Preparing For Fall 2020 Move-In

By: Halle Coleman

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, many students, including myself, had no clue if we would be returned this far. The last memories we had of our universities were abruptly moving out and starting classes online. For months, we were left in the dark as far as returning.

As of June 2020 dozens of HBCU's, including my dear ole college home Jackson State University, have announced plans to allow student s back on campus with social distancing restrictions. This announcement left me both relieved and anxious all at once. If you're looking to make preparations to return to school and don't know where to start then look no further.

Securing your living space

Now more than ever, either completing your school's housing application or securing your lease on time is crucial. In order to follow social distancing guidelines, many schools are exercising the option of providing students with single occupancy rooms. For example, Virginia State announced that their Fall 2020 housing will be limited to only freshmen, student leaders, student-athletes, and seniors. This puts students who do not fall into those categories in a bind if they plan to be a full-time student.

Physical Preparation

It's never to early to start dorm shopping! I personally have already picked up my comforter, rug, and wall decorations. When shopping, I visited Home Goods and TJ Maxx who both had lines to even get into the store. At Marshall's, most of the bathroom supplies, home decor, and bedding was sold out. Therefore, I would suggest looking into online retailers or curbside pickup. Target has a page dedicated to college essentials and offers bundle deals. Some form of a mask, hand sanitizer, general cleaning items, and disposable dishware should also be on your packing lists. Because of hybrid classes and gathering restrictions, most of my time during the semester will be spent in my room so I want to make it as comfortable as possible.

Mental Preparation

As a student, college can already be stressful. Pursing a degree in the middle of the pandemic is understandably even more stressful. Therefore I encourage everybody to join me in taking the weeks left before classes resume to mentally prepare ourselves. Incorporating journaling and planning into your daily routine can help bring balance and stability academically in these troubling times. We all have faced adversities throughout our journeys and this is only one more bump in the road.