Getting to know the people in your college dorm can seem kind of overwhelming at first especially if you’re not used to living with a bunch of people with different personalities and quirks.

 

Not everyone is a social butterfly. But there are ways to include everyone, get to know others, and have fun doing it. There’s plenty of time to study, nap, and participate in campus-wide activities. There’s no shortage of things to do or ways to get to know your college roommates — even within your own walls.

 

Part of the college experience includes bonding with your roommates and your other peers on the floor and throughout the residence hall. If you need a little inspiration, try breaking the ice with these activities:

 

Potluck Power

 

There’s nothing wrong with ramen or cafeteria meals, but it may be time to branch out and avoid the dreaded freshman 15 by getting support from the other people on your floor. Pick a night during the week, make an invite and let your inner creative chef emerge. The only rule is that the food has to be made in your room or the floor’s kitchen.

Maybe the potluck involves a fruit and veggie theme where everyone incorporates one or the other into their dish. Keep in mind that in order to have a healthy diet, fruit and vegetables should ideally be half of what you eat every time you eat a meal.  (Of course there’s always room for a little nutella in your life.)

 

Just keep in mind as you’re playing iron chef that dorm room fires and accidents cause about $14 million in damages every year. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that “3,800 university housing fires occur each year, with 88 percent of these fires being caused by cooking,” according to Jay Trucks & Associates, PC.

 

Pajama Par-Tea

 

As a way to get people to de-stress and unwind, your RA could organize a pajama tea party in a common area. Everyone can bring their own mugs and taste a sampling of teas. An RA on Pinterest said she had a slide show playing in the background of the health benefits of all the teas she provided.

 

Tea is a good way to stay hydrated, has less caffeine than coffee and provides healthy antioxidants. Like a good meal, you can bond over a warm cup of tea on a chilly night. And what better way to enjoy it than in your favorite jammies?

 

Love Your-selfie

 

With our beauty-obsessed culture, it’s easy to get caught up in what society’s standards of beauty are. We can break down the walls just with a simple campaign that reminds students why they matter and what they like about themselves and others.

 

You could ask people to take a selfie to be posted on a board where others will see it. Have each person write one thing they like about themselves that has nothing to do with looks. Also, each person should write something they admire about a dorm mate’s photo.

 

You could also use social media for good by creating a campaign using the hashtag #loveyourselfie and another hashtag with your residence hall. This way, social media and the power of kindness travels beyond your immediate circle of friends.

 

Family Feud

 

Name something students living in a dorm room might share …

 

Yes, it’s Family Feud! With a unique twist on the classic game show, Family Feud can bring a little healthy competition to the floor. Break into teams and go to battle. You’ll want to have a prize picked out for the winners. For some suggestions on how to set up the game specific to your dorm or college life in general, check out these ideas from Easy Event Ideas.

 

Book Club

 

A good-old-fashioned book club is a simple way to bring all types of people together. It’s something that could be done once a month during the entire school year. What’s cool about a book club is that it brings together different points of view and interactions with people you might not have interacted with otherwise.

 

It might be interesting to have at least one month dedicated to current social issues that especially impact the world around us. Within the book club realm, just be mindful of varying opinions and avoid heated arguments. Everyone doesn’t have to agree, but there should be a level of respect that goes along with being a book club member.

 

Come up with a list of questions that pertain to the book: Why they did or didn’t like the book; what they got out of it, what they thought about a specific event, etc.

 

Community Service

 

Think outside the dorm and what you can do as a group to help the community or others on campus. The ideas are as limitless as your imagination. Imagine the impact your dorm can make out there.

 

You’re not only giving back to people who need it most, you’re potentially building your resume, expanding your skill set, learning time management skills, becoming more collaborative, networking and building self confidence.

 

Everyone probably has a different idea of what constitutes a good community project, but you could compile all the suggestions and take a vote on the best one. It may seem like you’re living in a bubble, but there are so many things you can do as an individual or as a group to make a difference.

 

Dorm life is a rite a passage for many of us, so don’t forget to take advantage of the opportunity to meet new people. It’s also designed to be educational and fun, and you can be a part of that even if you only live on campus for a year. Think of all the alma mater reminiscing that awaits long after you walk out the doors for the last time.