Fall 2020 INSIDE:
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Getting along with a roommate
A newsletter for you, the college student who wants to learn how to do everything better, easier or cheaper
Take photos like the pros
How to make the most out of limited space Article by: Sydney Sloan
Typically, living in the dorms comes along with very limited space for all the necessities you need as a college student. Along with not having a lot of space, you have to be considerate of your roommate and make sure there is room for all of their belongings too. This sharing of space can be a lot less stressful if you use the following tips for reducing clutter.
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hile transitioning into college can be overwhelming, making your dorm room feel like your home away from home can make a big impact.
Contributed by Sydney Sloan
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ORGANIZATION Katherine Flynn, winner of the East Carolina University Fletcher Hall 2017 Best Dorm Competition, said, “One of my favorite parts about my dorm room was that I had storage boxes that also doubled as chairs so it provided more seating when friends would come to hang out.” Seating is limited in dorm rooms, so it’s nice to have storage that can also be used to provide seating and hangout space, according to Flynn. She said putting storage boxes under your bed is helpful because you can hide the containers while having easy access to them when you need something. Flynn said in order to fit your items under a dorm bed, bed risers are necessary, otherwise, you will not have space to fit large containers. The university provides you with a closet but usually, they are not very large, according to Flynn. Using storage underneath the bed for off-season clothes allows for space to have plenty of room for your other items. A shoe rack is needed due to how much space shoes take up in a closet, according to Flynn. She said having somewhere to put your hidden laundry hamper is nice so it does not look messy. Continued on p. 2
Both the content for this newsletter and the design are created by students enrolled in COMM 3310 Copy Editing and Design in the School of Communication at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina during the Spring and Fall semesters under the direction of course instructor Barbara Bullington. Thank you to Communication student George Martin, for his work on the design of this publication.
Fall 2020 Make the most out of limited space
Contributed by Sydney Sloan
continued from p. 1
Katherine Flynn’s dorm room in Fletcher Hall, which won best room in 2017.
“I had a laundry hamper that hung on the back of my closet door, so it didn’t take up too much space,” Flynn said. “I liked it because I didn’t waste other space in my room and it wasn’t noticeable to visitors.”
DECORATING Darker decorations will make your room feel smaller, while keeping things lighter will open up space and make it brighter, Flynn said. “When I design dorm rooms, I first take measurements of the space to see what size mirrors and paintings I can get,” interior design major Joyce Sparling said. “It’s important to have mirrors because they always make space feel more open.” Decorations add to the personal appeal of your dorm room, according to Sparling. Adding pictures of your family and friends gives your dorm room more of a feeling of home.
“Getting matching throw pillows can bring the room together and make it a space where everything looks in sync,” Sparling said. Having a long body pillow is a nice touch to your bed because you can put it along the side and change your bed into something more like a couch.
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BEDDING When it comes to getting bedding, get something neutral so you can change your color scheme easily if you decide to. Discussing decor with your roommate is important so you can make sure both of your styles flow well together.
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How to get along with a difficult roommate Article by: Murphy Credle
L
iving with a roommate for the first time can be an exciting, but also difficult experience, especially if that first time is at college. For many people, especially those who didn’t share a room with a sibling, having a roommate can be a new and tricky process. Learning how to share the same space, be around each other and get along is easier said than done, but is often possible. Following these tips can help you have success with roommates, not just in college, but afterward as well.
COMMUNICATION Destiny Akinnagbe, a resident advisor from East Carolina University, says the biggest mistake people make in communication is “expecting your roommate to read your mind.” Communication can be especially important if you find yourself in an argument with your roommate. according to Akinnagbe. A lot of arguments can be solved when everyone involved feels like they’re being listened to and understood. Additionally, communicating can be done in various forms. Akinnagbe said she has had someone come to her to help them draft text messages to their roommate about an issue they had. “Communication doesn’t have to be done one way,” Akinnagbe said. “It can be through Contributed by Murphy Credle
Kirsten Wolff and Adam Pullen, two roommates at ECU, find effective ways to live together.
