By MacKenzie Rogers, Lifestyle Editor
There is nothing like moving into your first dorm room, where you can transform a blank space into your on-campus home. From posters to shower caddies, you could buy hundreds of things for your dorm room to make your campus life 100 times better.
With all students being required to live on campus for at least four semesters to immerse themselves in campus life, making sure your future dorm room feels like home is crucial to fighting off homesickness and boosting happiness.
Laci Winn, resident adviser in J.H. Richmond Hall, said getting involved across campus can really help students connect, but decorating their personal space is a must.
“My biggest tip on living in the dorms is making your space feel like your space and feel like home,” Winn said. “Decorate it with your favorite things, your favorite colors and pictures of friends, family and pets.”
When it comes to decorating your dorm room, make sure you have all the essentials beforehand. It is easy to forget what you need the most because of the overwhelming nature of moving away from home. There are hundreds of checklists online to help you prepare for moving, including lists of necessary items like an umbrella.
Here is a short list of things you should consider buying for your dorm room from someone who has lived in the dorms:
A three-tier cart: These carts are a game-changer when it comes to storage solutions, offering three-tiers that work perfectly for a snack cart, and best of all, it fits under most of the dorm beds.
A shower caddy: If you live in a dorm with private bathrooms, a shower caddy will save some of the little free space available in the bathroom.
Noise-canceling headphones: There can be moments when you need some peace and quiet to study or your neighbors are being rowdy, and when that happens, a good pair of noise-canceling headphones can save the day.
Extension cords/surge protectors: With the limited amount of outlets in the room, you will need extension cords and surge protectors to get the most out of your outlets.
A GREAT mattress pad: Getting some good sleep can be the difference between an amazing day and a bad one, and an excellent sleep booster is a thick mattress pad.
A calendar or marker board: Having a physical object in the dorm to keep track of important dates will help keep you centered and on point with campus life and activities.
When it comes to the laundry situation here on campus, do not worry about gathering up your quarters, as the laundry machines on campus are free to use. The only major rules surrounding the laundry rooms are not using Tide Pods, as they can easily damage the machines, and setting alarms for moving laundry between machines.
Adreanna Edgar, sophomore elementary education major, said she wished she had known how to get more involved before coming onto campus.
“I came in not knowing anybody because I’m from, like, two and a half hours away and didn’t know a single person,” Edgar said. “I’m someone who likes to be involved and in the community, so I wish I had known sooner how to get involved.”
Getting involved in your dorm community can be as simple as attending Residential College Council (RCC) meetings, where you will get insight into upcoming campus events and meet others on campus interested in finding new friends.
For a more exact list of the items that you cannot bring onto campus, visit murraystate.edu/campus/Housing/housingfaq.aspx and if you are unsure about any of the rules, reach out to the housing office at msu.housing@murraystate.edu.