The four years spent in college should be some of the best years of your life. Despite the stress of it all, college is the last four years of your required schooling before you enter the career world. You should be able enjoy the freedom you have in your college years. With this in mind it’s important that our readers, especially the ladies, understand the best ways to be safe while on campus. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you’re allowed to have fun, as long as you’re going about it in the safest way possible.
Make sure you have your phone on you at all times. Whether you’re leaving class to get a book from your dorm (or car) or you’re just changing classes, always have your phone with you. It guarantees you have a way to contact anyone in case of an emergency. Carrying money with you at all times is another habit one should get used to while on campus. Anything can happen and it’s important you have cash if you need it.
Stick with a group of friends, especially if it’s late. We’ve all grown up hearing about “the buddy system” but that’s not just a rule for kindergartners. Even in your early 20’s it’s important you have someone to walk to your car with. Don’t go wandering off on your own, it makes you vulnerable.
Be aware of the representative on campus and how to contact them. You never know when you might need their help. Make yourself familiar with the location of campus security or police in case you find yourself in need of assistance. They are there to help and keep you safe, don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Be mindful by putting contact information of campus security on your phone that way you can get in touch with them immediately. It’s smarter to have emergency contact information before than emergency than scrambling for it when you need it.
If you find yourself in a situation where you’re not comfortable speak up! It’s the only way things will get better otherwise it may potentially escalate out of control. Don’t assume you’ll figure it out because that might not be the case. If you wait too long it may be too late, so no matter what it is let your feelings be known. Even if you don’t think it’s a big deal, it’s better to speak up about something minor than say nothing at all.
What you must keep in mind is that these guidelines are for your safety. As trivial as they may seem, they’re important. Unfortunately, nowadays we have to be more wary than we are trusting. Don’t be naïve about taking precautions. It’s in your best interest to take all necessary steps to ensure your safety on campus. College should be fun, but you also have to aware of how to handle any situation if necessary.