Amelia Shaw

Okay frosh, it’s been three weeks since you moved into Yale. You should be getting into the swing of things! 

Hopefully, you can navigate your schedule without Google Maps, and remember the name of that boy in your FroCo group. Maybe you’ve come to hate your roommate, or maybe not. We all have different experiences during our first few weeks of college, but there is one thing that should bind us all together by now: we are all moved into our dorms.

I don’t care if you’re taking DS, or if you haven’t ordered your wall decorations from Amazon — your room should be unpacked by now. Etched with marks of your existence (from the FOOT laundry pile that remains unwashed, to the Davenport plates you stole) you know what makes your room yours. But were all the “college essentials” you packed really necessary? Let’s discuss.

Pictures from Home: The faces, the film, the nostalgia. Pictures of your dog and high school friend group keep you warm on your first nights in New Haven… but who in their right mind is spending college nights looking at pictures in their dorm? Go outside or something! I’m kidding — while pictures keep us grounded, I would avoid hauling these from home. I personally adore the fact that my suite wall expands with trinkets from special moments spent with new friends. 

Bonus: when you and your high school boyfriend eventually break up, not having a picture of them on your wall saves you from future awkward conversations! 

Backpack: Honestly, middle school was the last time I actively supported my posture by wearing a backpack. My high school tote and handbags left me disillusioned before coming to Yale. Consequently, I spent my first week of class developing scoliosis by carrying Tolstoy on one shoulder. I will shamelessly confess that you should not forget your backpack at home.

Bold Clothing Pieces: There’s something so ambitious about starting anew at college. Nobody knows who you are, so you can dress as you never could in your conservative hometown! Go crazy with this, but also be practical. Yes, my cowboy boots that traveled 12,385 kilometers away from home were worth it. No, they are not comfy to wear up Science Hill. Yes, I insufferably wear them as often as possible. No, I do not regret them. 

Stuffed Animals: I grew up with a jungle of stuffed animals putting me to bed. Yet, unlike the high school friends in “Pictures from Home” (see above) I can’t shake these guys. Somewhere across my three weeks at Yale, I’ve realized that our guilty pleasure toys connect us to home in different ways. Whether it’s my roommate’s Chucky doll that watches me sleep, or my rabbit plushie, we seek refuge in our childish indulgences. 

So take this advice, or don’t. What makes your room yours is whatever helps you sleep at night — even if it’s a Chucky doll or tacky picture… You’re only wasting 150 dollars on extra baggage.