The Current 2020

Oreintation 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 6 Student Life Resdential hall tips Living on campus is a new and exciting experience for incoming freshmen and students planning to dorm on campus. However, for a lot of students, this is the first time they are living on their own, which can also be a nerve racking experience. Here are some tips to help those planning to experience residential life. Prepare for noise If you’re sensitive to noise, the first tip that is essential to understand is to expect and prepare for noise. The walls in the residential halls are extremely thin and noise always finds a way to creep through. Residential halls do have quiet hours throughout the night, but there is always some degree of noise transporting through the halls and walls of the dorms. Some people run down the hallway or a group of friends may be visiting the dorm room across the hall. Obviously, it’s important to have fun and enjoy residential life, but still consider buying noise cancelling earplugs or headphones to help block out the noise when you are trying to study or sleep. Prepare for different types of people The next tip is to be prepared for a variety of personalities, especially for those who decide to go randomwith the selection of roommates. If you’re going to have a roommate, the roommate agreement is extremely important, and to avoid conflicts, it is best you complete the agreement honestly. College is all about meeting new people and building new relationships, but there may be a clash of personalities. For those who may be introverts and have always kept to themselves and their studies, it may be difficult to room with someone who is an extrovert and open to anyone and everyone they meet. Given NSU has a large international community, be prepared to meet people from different cultures and countries. Don’t cut off someone you don’t see yourself meshing well with because there needs to be a balance of personalities. College is supposed to prepare you to be a global citizen. Therefore, be open to everyone because living on campus -- and going to college in general -- is all about building relationships. Establish a relationship with your RA RAs, or resident assistants, are the closest helping hands students can get while living on campus. Therefore, building a relationship with your RA is essential to your residential experience. RAs are assigned to a certain number of rooms on each floor and are there for guidance and support. Even if you may think you have everything in order and are perfectly fine managing life on your own, still meet the RA and get to know him/her. They are students too and will always be there if you ever have a conflict, whether in the dorms or around campus. Get to know the RAs because they are the best support system to have. Double-check what you can bring The last tip is to verify that your items are allowed on campus before bringing them. Some students expect that many items, especially appliances, are freely welcomed into their dorms. Depending on your type of room and if you have roommates, you may not need to bring all the items you think you do. Items like fridges and microwaves are given necessities that all students are free to bring, but it is important to talk with your roommate(s) to determine what to bring and if you are all comfortable sharing. Otherwise, you can end up having multiple appliances in a very tight space. Extra appliances such as toasters have more requirements that one may not realize before bringing onto campus. If you bring items that are not allowed in dorms, RAs and housing assistants may confiscate them upon room checks, which can occur randomly. There you have it. These are some beneficial tips for any college student that plans to live on campus. College is an amazing and eye-opening ride but living on campus is an adventure on its own. Living on campus can be a lot to take in, but it is definitely worth it. By: Bella Ameiorsano Contributing Writer PRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM STUDENT MEDIA The Staff of Sharks United Television at Sharkapoolza Tips for thriving as a introvert Starting college as an introvert can be a big transition from high school. Luckily, there are ways that you can make the most out of your college experience while still taking the necessary time for yourself. Set your boundaries For introverts, social situations can be incredibly draining, both emotionally and physically. Knowing your own boundaries is key to making the most of your college experience. You do not need to completely change your personality to make the best of your college years. Setting your boundaries lets those around you know when you need time to recharge and process what you are going through on your own. This is a very important part of an introvert’s daily routine. We need alone time to be able to function. Unlike extroverts, social situations are extremely draining for introverts and we need time to recover and recharge. Managing your time and scheduling personal time is key to succeeding as an introvert in college. Take that personal time to do whatever you are passionate about. Getting involved Getting involved in clubs and organizations are a great way to pursue your interests and to meet others with the same interests. Clubs are a great way to be able to listen to the ideas of others and you can join them at your own pace. Getting involved in something is a great networking opportunity. Clubs and organizations on campus are an amazing way to make connections in whatever field you are interested in. Pre-med? There are a lot of clubs for that. Pre-dental? There is a frat for that. Cannot find a club that fits with what you want to do for your career? Start one yourself. While getting involved is great, know that you can still set boundaries and say no. You do not want to get too involved if you are not ready for it. You do not want to throw yourself into everything because you think that is what you have to do. Don’t let yourself burn out. In high school, I was very involved in clubs -- and I mean very involved. President of the chess club, co-president of the science honor society, vice president of the chemistry club, math honor society statistics competitor, editor- in-chief of the school yearbook and more. But now that I am in college, my involvement has dropped. Was that much involvement that healthy? Probably not. Did I burn out from clubs? Probably yes. Now my only involvement is with The Current. I have learned from my mistakes and I am now limiting my involvement to what I am comfortable with. Keep in mind, know thyself. Know your boundaries and know what you are comfortable with. By: Alexander Martinie Opinions Editor CHECKOUT THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND RESIDENTIAL HOUSING GUIDE AT WWW.NOVA. EDU/HOUSING TO LEARN MORE. “SETTING YOUR BOUNDARIES LETS THOSE AROUND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TIME TO RECHARGE AND PROCESS WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH ON YOUR OWN.”