Contributed by Murphy Credle
text, face-to-face or phone call. Each way works differently for everyone.” Communication won’t work if you don’t tell the other person how you truly feel, according to Akinnagbe. Developing open and honest habits will also ensure a more comfortable atmosphere. If you’re afraid to open up, feelings and anger can get pent up. It will also make it hard for problems to get solved. Not only talking through issues but talking about them in the right way, can make a huge difference. A specific problem Akkinagbe dealt with was when a roommate felt excluded from the other roommate’s plans. Since they were friends, this was upsetting. The two went a week without talking. Finally, with Akinnagbe as the mediator, they were able to find ways to communicate their feelings. “Waiting that long to have a conversation definitely made the experience more tense and difficult to get through,” Akinnagbe said. While you don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, being open and honest can go a long way in helping build a solid roommate relationship, especially when you are first meeting your roommate. Continued on p. 4
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Fall 2020 How to get along with a difficult roommate continued from p. 3
David Welsh, a student services specialist at ECU, said “Allowing each person to speak their part and then finding a common ground between them” can be a good starting point in resolving a problem. “First impressions can make a noticeable difference,” Welsh says. When you’re open and honest, you will realize that there are just some things you can “agree to disagree on and still have a productive and positive relationship.” When communicating and being honest, doing it respectfully is crucial, according to Akinnagbe. If you are overly emotional about something that is on your mind or bothering you, consider taking some time before having a conversation. Allow yourself to cool down and to avoid
letting your emotions get the best of you. “Arguments usually start by roommates not listening to each other, not compromising and not validating the others feelings,” Akinnagbe said. Welsh said that when having a conversation, being mindful of the way you say things can go a long way in helping the situation go smoothly. When in doubt, try putting yourself in the other’s shoes. Take into account that, while you will most likely have different opinions, mindsets and feelings than the other, it doesn’t make either opinion invalid.
How to improve your photography skills Article by Laieke Abebe
S
imilar to painting, music and literature, photography has long been one of life’s greatest art forms. Over time, photography has evolved from the days of black and white pictures to the new age of vibrance and color. Today, pictures continue to be a large part of the media’s presence, from social media to newspapers.
While there are many expert photographers in various fields from sports to pop culture, a lot of people have taken up this art form recently. For those beginners and anyone interested in this field of work, what are the ways they can improve in photography?
Contributed by Laieke Abebe
FINDING THE RIGHT CAMERA Obtaining a functioning camera is essential along with confirming that the camera is right for the specific subject a person wants to take pictures of.
OBSERVING EXPERTS
The crowd at the NCHSAA 1-A East Regional championship.
Huffpost’s article on “7 Simple Tips to Improve Your Photography Skills” also highlights important details, like observing photos from experienced photographers as a reference point. Although it could be intimidating to ask for advice from photographers, talking to them about what they did to improve their work is an ideal way of learning the necessary steps needed to go from a beginner to an expert.
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Building connections with other photographers, especially those in the community, can go a long way because those connections could lead to bigger and better things.
VERSATILITY IN PHOTOGRAPHY A big part of success for some of the best people in the photography industry is being able to find different ways to take excellent pictures even when things aren’t going smoothly. Tetting that signature shot of a cool animal or an amazing highlight play starts with a large amount of test photos. Taking test photos will allow for a photographer to have a better grasp of good composistion. “The thing I always tell photographers is to always practice first before beginning to shoot,” explained Olen Kelley, the founder of OK3 Sports, a photography business based out of the Southeast. “As a sports photographer, we have to warm up similar to how athletes warm-up for practice or competition. Taking test photos are important to the result of anything you’re doing in the photography field and it’s certainly helped me with my work.” Kelley added that practice shots help photographers adjust to the environment they’re in, whether it’s at a sporting event, wedding or simply going outside to view nature. Adjusting the settings to a preference that is ideal for the type of photos a person wants to take plays a big role in the improvement of someone’s photography skills. It took a lot of practice for most of the best photographers in the business to move up in the ranks and become well known to the general public. Every camera is different, so the settings on each camera vary depending on what features are included with it. Photographers should know what’s good for their style of photo taking whether it’s shooting in automatic mode or manual. It’s a house divided on which one most photographers prefer, but they’d normally go with what they feel is right and then adapt if it’s not what they were looking for.
“Automatic shots are not too bad,” said William ‘Bud’ Hardy, an Eastern North Carolin-based sports photographer. “But I prefer to shoot with the manual setting. Everyone has preferences, but for me, that setting is the best for photos because it’s great for adapting to different places.” Hardy added that, ideally, a lot of lighting is the key for photography and if there isn’t too much light in a certain place, it’s good to adjust the camera settings to fit in with the surroundings. “Every photographer is different, so everyone in this field has a different way of taking pictures depending on what type of camera they have,” Hardy said.
How to become a better photographer Find the ideal camera
Practice taking shots Be creative with content choices Infographic photo credits photo 1: Alexander Wang on Unsplash photo 2: Alif Ngoylung on Unsplash
photo 3: Chris Malinao Burgett on Unsplashh
FINDING WAYS TO BE CREATIVE As PictureCorrect.com indicates, breaking one’s normal habits can help a photographer improve over time and it doesn’t just have to do with taking pictures. It could be editing, going out at a different time of day instead of sticking with the usual, or finding a new location to take photos of. Doing things differently can help a photographer discover new skills that could help their platform. In the end, emotion, interaction, action and reaction are some of the keys to taking excellent photos, but being capable of getting signature photos takes a lot of practice. It’s an art form that portrays any and everything in full view, which is why dedication and consistency play a significant role in improvine one’s skills.
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