Ten Ways To Live In A Home

Living in residence; this can either cause fear or excitement in the hearts of first-year students. A lot of students will be without their homes for the first time. For me, being in residence at the University of Lethbridge meant that I was five hours from my parents' watchful eyes. Freedom was never so good.

Actually, that's a lie. The initial two months of freedom were fake.

There were numerous events designed to expose students to one the other, however, it was difficult to remember the names of everyone, much less to build solid relationships.

I like to think I've gained a lot of knowledge on how to get the most out of living in a residence. Therefore, I've compiled some helpful tips for anyone who is thinking of living in a residence.

Leave your door open.

If you're always in your room, it's impossible to meet strangers. Additionally, it's much easier to hold a conversation with someone who is on your area than trying to get heard amidst a large group. This is how I met my best friend Jade. After a few weeks of my residence experience the power went out, plunging the entire area into darkness. Parks is owned by my dad and I have a number of miniature flashlights that he donated to me. I turned the entire set on, then hung them from the ceiling. terra hill was awed by my custom light show and invited herself to come along for six wonderful years of friendship.

Make time to meet acquaintances.

School isn't all about the books. Yes, grades are important however, when you receive that first C- on a paper you busted your butt on (and it will take place) you'll be with your friends who will be there at 2 a.m. with Little Caesars, beer, and an ear to cry on. Your social life is what will make your postsecondary experience a memorable one. When you think of Little Caesars Beware of the freshman fifteen; it does exist and it is likely to happen!

Learn about kitchen essentials and then get a meal voucher for backup.

I'm not able to count the number of times I have set off the fire alarm attempting to cook something. There is nothing more guilt-inducing than seeing the fire trucks come in because you are unable to cook. Also, I'd like to mention that the majority of kitchens in homes are shared and not every person is a stellar housekeeper. Maggots may be found in your kitchen sink if your roommate hasn't washed dishes in several weeks. You will be thankful for an allowance for food!

Pick your battles, and don't sweat small aspects.

I'll never forget the very first time Jade entered my room crying because one of the girls from her quad decided that it would be a good idea suck up her Saturday-night puke with Jade's vacuum ... without notifying her. Jade ought to have spoken up immediately instead of letting her frustration fester and later becoming even more angry after her roommate broke one of her cups three weeks afterward. It's possible to let the smallest of things go unnoticed and cause a rift with your roommate if you don't take care of it. It's not necessary to love the people living in your house However, a little courtesy and respect goes quite a ways. It's important to establish a set of rules prior to when you move in with your roommates throughout the year.

Take a shower bag and flip slippers.

Let me be truthful bathroom shared with roommates aren't always the most clean places in a residence. You may not have liked taking care of your bathroom in your home, so why expect it to be different when you live on your alone with roommates who do the exact same thing? I'm sure you'll need something to hold on to after watching someone else's hairballs in the shower. A plastic bag with handles is a good idea to carry your entire belongings around in your bedroom. If you leave it out in the open, someone will undoubtedly steal your shampoo, make use of your razor, or brush their teeth with your toothbrush.

Wash your sheets.

There will be company at one moment. My pal Jade and I have spent many nights curled up on my bed watching How I Met Your Mother re-runs when we were feeling alone. My mom came to my rescue as I was in my second semester. She slept with us both and I experienced an episode. This tip is not common. Dan my friend, took a vow to not wash his sheets for the entire year. The noxious smells coming from his room were so bad that a group of us put duct tape across his door to stop the stink.

You will get homesick, so call home often.

Nothing makes you appreciate the little things parents accomplish more than being a single parent. Prior to going to university, I had no idea my mom had been making sure that all my socks were matched for years so I didn't lose my socks. Your parents will miss you, too and they will are more in love with you than you think and are more burdensome on them than you think. Send it, even if it's a basic text message to inform them that you're still alive. It's important.

Do not share too much on social media.

Although I am a sucker for photos of your friends enjoying the corn maze, it's important to keep your photos private. Don't post anything you wouldn't want your grandma to see, and certainly do not tag anyone else in a compromising situation. Everyone is developing and learning and all of us deserve privacy. There will be times when you make mistakes, there will be moments that you'll regret your actions, and you'll be shamed. Your family and your future employers won't have to know about it. Save the memories, don't keep the images.

If humanly possible you can, try to avoid the 8 a.m. classes.

They're a pain, and as much as you tell yourself that you've got the motivation and commitment to get to them on time, you probably do not. Sleep isn't something you have a lot of when you're living in your home. It's unlikely that you'll get eight hours of sleeping every night, so make sure that you've got enough sleep to get up and walk around the next morning.

Be you

Many people may think that moving into home is a chance to reinvent themselves But I'm not saying to bother. It's difficult to pretend you are somebody else. So what if you were a nerd at high school? You're going to be surrounded by equally awesome students in postsecondary! There will be a variety of people from different backgrounds in your home. But, there are two things in common: all of you reside in the same res and are all students. This will bring you together. You live in close proximity, so the people you meet will be your family regardless of your disagreements. Make it happen!

It was a unique experience. I learned a lot about my self and made amazing friendships. It's an amazing opportunity for students in their first year.