Online Forty Niner: v8n2: Students move toward independence

Sitting on her bare bed in the Parkside Commons dormitories, undeclared freshman Irene Kalinowski from Del Mar, says she is looking forward to, but is also afraid of, meeting new people.

"I feel okay now," says Kalinowski, the oldest of four daughters. "But before, I was nervous, scared and excited."

The annual tradition of new students marching into new rooms and lives occurred this past weekend at Cal State Long Beach. Old students welcomed fresh, optimistic faces with friendly advice on how to make their dorm life more memorable.

The advice may be resourceful for many residents because housing is at 100 percent capacity with a short waiting list, and more than half of the residents are new to Cal State Long Beach, says Gary Little, the director of housing and residential life.

Some advice includes: don't get arrested right away, don't start random relationships with too many people and worst of all, "Don't clam up," says senior communications major Wayne Stickney-Smith.
"Be open to meeting people," says, Stickney-Smith, a four-year dorm veteran. Saying hi makes it easier to get to know one another, he said.

Other ways to get fellow students in the dorms, Stickney-Smith says, is to attend events like Casino Night.

Casino Night has been a long tradition in the dorms, Little says. Games include roulette, black jack and craps. Instead of gambling with money, residents play with chips that are turned in for a drawing where coupons are rewarded.

Looking forward to this year, Stickney-Smith says, "Everybody is like a big family," in his building.

Kalinowski, however, does not know how her roommate is going to be. She glances over to her roommate's side and spots a red duffel bag lying on top of the bed and a lamp sitting on the desk.

"I hope she's friendly and open, with a good personality," Kalinowski says.

Although Kalinowski is looking forward to a fulfilling year at CSULB, Stickney-Smith says it is easy to get distracted, and for some, dorm-living is hard to get used to.

"You just got to find your groove," Stickney-Smith says.

Finding one's groove can be a delicate balance of schoolwork and fun, says Kalinowski's resident assistant, Emily Eroen, a graduate student in social work.

"Get to know people, don't be afraid to met them," Eroen says. "But keep up with your studies. Find a combination of the two."

Kalinowski brought home-sakes to line her naked walls in order to combat homesickness. She brought photographs of her family, whom accompanied her to her room. Her two little sisters walked into her room carrying bags as big as them, and her mother held the baby sister on her hip.

"I'll miss them," Kalinowski says. "But I feel I'm ready to go away now."