Socializing

People say that your years in college are the years when you make friends for life and that these years must be thoroughly enjoyed. But how do you choose the right people to hang out with if there are so many of them? If you enter your lecture room, and there are 600-700 other students just like you, how do you choose your friends?

Some people are lucky to take the same major at the same university as some of their old classmates. Especially during the first few weeks, these old classmates can serve as a beacon in the sea of students. However, if it is your intention to make a fresh start and leave high school behind you, it is wise to ignore these old classmates. 

So, let's assume you're lost in the building - you cannot find your lecture room. You may ask some staff member, but it's much more fun to ask someone who seems to be a student as well. This doesn't necessarily have to be a student from your year or major (remember, you don't know anyone yet!), but asking another student might be the first step to a friendship. 

Now, let's assume you have finally found your lecture room. This is where different scenarios come in, and I'll try to mention them all. 

1. You're early and you're one of the first students to show up. As a matter of fact, you beat the teacher in classroom arrival. In this case, you might try to find a strategic place in the room. Strategic means: there where there is a chance someone will join you sooner or later. Strategic places are: close to the door(s), because there is always somebody who needs to get out the moment the teacher says lecture is over; right in front of the teacher, since there are always some who are too proud to wear glasses, even if they need them; somewhere in the middle, as nobody likes to come across as overly nerdy by sitting in front of the teacher or overly uninterested by sitting all the way in the back of the room. 
2. You're late and there already are some, or many, other students. This is a nice scenario, because it offers you options. You can look around the room and see if there is someone who seems friendly or - in case you are into more or less extreme clothing/music styles - who seems similar to you. Of course, it will always be a wild guess to sit next to someone, but this is really the way to make friends soon! Don't forget to join different kinds of persons, though. Just one friend may not be enough to last for 4 years. 
3. There are many people in your class. Great, you have much choice, but it also makes it hard to decide  whom you will like for longer than just a few days. Try to get acknowledged with as many people as possible and then decide for yourself which ones you like best. However, keep friendly to those whom you don't like as much as those you've chosen. You never know what they are good for! This process will usually occur naturally, so don't focus your thoughts on it too much. 
4. There are only a few people in your class. In this case, you are bound to deal with the people who chose the same class. At least during lectures and practical classes. Be nice to all of them - make sure there are a few you can rely on in case you have a study-related question. This process should also occur naturally, without giving too much thought to it. 

Outside the lecture rooms, there are many places to meet new people. At work, in your student union, at the gym facilities of your university, at the general library, and many more. Long story short: try to get enrolled in some extracurricular activities (see my last post) to meet new people and maybe make some new friends! 

Another way of socializing is to find out which people in your class commute from their house to the university. As this is common practice in some countries, it can be worthwhile to find out who in your class are travelling every day. You could discuss lectures or just talk about less serious things and thereby make new friends.

I guess I have given enough tips on socializing in college. If you have anything to add, let me know, or share your thoughts on how you made friends in college. These tips are needed for freshmen and those who switched majors, so feel free to contribute! 

Extracurricular activities ...

... and how to choose them.

Today, we live in a society where a degree certificate alone doesn't do any more when applying for your job. Everyone will tell you to take a few jobs, join boards and committees, and find internships and other stuff that makes your curriculum vitae look nicer. Another reason why I post this today is because the new year in college just started and the ambitious people might want some guidance in choosing their extracurricular activities.

Personally, I don't think anything is wrong with some activities besides the studies because they can enrich your social life and they can help you develop aspects of your character. If you happen to hate doing oral presentations in front of groups, it will actually help you if you have to do it in order to show the (financial/whatever) state of your student club to its members. If you get sick at the mere thought of having to talk to people (don't take this too literally), it might actually help if you find a place where you do get in touch with many people without getting too close too soon.

So, what are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an extracurricular activity?

