Living la vida loca: dorm edition

Tamica Jean-Charles/ Contributing Writer

Students all around the world experience living on campus. While on campus living may seem eventful and exciting, there is nothing worse than having to make spaghetti and meatballs with only a microwave.

FIU houses 8% of its student body, according to US News. As small as that statistic may be, FIU offers a number of programs for its on-campus students.

There are many aspects that go into having a dorm. It can range from figuring out what essentials you and your roommates need, how you want to coordinate your room to just how to navigate living on campus in general. Luckily, FIU along with other college sites are more than willing to help out students.

You want your dorm to represent who you are as a person, so don’t be afraid to do just that. For some, decorating a dorm is the first experience with interior design and home decor. Bed, Bath and Beyond has dorm shopping lists at each store for a majority of public universities in the state.  IKEA offers five tailored dorm styles for you to choose from while creating a board of each specific piece of furniture or decor that pertains to said theme. IKEA also happens to be super budget-friendly!

“I love music and photography. The way I have incorporated that is by putting up album art that I think is really cool and colorful. I also include my favorite band’s tour poster,” said Martha Perez Mendez, a senior student studying communications.

Designing your dorm is a great way to express your personality, however, it does come at a cost. Websites like Wayfair and Society6 have incredibly trendy products, but both websites are notably pricy. If you’re on a budget, don’t be afraid to try out more DIY projects. Utilize social media, like Pinterest, to get easy and affordable DIY ideas.

Your dorm comes with a bed, some drawers, a desk and a lot of empty space. Think of your dorm as a blank canvas. One way you can enliven your room is wall decor. Tapestries, framed art, monograms and wall stickers are a great way to brighten and personalize your room. Amazon has a great selection of tapestries that are well within a college student’s budget.

As fun as decorating a room may be, it’s easy to get caught up in the fun. It’s even easier to forget dorm essentials. If you are a freshman and living on campus, you are most likely placed in Panther Hall or Lakeview South. Neither dorm comes with a kitchen, and contrary to popular belief, Fresh Food may not be the best food to rely on when hunger strikes. Just like any other dining hall, the selection will lose its spark after sometime and the smell of Fresh Food pizza will make your stomach turn at some point.  You will get sick of cafeteria food soon, so make sure you’re prepared when it hits.  Although Residential Life rule restricts the use of food preparers that contain hot plates, there are still products that are handy and within code.

 

• Keurig Systems are great, but if you’re on a budget you can invest in similar,  yet cheaper devices such as Farberware and Black and Decker.
• PUR or Brita filters will save you mad coin on water bottles, and it is also a great step into becoming greener.
• Single serve blenders: if you’re a health nerd and love smoothies, or if you want to try your hand at making milkshakes, having a single serve blender can tend to all your blended needs.

 

If you’re a freshman in a freshman dorm, you’re limited to what foods you can have in the absence of a stove. It’s imperative you stock up on food that you like that are also easy to make. Don’t hesitate to look up healthy recipes online on websites like Tasty and Pinterest.

“It took me some time getting around Fresh and all the other dining options on campus,” said Morgan Duncan, a sophomore majoring in special education. “But thankfully, when I mention I’m vegan, everyone I’ve met so far respects it and do their best to help me out.”

If you ever feel unsure about what to bring and what not to bring, FIU Residential Life has the program “Knock Knock,” an annual event in which residential officials knock on the doors of students and answer any questions they may have regarding their room. Knock Knock will occur during the first week of school.

A Resident Assistant is a student who supervises a specific set of rooms in each residence hall. RA’s are much more than a supervisor– they’re a student as well. RA’s are there to help and ensure safety among residents, but are also great people to speak with.

Juliana Fajardo, an international business/marketing major, is a resident assistant in Everglades Hall here at FIU. She has been a RA at FIU for three years. She tells Panther Magazine how she designs her room while also touching on dorm essentials and common mistakes residents make when living on campus.

“A common mistake I see with residents it’s that they think someone is gonna clean the bathroom and kitchens for them,” said Fajardo. “You’re on your own now which means you’re responsible for everything.”

Moving in may seem overwhelming at first, but it’s possible to lessen that tension by smartly utilizing the resources around you.