BY MARYANNE TOMAZIC

In print | Published August 28, 2007

Your parents have finally left you alone. But now you’re alone and silently panicking about the endless ways your freshman experience could go wrong. Forget the “What If’s” and breathe a little bit — I’m here to prove that there can be rest for the weary.

What to do if you lose your key or ID…

Trust me when I say I am the expert when it comes to losing keys/IDs. It took me a grand total of 12 hours for me to lose my first Swarthmore ID — and I lost three more after that. If you see yourself following my footsteps, I suggest you butter up your RA because he or she will be your lifeline for the entire year at Swat. RA’s keys can open every residential door in their building. Public safety also has keys that can let you back into your room.

Do not, and I speak from personal experience, attempt to unlock the door using everyday objects. Plastic forks, bobby pins, etc. will break off inside of the lock and mess up the pins. If you cannot find your key for an extended period of time and you no longer feel like climbing in through windows, head down to Key Central with fifty bucks to get a new key.

If you lose your ID, go to the Dean’s Office and ask for a temporary one. You will receive a blue card with your name and ID number on it, which will allow you to continue eating at Sharples and can help you gain entry into parties. If the expiration date passes on your temporary ID, your best bet is to walk over to Ben West and pay the ten dollars for a new one.

What to do when you get tired of Swarthmore…

Swarthmore College is intense and after a while it is pretty easy to get tired of work and responsibility. To manage this, I find that the easiest way to rejuvenate oneself is to get off campus. Go to the Franklin Museum and be a kid again. Go see a movie or explore South Street. Visit the art museum or take a trip to the Camden Aquarium. You can venture out to Media for some great restaurants or even make a weekend trip up to New York. There are amazing places to go where you can be burden-free and having some time in your schedule to relax can help you refocus your energy at Swat.

What to do when you are sick…

You should know by now that serious injuries require a call to 911. Now, what if it’s not an emergency, but you still feel sick? The Worth Health Center is the place to go. Staffed 24/7, you will always be able to find someone to help you and you can always make an appointment to see the doctor, usually within the week. Besides a doctor’s appointment, you can also go to the nurses to ask about colds and coughs. They also have a nifty table set up with packets of ibuprofen, throat lozenges, hydrocortisone cream and such. The Health Center, along with your Sexual Health Counselors, are also great for talking about STDs, HIV testing and contraceptives. On the other side of the health center, you can find the counseling and psychological services. You can call in for an appointment or in an emergency, talk to the nurse.

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