Hi, my name is Alex Fox, and I’m a second-year Communications and Media Studies major with a minor in Architectural Design. I was born in Los Angeles, but grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City. I have really found a new home here at CAMD, constantly collaborating on projects and taking courses in subjects that I find incredibly interesting, unique, and creatively stimulating.
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Packing List: The Stuff That Slipped Your Mind
Packing isn’t fun the majority of the time, especially when you are essentially moving all your belongings from one place to another. This list isn’t going to outline every detail like toothpaste and socks, but will hopefully remind you of something that you may not have realized you need.
Mattress Pad – University mattresses aren’t the best, so you’ll need one of these. Also, don’t wait until the last minute to get these because they sell out everywhere.
Extension Cords – Outlets like to be in the most inconvenient spaces.
Fans – Not all rooms have A/C, and it can get hot in September and in the Spring.
Microwave – Depends on your diet, but this seems to always come in handy.
Mini Fridge – If you have the space for it in your dorm, a fridge can open up a whole new world of food possibilities (leftovers).
Electric Kettle – For boiling water to make tea, coffee, and ramen. An absolute game changer.
Vacuum/Dust Buster – Trust me, you’ll want this even if it’s just a small handheld one.
TV/HDMI Cable – Always fun to have a big screen for movie nights and sport games. All NU students get Xfinity while on campus, so take advantage.
Game consoles of any kind – Mario Kart is still relevant in college. I know, shocker.
Lamps – Dorm lighting can be pretty bad, bring a lamp to make your space warmer and homier.
Umbrella – I don’t know if this is just me, but I always forget to have one.
Tape/Command Strips/Tools – To put up your decorations. Nails are a big no.
Pop-out Hamper – For your laundry, duh.
Tide Stick – To take care of those stains you weren’t planning for right before class.
Portable Steamer – Your clothes are going to come out of the dryer incredibly wrinkled sometimes, good to have a steamer for a quick fix.
Friday, March 1, 2023
My Freshman year
The first few weeks of college are hectic and very intimidating – the silver lining with this is that everybody feels this way. Everyone is so occupied with socializing and learning the ropes that you can hardly even pay attention to adjusting. Although this is sometimes the case, sometimes it’s not, so here are some tips to make the transition to college a lot easier.
Well-Being
- Getting sleep is an invaluable source of energy and a great way to allow your body to relax and keep up with the busy schedule that you may have.
Image by Brooks Canaday/Northeastern Global News. - I personally think the Stetson East dining hall is better than the International Village, however, both places are packed with freshmen–so they serve as a great spot to meet people.
- Try to not overbook yourself, I’ve found that leaving yourself a little bit of downtime at some point during the day goes a long way for your mental health and overall well-being.
Academically
- The shift in schedule from the packed high-school day to fewer classes in university is really enjoyable, but also really dangerous. Try to get ahead on your work and take advantage of not having classes from 8-2:30 everyday like you did in high-school.
- Although it’s cliche, don’t wait until the last minute for big assignments or exams! Even just studying a few days before the exam will have you exponentially more prepared than cramming.
- Utilize a class’s office hours if you’re having a hard time learning the material, the TAs and professors are always willing to help and are really good at it!
Socially
- At college there are so many ways to branch out, the club fair is the best way to find like minded people who enjoy the same things as you. Greek Life is also a resource that you can use to meet a bunch of people, but that’s not for everybody.
- Call your parents, friends, and loved ones if you ever need anyone to talk to throughout the process of finding your people – they have a surprising amount of advice for you.
- Don’t over exhaust yourself by going out during the school week, not saying you can’t, because you should, just don’t overdo it and be responsible.
- College is THE time to socialize, so just keep an open mind and try to meet and expose yourself to as many characters and personalities as possible!