Thanksgiving Break Reminders
By Deanna Perry on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Thanksgiving break is almost here! For most students, this means a long trip home, some last minute assignments and a complicated packing routine. Everybody has a rough time knowing what needs to be accomplished before the first break of the school year. However, after this first experience, wrapping up school assignments and figuring out what to pack becomes easier.
Before leaving the residence hall, the first thing to consider is whether or not your room and bathroom is clean enough. The RAs in every hall will hold a meeting about this, and it is important to attend this meeting so that they can explain to everybody what type of mess they will hold residents accountable for. It is usually best just to have everything as neat as possible. Also, anything that is not supposed to be in a dorm room should be removed.
Another critical thing to look out for is what is left plugged in during the break. Typically RAs will say that only refrigerators and fish tanks may be left in. It is especially important to leave the refrigerator plugged in to avoid a meltdown, which could lead to water damage or mold.
Although no one will be allowed in or out of the residence halls during the break, one can never be too careful with their valuables. To avoid any unwelcome surprises, it is always advised that students lock any important items in a closet or a safe. If that doesn’t seem secure enough, then simply bring it home.
Despite Thanksgiving being a week long break, some teachers will give homework assignments anyway. It is never a good idea to leave without any textbooks or materials that might be useful. Even if a teacher does not assign anything over the break, it could be a great chance to get on top of class readings or papers. Regardless of the situation, make a list of what school material needs to come home. There won’t be any way to access it after the residence halls close.
A common mistake that many new students make is what type of clothing to bring home. There may be another stockpile of clothing at home that was left there, but it is good to bring home some warm clothing from school. Also, use this time to switch out any summer clothing that might still be here. Waiting until Winter break to switch out the warm weather and cold weather clothing can be a bad idea. The last weeks before winter vacation get much colder than the previous weeks, and there is always a possibility of snow. That being said, don’t just pack your regular day clothes. Remember that underwear and pajamas are important, too. These things are easy to forget because they aren’t the sort of attire that others regularly see you wearing. However, it can be quite embarrassing to come home and realize that you have no underwear.
Just remember not to rush through the packing and cleaning process. Doing a little at a time and making lists can help, and in the long run can prevent annoying mistakes. Most importantly, remember to have a safe and relaxing Thanksgiving break.
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