential. Here is a list of items that Cal Poly failed to add in its recommended list:

-Foam mattress pad: it makes the bed so much more comfortable.  You can tell a difference from beds that have one and those that don’t

-Long mirror: girls, you especially will want one.  These are extremely helpful when you’re getting ready for the day or night.  My roommate and I have two in our room.

-Food: bring lots of snacks and small meal type items, such as: popcorn, mac and cheese, apples, and granola bars.  There will be days where you don’t want to leave your room or don’t have time to go get food.

For more ideas on what to bring, check out this site: College Dorm Room Essentials Checklist

Rain, Rain Go Away…

 

The girls in my tower decided to decorate the common room while stuck inside on a rainy day.

 

If you’ve been in San Luis Obispo the past week, you’ve experienced the non-stop, stormy weather.  The high winds, pouring rain and seemingly arctic tundra temperatures are not quite the conditions Cal Poly students are used to.  Though it is wintertime, we’ve come quite accustomed to the sun.  After all, the first week back from winter break was 75 degrees.  

 But when it actually does storm, some Poly students are caught at a crossroad.  First thing’s first though…put away the t-shirts and flip-flops.  Don’t put them too far away, though, because, as my friend put it, the weather in San Luis Obispo is often times very bipolar – rain one day and sunny skies the next.

 For the storms though, it would be a smart idea to invest in a pair of rain boots.  On rainy days, almost everyone is sporting a different pair.  From polka dots to metallic colors, I’d be shocked if you went five minutes on the Cal Poly campus without passing by someone who was wearing rain boots.  So, if you’re worried about looking like a fool with your third grade style rain boots, don’t be.  The puddles are everywhere, and rain boots will save your pair of Vans.

 Also, an umbrella probably won’t help you in most cases.  With the rain, comes the wind.  Someone that lives in my dorm went out and bought an umbrella for the storm only to watch it flip inside out and break…his feelings of disappointment ended up on his facebook status an hour later.

 I personally don’t enjoy having to go out in the rain to get to class.  When the weekend hits and it’s still pouring, nobody is extremely willing to venture out into the wet world either.  It leaves everyone inside, sometimes wondering what to do.  With this past storm, I’ve learned some new things to do while stuck inside.

 The girls in my tower decided to decorate the common room walls.  They printed out pictures taken over the course of the year and hung them on the wall.  A few girls also cut up magazines with tips on how to stay fit and posted those on the wall.  It’s a good inside activity and makes the common room more festive.

Of course watching a movie and making popcorn is always an option too.  It’s always a good alternative to going outside.  Plus it’s relaxing.  But if you don’t feel like just sitting there, you can always find someone who has a great sound system in their room and throw yourself a dance party.  Get some upbeat music playing to contrast with the mood of the sky.  I, for one, have done both of those things in the same night.  Just don’t be loud enough to receive a noise violation. 

For more rainy day ideas check out this site:

Winter Indoor Activities

10 Most Stolen Items

Like mentioned before, theft is a common issue within college campus dorms.  It is one of the most universal types of campus crimes.  You are surrounded by so many people that you barely know- it’s easy for items to be taken.  Law enforcement authorities came up with a list of the kinds of items that most typically go missing.

10 Most Stolen Items On College Campuses (in no particular order)

     1. Cell phones

              2. Laptops

     3. iPods

               4. Money 

     5. Bicycles

               6. Books

     7. Jewelry

               8. Credit cards

    9. Television                   

              10. Items used for                         identity theft

 

Safety is a Must

Safety is a big deal when it comes to living on your own in a college dorm.  Sure you live with floors full of people, but you’re not going to immediately hand over your trust to them – or others.

 A few weeks ago, there was an incident on the Cal Poly campus involving safety in the dorms.  Reportedly, a man entered a sleeping student’s room. Fortunately, the student was not harmed.  An e-mail was sent out to Cal Poly students alerting them of the issue. 

 Aside from that incident being just plain creepy, it was a wake up call for many students.  For the following few days after the incident, it was the topic on almost everyone’s tongue.  Flyers were hung on the doors of main halls as well as other various places on campus. 

Problem: Possibility of intruders

 Solution: To keep intruders out, it’s as simple as locking your door and windows. 

 Intruders are only one safety issue that students living in dorms need to be aware of.  Students should also be concerned about fire safety and theft. 

Problem: Clutter leads to safety issues 

With all the clutter that piles up in the good majority of students’ dorm rooms, it’s important to make sure to avoid fire hazards.  It is reported that 72% of fires in dorm rooms are caused by cooking equipment.  

Solution: Obey rules of the dorms by not having toasters and other forbidden materials.  If you do have an object of this sort in your room, don’t leave it unattended while on.

