6 Life-Changing Things I Wish I Knew About Living on Campus

Reduce stress: sleep in.

You know how stressful the mornings can be when you hit snooze a few too many times. Where’s my back pack? What did I do with my keys? How the heck did my phone end up there? Don’t add a commute and trying to park to the list. Live in the residence halls, and don’t miss “that one time when….” You can snooze an extra 2 or 3 times, and still be in your class by roll call.

Self-care: nap.

We all do it. Make sure you have a bed to do it in. Squeeze one in between that 9 am and lunch when you and the roomie just have to finish one more season before you go to bed, we won’t judge.

Treat yo’self: meal cards.

Keep it easy and get dinner with the swipe of your ID. It’s family dinner night every night when your friends are all at the table with you. You can have pizza every day if that’s your thing, or DIY something a little healthier at the salad bar. The choices are yours and there’s no meal prep or brown bags needed. Ice cream for breakfast? Why not, it’s college.

Support system: it’s built in.

Stressed about your exams? Guess what, so is everyone around you, and they are probably taking the same classes. Late night study sessions are better with friends, and the study breaks are way more exciting!

Responsibility: try it on for size.

Living in the residence halls is a great way to experience life on your own, but knowing there’s a safety net in place while you do helps to ease the pressure. Tell your family “it’s ok, I’ve got this” and mean it. Own these 4 years!

Try new things: you only get one chance at your first year.

You never know what you are capable of until you force yourself into trying it. Open yourself up to friends, new ideas, new ways of doing things. In the residence halls, everyone has their own story to share. Don’t miss out on the chance to get to experience the world with a new perspective. Life happens after class lets out. Don’t miss it!