• How much time is it going to cost? Can you still study enough to pass the majority of your exams and write your papers without coming across as THE lazy ass on whatever activity you choose?  If it does cost very much time, can you handle working more and sleeping less? (this is actually a health-related consideration, but still important!)
• How does this activity make you stand out from all other students who are obviously also involved with extracurricular activities? Many students have jobs and/or are on boards and committees for various organisations, so your future employer will see many resumes similar to yours. Unless you have done something more or less exclusive.
• Is it an activity you can enjoy? Most activities require you to be present or available for X amount of time and all the time you invest in your activity can't be spent on other things. With the average schedule of college students, it's better to do something you like, so that your activity gives your positive energy that you can use for further studying or something else. 
• How does this activity add something to my CV? In our department of Pedagogy and Educational Sciences, we have some people who gather interesting activities for their students to do, which are related to our field and help us to get some field-related experience that is like whipped cream on top of your hot chocolate. 

I took all of the above in consideration. I weighed, deliberated, talked about it and thought some more. I didn't want to do anything that could possibly interfere with my lecture schedule (time); I was not the type for having to party and drink on a frequent base (enjoyableness); I wanted to do something that not many people say they do (exclusiveness), and I wanted my activities to be broad yet also related to my major (add to CV). In the end I came across two activities that I am still involved with and still enjoy. I actually made promotion in one of them. 

If you - for whatever reason - don't manage to find something DURING the year, it might be worthwhile searching for summer activities, such as jobs or internships. I did a summer school past summer, which was a course I wanted to do throughout the college year, but it always would interfere with lectures, which made me postpone it. 

Most important is that you choose something that suits you and where your 'colleagues' suit you. I also quit some activities after a while because it just didn't work with me and the others. So, do you agree with this list? Do you think I should add some more? Leave a comment! 

The last day of summer

Tomorrow will be my last day of the summer! Monday morning, my alarm will beep and wake me up. I am probably not the only one. You can sit down and be melancholic and reflect on your summer, but you can also try to make the most of that last day of freedom and I can tell you how to do it. 

Of course, it depends on what type of person you are, but the most important thing is that you enjoy this last day. 

So, for the sporty people: maybe your sports club or team has a match to play on a kind of summer tournament. Make it fun by not just playing the match and say 'goodbye, see ya at the next training' , but propose to your team to go out after the match and make some fun! If you have no matches to play (or if you are involved with individual sports), you might as well work out a bit on your own. I personally love to go hike in a nearby forest or ride my bike around my town and its surroundings. Running is another good thing to do, although not so much my cup of tea. 

For the creative people: you might be enrolled in a more or less creative college course like Photography or Conservatory. In this case, there is no reason to worry about lack of assignments through which you can let your creativity speak, but if you are creative and enrolled in a non-creative college course, this last day should definitely be used to make something out of it! Go paint, draw, take pictures, sing, write, whatever your creative mind tells you to do and have fun with it! 

For the fashionistas: you do not want to look like everyone else in class, so you need to fix some outfits for the new year in college. Go experiment with whatever you have in your wardrobe, and - even though it might still be hot where you live - try out some outfits for colder days as well, as autumn is knocking on your door and maybe even peeking around the corner already. If you feel your wardrobe is not satisfactory, go out for some shopping. 

For those who just want to relax: if the weather is nice, just go outside wherever you want to and with whomever you want to. Sitting down in a park with a book and some nice snacks and drinks can be very relaxing, but your backyard might do too. Maybe this is also a day to invite one or more of your friends for girls'/guys' afternoon of catching up with each other's lives. Just do whatever makes you feel calm, ready and steady for the new year in college. I am a fan of reading; what do you like to do? 

For those who have to work: whether it is volunteer work, a job, or an internship - work is work. Since it is unlikely that you will have to work from 7 AM through 10 PM, look at your timetable and plan some nice things around your work schedule (see tips above). You can also use the last day of summer as an excuse to go out with colleagues, if they are nice, or just have some extra fun at work by bringing cupcakes or something. 

I am one of the people who has to work, although it is technically not a job, but I am just going to make the most of it. I'll head to the city early, have a nice lunch there, go to work and then have a nice dinner afterwards (my mother is a very good companion for such things as she really likes going to shop!)

