ChickSpeak

Packing for your freshman year of college was probably very exciting and overwhelming. 

 If you missed all of the talk-show segments and didn’t get a chance to read that “back-to-school” article on what and how to pack for college, my guess is you took EVERYTHING except your bed (which you actually tried to figure out how that would work). 

You are smiling aren’t you?  I know you are because it’s true.  How do I know, I did it myself when I went to school.  I treated going off to college as if I was never to return. Low and behold I never entertained the thought that maybe I would have to move out someday.

Well, now you look around at the (pardon me for saying) junk that you have accumulated on top of the stuff you brought with you and well… it’s probably a bit cramped.  Good news!  Winter break is upon you and unless you are going skiing or to the Caribbean, odds are that you are going back home.  Your first extended vacation from college-land is the perfect time to re-assess, re-group, and pare down… time for some Spring Term Cleaning. 

Take Inventory…

Take a look around your dorm room and focus on the items that are completely underutilized.  For instance, that trunk under your bed with 4 months of dust layered on top that contains your HS cheerleading uniform and pom poms and the 4 years worth of notes you and your friends passed in class.  The 1 inch layer of dust should tell you that you obviously don’t need it or at least the contents.  Pack it up and take it (or ship it) home.

Paper/books…

Toss Toss Toss!  That is my advice for old papers!  Unless you are positive that you will need this information for future classes or you will need it for your portfolio, it gets tossed!  I am all for recycling folders and notebooks that are in good shape.  If it’s ripped, toss it.  Sell your books back to the bookstore or to friends who will be taking that class next quarter/semester.  TOSS!  Even things you do need to keep, it may not necessarily need to be in your room.  See if your loving parents would not mind finding a safe place for it until you need it…like after you graduate.

Clothes/Shoes…

If you are anything like me, you took every stitch of clothing and every single pair of shoes with you to school this fall and since you’ve been in school you may have done a bit of shopping.  So now your closet is busting at the seams.  The seasons are changing and so should your wardrobe.  Take out all out of season and out of fashion (in your mind or by Vogue’s classification, your choice) out of your closet.  From there, really decide what you think you will wear next year and what you won’t.  What you will wear goes home to storage.  What you won’t wear goes away. 

Here are some ideas…

1. Give them/sell them to your friends
2. Consign them (Some places pays cash on the spot!)
3. Give them to charity

I just can’t part with it…

You are looking at the “get rid” pile and about to cry because you have stuff in there that you just don’t think you can part with…at least in the trash.  Well, try putting it to good use.  For instance, that cheerleading uniform…check back at your HS to see if they are still wearing that style.  If so, dry clean it and sell it to a squad member.  At least it is being used as it was intended.

The new spring quarter/semester is a yet another fresh start for you, my darling sisters.  Walk back into your dorm room with a sense of renewal and a lightened load.  And just think… you will be down half the stuff that you’ll have to pack up when school lets out for summer!