illustration by steph bravo
Living by yourself offers a different sense of independence, particularly for students.
This time, you’re far from the familiar comfort of a home you’ve lived in for years, during which you’ve had everything within an arm’s reach and you can easily communicate with family members through shouts between walls.
Now, students who are coming back to their dormitories to mark the impending doom that is the beginning of a new academic year, do not only travel with the burden of schoolwork being just right around the corner once again. They also travel, literally, with clothes on their backs.
Know your chores
But simply packing your clothes is not enough preparation for this kind of independence. Apart from ensuring that you have the necessities such as food and water, it is important to know basic house chores, especially now that you’ll be living on your own.
Stock up on cleaning materials
Though you would not be expected to do all the work, division of tasks among roommates is fair, and a rotation of these assigned duties would mean that you have to know how to clean the bathroom and sweep the floor, and that you are expected to have the tools needed to do it, such as cleaning brushes, bleach, a broom and bathroom cleaners.
Combat homesickness
Some students prefer to live alone while others enjoy the company of friends. Either way, homesickness is inevitable and will always be part of being away from home for longer than usual. To combat this feeling, bring a memento that would remind you of home—a stuffed toy, your dog’s collar or even a favorite shirt from your brother.
Electrical accessories
Doing schoolwork at your dorm would mean spending nights glued to your laptop or your phone. But having roommates also means you’ll be fighting for a space to plug your devices. Save yourself from the burden of overcrowding a single spot in your room while trying your best to concentrate—just bring your own extension cord.
Storage boxes
The fact remains that you can’t bring your entire house to the city, so have small- to medium-sized storage boxes where you could place the essentials, by category. Best if you can have separate boxes for toiletries, food, extra school supplies, emergency kits and electronics. For extra security, have at least a container that you can lock and where you can put your valuables like house keys and extra money.
Living independently, whether for the first time or for the third year in a row, will always be a battle worthy of preparation. But whatever this slice of life throws at you, the learning experience attached to it varies for every person. So if you encounter something while arguing with roommates or while talking to your mom on the phone, it’s best to be prepared, be it through something as simple as labeled boxes or something bigger as emotional strength.