Living in on-campus housing as a freshman can feel drastically different from your previous living experiences for a number of reasons. It is a huge difference to contain your entire life in one single room and not have the space you previously possessed at home.
On top of that, you are almost certainly sharing that space with a roommate, whose own belongings and personal space must be considered as well. This daunting task leaves many incoming Clemson freshmen wondering what to bring, and what not to bring, to their first year living somewhere other than the home they grew up in.
Without question, the first and most important thing to remember for the residence halls is a fan. Dorm rooms are notorious for lacking ventilation and airflow, both of which are necessary to keep your dorm room comfortable. A good fan, whether a desktop, box fan or other compact model, works wonders to keep air moving in your room and keep your space from feeling stale.
Second, a source of light that is not the dorm room’s already-present overhead lighting can make your space feel more homey. Dorm lighting can seem harsh, clinical and does not change depending on the situation or vibes, which is something you may have had options on at home. Having a lamp, LED lights or some other form of soft lighting can help you personalize your space and make it feel less like a rigid and uncustomizable space.
However, the most important lesson to take away is not what you should bring, but what you should leave home. Space in the residence halls is small and precious; any space you can free up by leaving something at home is valuable. You should bring only what you need to function and succeed at Clemson.
If you’re considering bringing items that you only use occasionally at home, it’s probably best to leave them behind. Chances are that you either won’t need them, or if you truly find yourself in a situation where you do, someone in your building has one. Don’t fill your room with small things for every eventuality; focus on the essentials, and the rest can be figured out if the need should arise.
