How to Be Green when Packing for College

As a college senior at Trinity Western University, I know exactly what millions of North American high school graduates are thinking right now: "I can't believe the summer is over, and I'm about to go back to school....to COLLEGE!"

And then the panic hits. You wonder, will you make any friends? Are people at your college nice? Does the school cafeteria food suck? Are the girls (or boys) at my university hot? What if my college classes are too hard? What if my roommate is a freak? (Side note: I had the stereotypical roommate from hell, and though it was a nightmare, I survived...so it can't be too bad!) And, most importantly, how am I supposed to pack to move into my college dorm? What do I need to bring?

Trust me, I've been there. I've done that. And it's a lot easier than your stressed, worried brain will have you think. But instead of just giving you empty, back-to-school assurances, I've decided to share with you my personal guide to heading to college for the first time.

Of course, a very, very important disclaimer: I care about the earth. I care about the environment. The effects that pollution is having on the world around us is frightening. Whether or not you believe in the science of global warming, or whatever your stance is politically, I know you agree with me: We need to take care of the planet.

That being said, I have a few pointers on how to pack for college the green way. What do I mean by "the green way?" I mean, every decision you make has an effect. The type of laundry detergent you buy; the type of water bottle you purchase; the type of light bulb you use to illuminate your desk; all of these are decisions that have an impact on the environment. Thus, a green dorm room is the best dorm room/

Therefore, a few college packing tips from an eco-friendly point of view: While everyone and their sister seems to be fascinated by expensive brands of bottled water, don't fill our landfill with unnecessary plastic. All the students on my campus have one, and it saves you from buying a couple dollars of water every day (it all adds up, and why waste beer money on water?). Never, ever buy air fresheners; they're filled with toxic chemicals (keep your room clean, instead). And buy scent-free, chemical-free laundry detergent!

The Essential (Green) College Packing List

Half the time, those packing lists that schools send you before you move into their dorms are pretty incomplete. Trust me, I've gotten to school and been like, "Why didn't I bring such-and-such?" I've spared you the headache and compiled the essential college packing list (which should be in addition to whatever your college tells you to bring).

- HIGH QUALITY sheets, blankets, pillows, etc. A good night's sleep is something you won't get often in dorm life, so make it count when you do!

- Lots, and lots of hangers. Sometimes, dorms will provide you with them, but they're usually skinny wire hangers that will wreck havoc on your clothes. If you want to look respectable and get a girlfriend (or boyfriend), make sure your clothes look nice and buy some hangers.

- A powerful desk light. Dorm lighting is notoriously bad. If you want to be blind by the time you graduate from your university, forget this. But if you want to read without getting a migraine, buy a desk lamp. Plus, you can study when your roommate is sleeping (or having sex) and wants the lights off. Oh, and mke sure it's fluorescent light bulbs.

- A hand vacuum. Small, but good enough to keep your room looking tidy. And please, use it. Guys with messy, disgusting rooms never get girlfriends. I'm not joking at all.

- Depending on where you go to school, bring a fan or a space heater, or both.

- A computer and a printer. And I can give you a 99 percent guarantee that if you bring a desktop computer, you'll be wishing you had a laptop by the second week.

- Earplugs. Good for studying, or sleeping, especially if you have a loud roommate. Or a roommate at all.

- Quarters, lots of quarters. Bring as many as you can carry, or else you'll be running door to door at 3 a.m. trying to find quarters so you can wash laundry before an interview or important class the next morning.

- Toiletries. I don't really need to go into detail, just bring whatever it is you use at home. And never steal from your roommate. They have all sorts of ways to get revenge. Unless you want urine in your shampoo bottle, don't think they won't notice you using their conditioner.

- Vitamins. Even if your school has a gourmet cafeteria, you won't always be eating the best. Vitamins will help cover what you don't get from a 4-day diet of chips and soda pop.

See, that wasn't hard! Have fun at school. It's the best time of your life.