Going to college and living on campus is so exciting and a great chapter in every student's life.
College lets you experience new freedom and opportunities. However, like we have explained in several of our other blogs, it comes with new responsibilities. One important responsibility is taking care of yourself and staying safe.
Personal safety should be at the very top of the list of college responsibilities students have. When you go to a new place, it's important to be safe. Here are some tips to remain safe on campus.
Explore your new surroundings and learn your way around.
Before you start classes, consider getting a campus tour. Visiting your new campus allows you to navigate the campus better, may teach you a few tricks, and can enable you to identify essential locations such as the campus police. It will also show you where the dining halls, residence halls and library are so you can make a beeline for them instead of fumbling your way around or looking at a map. Also consider "walking your schedule" as a way to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings before school starts. Walk around school as if you are in class to know where to go to get to your next class and how long the walk will take. This will help you become more prepared rather than scrambling and getting lost on your way to class and arriving late.
Know your campus' safety procedures and how to access help.
It's crucial that you become familiar with your school's safety protocols in order to prevent problems from occurring. The safety procedures are there for a reason. Know what to expect from your college safety procedures so that you keep yourself out of danger.
Lock your doors and windows to keep your dorm room safe.
Whenever you leave your dorm room, make sure that you have your key with you. Be sure to lock your door and remember what you did with the key. Locking your door is not only crucial for safety, and the safety of others in your dorm, but also essential to protect your items from being stolen. Make sure that you put your key in a safe place. If it gets lost or stolen, make sure to report it immediately and ask about best safety practices if this happens.
Be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
If you're walking alone or with others, stay alert. Do not look distracted by being on your phone and making yourself a target. Walk as though you have a purpose and make sure to observe your surroundings at all times. If you have to leave at night, try not to walk alone. Walk with a friend. Or call campus police for an escort if the distance is out of your comfort zone. If you're alone, make sure you tell someone like your roommate where you are going, and when you expect to be back. Or, better yet, take your school's transportation like the bus rather than walking alone. Share your location on your phone with a roommate or close friend for added protection and peace of mind.
Always trust your gut.
If you don't feel safe in a situation and you get that uncomfortable feeling in your stomach, trust it and excuse yourself. Also, if you experience an uncomfortable situation, it's imperative to report it immediately to campus security. If you feel like it might not be anything, report it anyway. You could be keeping yourself and others safe from harm.
Finally, be cautious what you post.
College is fun an a great new experience. It makes sense that you would want to post and share all the new things you're doing and the fun times you're having at school. Remember, though, to be careful about what you post. For example, don't give out your exact location on social media because it can lead to unwanted situations.
When you're away from home, avoid posting your location on social media. Instead, consider posting it once you're returned back home safely.
Dorm Deck and Hack Decks™
Dorm Decks are a great gift to give to a new college freshman who is just setting out on their college career. The deck is packed full of great ideas to keep a student safe, on track, and making the most of college dorm life. Dorm Deck offers tips and tricks that make the transition from living at home to living in a dorm room that much easier. Give Dorm Deck as a gift to help college students navigate their new environment.
And, just to add a few of our tips:
Save campus maps and transportation routes to a special album on your photo app.
Put all college safety phone numbers in your phone.