The Current | Vol. 32 Issue 1

Using your money and meals wisely Whether you are a new Shark living on campus or a returnee, an essential part of residential life is your declining balance, often referred to as DB, and how it is spent. Every student living on NSU’s campus is required to purchase a specific meal plan that ranges in price depending on what dorm they live in. Students who live in The Commons or Leo Goodwin have a meal plan of $1,595, but students in Mako Hall, CLC, FFV and Rolling Hills have a meal plan of $450. Whether you have a lot or a little, here are some tips on utilizing your DB to the max. Don’t skip out on meals Starting with any student who lives in The Commons or Leo Goodwin, while your meal plan is by far the best on campus, it is also the most expensive. The biggest tip I have is to not worry about spending your DB. During my first semester on campus, I was so concerned that I would run out of money on my meal plan that I skipped meals to make sure I had an excess of DB. However, with this meal plan, there is no need. Despite the fact that perhaps there may be less free food via events and meetings this semester due to limited gathering, trust me, while it is not impossible, it is difficult to run out of DB with this plan. Make your meals count If you are living in a dorm with a smaller meal plan and no cooking skills, do not fret. Make your meals count. Starbucks is expensive. There is no denying that, so do not bother with their pricey food. If you are hungry and want a sandwich during the day or lunch hour, opt for one from Razor’s Reef over Starbucks. The large-sized sandwich is not only the same price, but way too much for one meal; half that sandwich can easily be put in the fridge and saved for later. Turn to one-price dining Another way to make your meals count is in one-price dining. Go pay for the one-price dining at the start of dinner time and bring all your books, laptop and anything else to keep you entertained. Then, simply stay in the pit. Study, eat when hungry, watch Netflix and alternate all night long. If you stay until closing, that is plenty to keep you satisfied all night. Let Starbucks be your lifesaver If the end of the semester is around the corner and you have an excess of DB left over, I have a solution for you: Starbucks. A student’s DB cannot be used to buy Starbucks gift cards at the on-campus store, but it can be used to buy merchandise. Once that holiday line rolls out towards the end of the semester, feel free to get a head start on your holiday shopping and buy all your loved ones some elusive cups -- or if you are feeling nice and giving, buy a friend a coffee (especially for the upperclassmen or commuters). That small act can go a long way in this transitional time. Invest in cooking For those with kitchens in their dorm, I would recommend investing in enhancing your cooking skills. There are plenty of resources online to cook easy meals and work your way up. This is the perfect time to become a master chef, and then, the only DB you will have to spend is quick necessities or last-minute ingredients at Outtakes. Succeeding as an introvert Being an introvert can mean many things. You may not be able to make friends easily or it may take you longer to transition from high school to this new form of adulthood. However, do not let being shy deter you from having the best years of your life. You will never know what you could have experienced if you hold yourself back. Keep in touch with close friends Talking to people who know you can always be a way to find comfort in stressful situations. Even though you may not be able to see your old friends after high school, it is always great to stay in contact with them. It can even make you feel less alone. However, you don’t want your close friends to act as a shield to keep you from making new friends. Even though it may be scary, you should make an effort to find new friends to have new experiences with. Don’t inhibit yourself from making friends Making friends can be hard, especially now in our new normal, but do not be afraid to make them. Having friends who are also navigating the same turbulent times of new adulthood can be comforting and may even help you feel more understood. You can start making friends by simply finding just one person in each of your classes to talk to, even if it is just about current assignments. Always make time for yourself Making time for yourself is always important. Although you are navigating the new experience of college, you will need to take time to decompress. Always take time in between assignments to watch a movie or read a book. Even if you are attending class from the comfort of your own home, it is important to take time away from your studies so as to not overwhelm yourself. Unplugging for even J. L. Glasthal Contributing Writer Rick Esner News Editor half an hour can make a big difference to your day. Get out of your comfort zone College is one of the places when you can finally take the time to find yourself and who you are and what you want out of life. Do not write things off because you’ve never done them before. Join clubs, learn how to play a new instrument, just be involved. You never know. Maybe, you can find your best friends while doing something you could have never imagined yourself doing a month ago. Residential hall tips Kiley Moore Contributing Writer College can be scary, especially when it is a new place, a new environment and there are new people. I, for one, look around sometimes still after being here a semester, completely in awe that I am here. I am in college. I am in Florida, 1,000 miles away from Massachusetts, with a whole new life and set of friends, away from my family. For some, that is scary. Before I was here and settled, I was scared. Scared of making friends and feeling like I would not belong. It only took a couple of days and I found myself the happiest I have ever been, with new friends who are now my family and ambition to achieve all my goals. Yes, college is scary, but only when you do not know what to make of it. Once you settle in and you are equipped with tools to succeed in every aspect, it is not so scary. Here are some things that helped me with dorming. • Bring a microwave and a mini- fridge. If you have roommates, coordinate with them so you don’t have extra appliances you won’t need. • Bring beach towels. • Bring at least three sets of sheets. • Throw pillows are a must, especially a body pillow. • LED lights are always a vibe and make your room feel homey. • Bring a broom and a Swiffer. • Put your mail and room key on a lanyard. I also carry a chapstick and my shark card on this lanyard. • Febreze or air fresheners are a must. • Get to know your RA. • If you do not know your roommates, that is okay. You do not have to be friends with yours. I am not and it does not affect me at all. • Put your Snapchat and Instagram usernames on your name tag that is on your door. It’s an easy way to make friends. • Do not be afraid to knock on random doors to meet new people. • Check the laundry room before carrying all your laundry down, so you know that there are washers open. • Bring lots of extra tape to hang stuff up in your room. • Bring an extension cord and extra chargers. • Take time to learn where things are on campus. It may feel like it will take a long time, but it only took me a week to get comfortable walking around with no directions. • Be yourself Getting away from home and going to college was the best thing I ever did. I have never been this happy, and even though I miss my family, they are only a text message away. I am so happy I jumped at the opportunity to experience a new environment. I feel like I am on vacation 24/7 and that feeling is ecstatic. College is the time to find out who you really are, so just be yourself and make sure you are comfortable. May 25 2021| nsucurrent.nova.edu 8 Student Life With permission to print from Christina McLaughlin With permission to print from Christina McLaughlin