After over a year of distant learning, the thought of returning to residential life on campus may seem foreign. If you feel like you’re missing a dorm essential but can’t figure out what, you probably are. But, here is a list of a few items that aren’t commonly mentioned though will definitely prove to be useful during your stay at the Emory University dorms.
Illustration by Ally Hom
Step stool
Even if you lower your bed, there may still be quite a bit of height in-between the mattress and the floor. Having to jump just to get into bed is a hassle and can be incredibly annoying, but a step stool can eliminate this problem.
Stepping onto a stool is much more convenient than having to leap onto bed. As opposed to attempting to jump more than once to get into bed, a step stool is a great way to get to relaxing a little quicker. Not only will a step stool save you time, but it may even save you from some embarrassing falls.
6-foot charger
While six feet may seem excessive, having an extra long charging cord comes in handy. With lofted beds often located inconveniently far from a nearby outlet, it’ll likely be difficult to use your devices in bed without the extra extension. With a 6-foot charging cord, you won’t have to worry about accidentally unplugging the charger from the wall or sitting in boredom while in bed. If you didn’t pack one, a 6-foot charger can often be found at local stores such as Target or Walmart.
Vacuum
While vacuums can be borrowed from residential halls, purchasing a small vacuum immediately eliminates this hassle. On top of making a trip downstairs and bringing the vacuum back to your dorm, you may have to wait for a fellow resident to finish vacuuming first. Owning a vacuum allows you to use it at your disposal with no inconvenience. Although some vacuums are pricey, there are affordable options, such as the BISSELL 3-in-1 Lightweight Corded Stick Vacuum sold at Walmart. In essence, bringing a vacuum to college will certainly be convenient for your weekly room-cleaning sessions.
Shoe organizer
Even though you probably won’t bring hundreds of shoes to college, having a shoe rack can certainly organize your room, among other perks. It is nearly inevitable for your shoes to somehow scatter all over your room — near your bed, in between drawer and shelves or even under the sink. With a shoe rack there will be no more dispersed footwear. You will also never have to worry about finding your shoes if you’re leaving your room in a hurry. Needless to say, mastering efficient shoe organization can avert the problems of displaced shoes and wasted time.
Power strip
A surge protector is more than useful to have in your room — it’s necessary. The ability to plug in multiple appliances can be very useful as the amount of outlets in your room are limited.
With friends over in your room occupying your outlets, it may be even more difficult to find a spare one. So, before you close out your last minute online shopping cart, consider adding a power stripr. It’ll certainly come in handy. Just remember that only power strips with a reset button are permitted in Emory’s residential halls.
With the full return to campus and residential facilities, it may be your first time living in a dorm or it may have been too long since you’ve been back. Either way, hopefully this list will make your space more functional than ever.
Esther Kim (24C) is from Queens, NY, heavily leaning towards a sociology major. Outside of the Wheel, she enjoys exploring restaurants around Atlanta, and taking naps.
