By Emily Ferro –
The first move from living at home to living in a college dorm is an unforgettable experience. I was so excited to finally go somewhere new after living in the same house for 18 years. Since I had never moved anywhere before, I was an over-eager packer. The question in my head was the question that dwelled in everyone’s head: What do I bring?
There are the obvious essentials: Sheets, towels, toiletries, etc. Salve’s website offers a list of what to bring and what not to bring. Let’s be honest, though. No one paid much attention to that list. They packed what they thought they needed, and let me tell you, I thought I needed everything.
With all the stuff I thought I needed, I filled up my dad’s pickup truck, and most of the interior. I was fortunate that there was enough room to get me up to school along with my stuff. I have to admit that I was a bit self-conscious about it. It wasn’t until I arrived at Reefe and saw that everyone else was in the same situation.
This year, however, as a senior, all of my stuff for school fit easily into the back of my SUV, and with a bookshelf and about $100 worth of groceries to fill up the refrigerator, to boot. So what has changed? It’s simple: I found out what I needed and what I didn’t.
Most of the items Salve listed on the website were the items that I still brought…Minus an iron. The chances of me needing an iron to go to class are slim to none. I did discover that nearly everything else got used so little that it didn’t make the cut the next time around. What were some of the worst offenders of simply taking up space?
Clothing – First semester freshman year, I brought everything. Of course I was going to wear every piece of clothing that I owned in less than four months. Seven semesters later, I bring only the favorites and the essentials. I realized it’s all I am going to wear anyway. Wash and re-wear.
Books – I packed up a whole box of my favorite books, under some delusion that I would find the time to read them. Between sleep, schoolwork, and my social life, I have submitted to only bringing one book along anymore and even that one seems to be just shelf decoration. We are blessed with a library. If you get a bit of free time, perhaps pop over there and find something new and wonderful. You’ll appreciate the space.
Decorations – An extra lamp here, a few cute stuffed animals there, and a few collector’s items on your desk. Sure, they may be pretty, and they may be sentimental, but how often did you use them?
After learning to cut back, moving between home and school has become a much simpler process. Packing takes a few hours instead of a few days, and there is much more living space without all of the clutter. What could you do without?