So, what type of person are you? What type of activity suits you? Or are you one of the lucky ducks who has one or two more weeks of holidays ahead? Let me know! 

When autumn is coming closer ...

While today and tomorrow are good days in terms of weather where I live, we are all aware that autumn is approaching slowly. Past night and the night before gave rather low temperatures, which were close to freezing point. In fact, the summer in the Netherlands has not been much of a summer, although there were a few good days. As the clock keeps ticking and autumn draws nearer, it is becoming more of a challenge to dress nicely without looking like a mummy.

The start of autumn also means the start of a new year in college, meaning that notebooks and textbooks have to be taken out again for some serious studying every now and then. As the days gradually grow shorter, it seems very tempting to stay in bed longer in the mornings, but there just is no time for it if you want to finish your studying during the daytime!

People who longer live with their parents, move (back) into their dorm rooms or rooms elsewhere in town and they probably face the challenge of arranging their rooms and getting on with their room mates. I wish you all the best! Students who stay with their parents face the challenge of getting up early every day; catching their trains, and getting on with their parents.

All in all, autumn always sets a few challenges, each and every year, and every time it feels to me like I forgot how I managed the year before. However, if you follow some of the tips from earlier posts - or if you are a creative nut yourself - you should be able to work your way around most of the issues. I wish all of you a pleasant autumn and good luck if you consider aforementioned issues a challenge!

Saving space if you have only one room for all your stuff

College students - whether they live at home with their parents or on their own on campus or elsewhere in town - in general do not have very much room for keeping their stuff. Now, later in life your space is likely to be limited too - unless you marry a billionaire - but for college students, space is more limited because they usually have only one room for keeping all their stuff. Again, unless your parents are billionaires, which is unlikely for 99% of us. Do not worry, I am to the rescue. Since I hate throwing away stuff that could be useful in the future or just because I like to keep some for the sake of nostalgia, you would say my room is a mess of things piled up all over the place. Well ... not exactly. If you use the space you have wisely, there are enough square meters left for a desk, a bed and a closet. 

It is not the monster under your bed ... Indeed, with some boxes and wooden chests under your bed, there is no room for monsters and you can save a lot of room. Reckon with the height of your bed though, before buying boxes and chests. 

Boxes on top of your closet and bookcases are a great idea if your closet does not reach the ceiling. The taller you are, the more boxes you can pile on top of your closets and cases! I must confess that it looks somewhat messy with all the different colours, but if you keep the rest of your room in simple, basic colours (I personally like white and blue), this is rather a means of adding some colour than an annoying disturbance. However, if you like to go all the way with colours, feel free to do so! 

As you can see, I do not have four straight-up walls in my room, which forces me to be creative sometimes. The little bookcase next to the big one was ideal for the angle of the wall, yet it still keeps much of what I wanted to be stored. If I wished, I could put a little box on top, but since I don't, I leave this for some accessories. 

I have always been fond of these magazine boxes. They may take up a lot of your precious space if not used, but if they are, - just look at the next photo -

you can cram in so much paperwork! Notebooks, readers, prints of the powerpoint presentations shown during lectures, and even smaller binders! The binder in this picture is more of a 'show-album' sized binder, though. 

Then ... if you have many CDs/DVDs/smaller books, there is a solution for that, too. No need to spend many bucks on bookcases, if you arrange the shelves with these CDs/DVDs/smaller books like this: 

It comes down to two rows of CDs on a shelf. This requires the shelves to be at least 35 cm/13.8 inches deep, though, but since college textbooks are big as well, you need deeper shelves anyway. 

These. So much of these. I think they are available in many sizes, so you can adjust them to wherever you want to put them, and they are so practical. I use the drawers for magazines, beauty stuff and cables and manuals for my modern technologies, but you could basically story anything in it. 

It is obvious I have too much room after all having applied all of the above advices to my own room, but if you have not, you could try to find a box that fits under the drawers of your desk. It also looks more tidy to put the waste bin under your desk and it saves another little corner in your room. 

So, this was the blog about saving space in your room. Comments or questions are welcome, as always.