How to survive your first year in res
Living in residence is the best
way to meet people and practise
your independence in your first
year of college. It can be hard living
away from home for the first time,
but here are some tips to ensure you
get the best out of your residence
experience.
Keep healthy
As we all know, the “freshman 15” is a real thing, but it doesn’t have to happen. The cafeteria has a lot of amazing food that will slowly kill your energy, but it also has a lot of food that is really good for you. Obviously it’s okay to treat yourself to a delicious poutine or a juicy burger every once in a while, but keeping a good diet won’t only make you feel better, but it will improve your study and sleeping habits. Fanshawe also has a great gym. Whenever you’re feeling stressed or need to blow off some steam, the gym is the best place to do it.
Be organized
It’s easy to get into messy, unorganized habits in residence because you’re so used to your parents picking up after you. Since your parents aren’t here for you, you’ll have to take on the task yourself. Being organized is important when you’re living on your own. A great way to keep on top of your assignments, appointments and any other things life throws at you is getting a calendar white board for your bedroom wall. You can see all the important dates every time you walk into your room. Another great way to keep organized is shelving and storage units. IKEA has some great plastic shelves and storage units that can help you organize all your school supplies and clothes. This way, you’ll know where everything is at all times.
Cleaning supplies will be your best friend
Cleaning is very important when living in residence. There is nothing worse than having a kitchen filled with dirty dishes and smelly food, not to mention embarrassing when you have friends over. It’s always handy to have dish soap, Lysol wipes and Febreeze in your residence room. You will 100 per cent need it. Another great idea is to make a cleaning schedule with your roommates. This way, there isn’t one person always being stuck with doing dishes or sweeping.
Kitchen supplies
The great thing about Fanshawe’s residence is that you get a kitchen. The best appliances to have in your kitchen are a toaster oven, kettle and George Foreman grill (or something close to that). You can cook pretty much anything with these appliances. The great thing about having those is that you can cook with groceries instead of always using your meal card. Trust me, your meal card runs out fast if you don’t pay attention to what you’re buying.
Roommate bonding
Having roommates is pretty awesome. The people you meet in college can be lifelong friends. When moving into residence it’s important to have some roommate bonding so you can all get to know each other. Having some drinks together, a movie night or maybe cook a roommate meal together are all great ways to get to know one another. You want to start your year off with a positive approach with your roommates.
Have fun
Living in residence is all about taking in the experience. Sure, you’re here to focus on school, but you’re also there to have fun and meet new people. Don’t let the stress get to you too much. It’s okay to let loose every once in a while.
Cheers to your first year!
Keep healthy
As we all know, the “freshman 15” is a real thing, but it doesn’t have to happen. The cafeteria has a lot of amazing food that will slowly kill your energy, but it also has a lot of food that is really good for you. Obviously it’s okay to treat yourself to a delicious poutine or a juicy burger every once in a while, but keeping a good diet won’t only make you feel better, but it will improve your study and sleeping habits. Fanshawe also has a great gym. Whenever you’re feeling stressed or need to blow off some steam, the gym is the best place to do it.
Be organized
It’s easy to get into messy, unorganized habits in residence because you’re so used to your parents picking up after you. Since your parents aren’t here for you, you’ll have to take on the task yourself. Being organized is important when you’re living on your own. A great way to keep on top of your assignments, appointments and any other things life throws at you is getting a calendar white board for your bedroom wall. You can see all the important dates every time you walk into your room. Another great way to keep organized is shelving and storage units. IKEA has some great plastic shelves and storage units that can help you organize all your school supplies and clothes. This way, you’ll know where everything is at all times.
Cleaning supplies will be your best friend
Cleaning is very important when living in residence. There is nothing worse than having a kitchen filled with dirty dishes and smelly food, not to mention embarrassing when you have friends over. It’s always handy to have dish soap, Lysol wipes and Febreeze in your residence room. You will 100 per cent need it. Another great idea is to make a cleaning schedule with your roommates. This way, there isn’t one person always being stuck with doing dishes or sweeping.
Kitchen supplies
The great thing about Fanshawe’s residence is that you get a kitchen. The best appliances to have in your kitchen are a toaster oven, kettle and George Foreman grill (or something close to that). You can cook pretty much anything with these appliances. The great thing about having those is that you can cook with groceries instead of always using your meal card. Trust me, your meal card runs out fast if you don’t pay attention to what you’re buying.
Roommate bonding
Having roommates is pretty awesome. The people you meet in college can be lifelong friends. When moving into residence it’s important to have some roommate bonding so you can all get to know each other. Having some drinks together, a movie night or maybe cook a roommate meal together are all great ways to get to know one another. You want to start your year off with a positive approach with your roommates.
Have fun
Living in residence is all about taking in the experience. Sure, you’re here to focus on school, but you’re also there to have fun and meet new people. Don’t let the stress get to you too much. It’s okay to let loose every once in a while.
Cheers to your first year!
