Love everyone. Trust no one.

As I stated in an earlier post, I believe that there is good in everyone and that it is simply a matter of looking for that good. But believing that the human race is good as a whole doesn’t justify being naïve.

Lock your doors. I don’t care if you’re just going to check your mail (snail mail). Lock your door. Always.

If you have a bike on campus, be warned that people will do stupid things. They will let all the air out of your tubes. They will bend your wheels. They will slash the tires and the tubes. They will steal your seat. They will steal your bike (even if it is chained up). Bring your bike up into your room at night (if possible) or see if you really need a bike. People haven’t been known to steal feet! : )

When in the cafeteria, don’t leave your phone or bag or anything that means something to you at your seat while you go get food. I have found that if you get a tray and a drink, and leave it at a seat, people leave it alone. I’ve only had one incidence where this hasn’t completely worked. Someone mistook my tray lacking food for an abandoned seat. The tray with my water was still there. No harm. I did find another seat.

Don’t leave your blinds open at night. As silly as it sounds, people do have binoculars and they do look into people’s rooms from their windows.

Always have pepper spray or something along those lines if you do a lot of walking by yourself, especially when it’s not light outside. Take it with you for your morning run (ha! I sleep), or to that frat party (which I am supposed to tell you to not go).

These things may seem extreme (or some people’s actions insane), but simple preventative measures help make life much easier. You are put at ease knowing that your personal effects are secure, as are you.