Being Safe at College, On and Off Campus

Going off to school is an exciting new adventure in your life.
Many young adults feel thrilled, but also secretly a little scared, to be living away from their parents for the first time in their lives.
This is natural.
You shouldn't be afraid to admit that living on your own for the first time is a little scary.
With a few tips on safety and home security you will feel a lot better about being out on your own.
The first thing that is important for any college student to practice is safety in numbers.
You have a whole community of kids in the same position as you are in; don't hesitate to take advantage of that fact.
Even when walking around on campus at night you should always make sure that you are with other people.
Likewise, don't allow a friend to walk home alone at night.
Even if it's a great party and you really don't want to leave, it's more important that you and your friends are safe.
You should also be sure to communicate with your roommates about where you are going and when you are coming back.
Even if you aren't close friends with the people you live with, you should still watch out for each other.
Home security is another important part of living on your own.
Although you might not be living in your own home, perhaps you're in a dorm or an on campus apartment, home security is still a key aspect of staying safe.
Many college kids feel a false sense of security in a dorm because they are living with so many other people and everyone seems to be friends.
Dorms can be targets for both burglaries and assaults because of that false sense of security.
College kids will leave the doors to their rooms unlocked or prop open the front door to the dorm so anyone can walk in.
All an intruder has to do is blend in with the other people in the building.
Intruders also know that dorms are full of laptops, iPods, and other expensive electronics.
This makes breaking into a dorm even more enticing.
Kids are often used to their parents being the ones who take care of all of their home security needs and therefore it is something that they don't think a lot about.
This is a huge mistake.
Be cautious with everyone, even your fellow dorm-mates.
It is not unheard of for someone to be robbed or assaulted by their next-door neighbor.
Lock your doors and if a situation doesn't feel right, get out of it.
Although college can be a fun and exciting place, college campuses are not without their problems and crimes.
Taking some simple personal safety and home security precautions can really help to make your new home a safer environment.
Not only will you feel more at ease, but your parents will also feel better knowing that you are aware of personal and home security.