 Electrical wires are also common sources of dorm fires.  The number of wires in a student’s dorm room will pile up due to computers, refrigerators, televisions, fans and desk lamps.  It is easy for these wire to become crowded and overheat.

Solution: Keep all wires untangled from clothes and other items in the room.  It’s best to tape cords for electrical equipment to the baseboards of the walls so they are out of the way.

 Also, make sure to know the fire escape routes for your dorm.  In my dorm, there is an emergency information page posted to the back of every single resident room door.  Familiarize yourself with it.  Keep all doorways clear of any clutter too. 

Problem: Theft

Theft is too common in the dorms with all the new and expensive technology that students have these days.  These would include phones, computes and money. 

Solution: The best thing to do is to keep your valuables put away so they aren’t so easy to find.  Most people who will steal your things won’t have the time to look through drawers and what not. 

 For a few more safety tips, check out this site:

Safety

Roommate Risks

If you’re living in the dorms at Cal Poly, you’re probably also sharing a room with someone.  Yes, this means cramped living spaces and a place for personalities to blend or clash.  Cal Poly has a system where you can request a certain person to room with or you can just go in blind.  Either way is a risk.

Rooming with a friend from high school is obviously more comfortable and more certain.  Mostly, you’ll know what to expect and you know going into moving day that you will have someone to do things with right off the bat.  The down side is that that person might become your security blanket, preventing you from branching out and meeting new people.

If you do choose to room with a familiar face, just make sure not to limit yourself to doing everything with just that person.  Also, make sure you really know that person because chances are you’ve never actually lived with him or her before.  This person might be fun to hang out with, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she is the best to live with. 

Signing up for a random roommate might work better for you.  You get to meet someone new and learn all about that person.  It can be fun if you are matched up well, but if you’re not, tough luck. 

There are good ways to get to know the person you will be living with for the next year, such as playing icebreaker games. This might sound cheesy, but it will help you get to know one another and let down that guard you might have. 

If you do have conflicts with your roommate, try talking to him or her first.  Your roommate might not even realize he or she is doing anything to upset you.  I have heard everything from roommates who are too messy to roommates who study 24/7 to roommates who forget to turn off their alarm clocks, leaving you wide awake at 6 a.m.  It is best to remember that everyone is different, though.  You have to be patient and understanding.             

It’s only natural to argue sometimes, too.  So if you get into an argument with your roommate, it isn’t the end of the world.  The best thing to do is talk it out.  You have to be willing to listen to your roommate, though.

Overall, having a roommate is a good experience.  It is important to learn how to handle others’ differences and cooperate in situations.  Sharing a room with someone else helps you grow as a person.  And, make sure you realize that you don’t have to be best friends with your roommate – you just have to be able to get along and respect one another.

 Check out this link for more information on living with roommates:

10 Tips for a good Roommate Relationship

New friends….they’re all around you.

Moving away to college for the first time is scary…probably the scariest thing the average 18 year old has ever faced.   Think about it.  You are hours away from home in San Luis Obispo, a city that you are completely unfamiliar with, and many people don’t know a single person going into the Week of Welcome.

People you meet in college can potentially be your friends for the rest of your life.  They will influence the person you will become by introducing you to new activities and showing you new views on the world, so choose them wisely.

It’s a whole new world, a learning process that everyone in your dorm is going through.  It’s typical for people to think they are alone in such a time of change.  You just have to remember that everyone is in the same boat as you.  Everyone is trying to make new friends.  Here are some good tips to finding that group of friends you’re looking for:

 Keep your door open: If you live in the Sierra Madre (like me) or Yosemite dorms (map) for example, rooms are set up to have a common room on each floor.  If you keep your door open, it’s easy for peers to say hello, strike up a conversation and invite you to do things. 

 Venture onto other floors: It’s simple to sit in the common room of your floor and meet people who pass through, but what about the others?  They are only a few stairs away.  Don’t limit yourself to only those who happen to live on your floor or happen to stop by.  Get out there and make it a habit to visit other floors at least a couple times a week.  Most of my good friends in my dorm live on other floors.  It’s my second quarter at Cal Poly, and I’m still meeting new people.  

 Attend dorm social events: Cal Poly dorms do an exceptional job at creating social events for dorm members to attend.  Social events such as dances, pumpkin carving for Halloween and pancake making are just a few of the events my dorm has had this year.  There is an event pretty much every weekend, so there is always something going on.  It’s a great way to meet people who are living around you and enjoy doing some of the same things you enjoy.

 Those are just a few ways to add to your friend list while living in the dorms.  And while it’s great to make friends in your classes, the people that live in your dorm are going to be around you all year, so make it count because you will see them all the time.

Links to related material:

Learn How to Make Friends in College

Family Education: Making Friends in College