TrinColl Tips and Tricks

By Sarah Lawrence ‘20

Name: Sarah Lawrence
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Major: Urban Studies
Minor: Chinese and Music

When it comes to college, one of the most common phrases you hear is that “college will be the best four years of your life”. For me, that means four years of taking advantage of everything offered to college students, whether that is a networking opportunity with alumni, a student discount at my favorite store, or even an event on campus with free snacks. At Trinity in particular, I have a few tips and tricks to ensure you are taking full advantage of your four years as a Bantam.

Elevating Mather Dining Hall:

Mather has so many different options, but if you’re looking to spice it up, here are my three favorite hacks:

1. First, if you are like me, it is important to find every possible way to incorporate avocados into your meals. At Mather, this can be done in a few different ways.

   

   a. Become a regular at the Asian Fusion station for lunch when sushi is on the menu. This is crucial because the station has a surplus of avocados for various sushi rolls, and if you ask politely, you are likely to receive half of an avocado that can then be used on toast, in a salad, or even plain with some salt and pepper.
   b. If you are not in the mood for a Mexican burrito or bowl, but still feel the need to eat avocado, I recommend making a piece of toast, a salad, or a sandwich, and heading over to the Mexican station for a scoop of guacamole. I almost prefer the guacamole for avocado toast because it spreads more smoothly (smashed avocado anyone?) and tastes incredible with tomatoes and Sriracha on top!

2. My second tip is to take Mather’s delicious smoothies and turn them into smoothie bowls (as if avocado toast was not basic enough). All you need to do is order your favorite smoothie (my personal favorite: bananas, mango, pineapple, peaches, and almond milk), pour it into a bowl, add some granola and fresh fruit from the cereal bar, and bon appetite!



3. My third and final tip for Mather is back at the Asian Fusion station, specifically on Mondays and Fridays during lunch because the Asian Fusion station serves incredible Vietnamese Pho soup. To make the soup more pho-ntastic than it already is, I recommend adding an egg from the All-Day Breakfast station. The yolk of the egg makes the soup extra creamy and delicious, and it is a great way to add some extra protein into your lunch!

Getting a Bang for Your Buck

College is expensive, but here are three helpful tips to save a few dollars on campus:

1. The cost of textbooks can add up, but there are a few ways to ensure you are getting the best deal on all your course materials. First, if you want to order books through the Trinity College Bookstore in the basement of Mather, I recommend renting used books rather than buying new ones. Second, I always recommend checking Amazon and Chegg as well, because they often have cheaper options than the bookstore, and still allow the option to rent or buy new or used books.
2. Many professors allow work to be done through laptop computers, but if you are like me and prefer handwritten class notes, I recommend buying one five-subject notebook rather than buying five smaller notebooks. At Trinity, you typically enroll in four to five courses in a semester, so all of your notes tend to fit perfectly into one larger notebook. Not to mention, you will never forget your notebook because you only have one, your backpack will feel lighter, and so will your wallet!



3. Trinity has an amazing on-campus thrift store called The Coop located in the basement of Jackson. It is full of mini refrigerators, fans, and so much more! It is a great way to find college dorm room essentials for far less, and the items are likely things you will need only for the four years you are at Trinity. Additionally, if your items are still in good shape, it is a great place to donate items you no longer need for future Bantams visiting The Coop.

Residential Hall Decoration Hacks

Although most rooms look similar on the inside, it’s up to you to add your own personal touch. When I moved in to Trinity for the first time, I aimed to make my room as cozy and home-like as possible, all while keeping it simple and organized. Here are three of my favorite dorm room hacks:

1. I find an organized closet to be the key to an organized mind. Each TrinColl closet or dresser tends to have an upper shelf, a hanging bar, and floor space as well. I find the most effective way to organize this is to first place two bins on the upper shelf for storage. Second, on the hanging bar, I organize my nicer shirts, sweaters, and dresses, and get special hangers for my skirts (or pants) that are great for saving space because they condense into one hanging line! On the floor space, my dad and I made shoe stackers out of scrap wood from Home Depot, which keeps my shoes nicely spaced out and organized.



2. My second dorm room advice is to create a wall of photographs that remind you of home, make you reminisce about your favorite adventure spots, or inspire your dreams. Personally, I chose to select a few pictures I have taken myself from home and my favorite family trips, ordered them online to be blown up in size, and then framed them to hang on my wall with command strips. I love looking at the pictures and they make me feel more relaxed and almost like I am home or back on vacation.
3. My third and most essential dorm room tip is to purchase an essential oil diffuser. Essential oil diffusers not only make your room smell amazing, but also can be quite calming, help with stress, and even colds depending on the oil you chose to add to the diffuser! My personal favorite scents are lemongrass, vanilla, and eucalyptus.

Secret Study Spaces

Sometimes, you grow tired of going to the same study cubby on the Level 2 reading room in the library and need a change of pace! Here are three less busy study spaces on campus:

1. The Chemistry or Econ Libraries are both great study spots and are particularly awesome if you are looking for a quiet space to work. My personal favorite is the Chemistry library because of the beautiful balcony spaces and the collegiate aesthetic that inspires me to focus just a little bit more than usual.



2. The lobby of Austin Arts is also a great alternative to the library. It is still close to Peter B’s in case you need a study break and a cup of coffee, but it is usually a calmer place to get some homework done. The lobby also tends to have some nice study music playing, and big front doors that let in natural light.



3. The lobbies of the Crescent Center for Arts and Neuroscience (CCAN) and the Life Science Center (LSC) also have great study spaces like Austin Arts. These two lobbies are particularly great if you have many classes near the LSC quad or you live on Crescent Street. There might be student activity before and after classes, but both spaces tend to be great for studying, especially between classes.