I'm a sophomore at Drake University. Here's how I decorated my dorm to feel more like home. Yes, there's a disco ball.

• I'm 19 and in my third semester at Drake University.
• I decorated my dorm room so that it'd be practical and feel more like home.

College has been a goal of mine since I was a young girl. Everything I did in and out of school mattered so much to me because of how it would affect college and the application process.

I applied to nine schools; I got accepted to seven and rejected from two.

Some people get this "home" feeling when they step on campus, but I didn't. I saw it more as a place where I could grow and learn and where I'd have the opportunity to make it feel like home if I put in the effort.

Now I'm a 19-year-old in suburban Iowa studying journalism and graphic design. I can't say this is where I thought I'd end up — I wanted to get out of the Midwest — but it's been an interesting past year and a half. This is what I've learned.

I decorated my room so it wouldn't feel like a shoebox

Living in a dorm can feel like living in the Shire. Though it's small and tight, I love it. It was important to me to decorate because I wanted to feel comfortable and safe. It's also helped me not become homesick. I used Pinterest for inspiration for making things look cool, but I've also gathered dorm tips and tricks.

I learned I didn't need to bring more than three plates and cups from home, because I just don't use that many and they take up so much space. I have lots of snacks I can just throw in my bag in case I have a busy schedule and don't have time to stop and grab a meal.

I bought an air mattress for when guests come over. It's more convenient than a regular mattress since I can deflate it and hide it in my closet when I'm not using it. I use skinny hangers for my closet to fit more clothes in it. I also got a hanging shoe organizer to keep my shoes neat and out of sight. I got bins to keep my underwear and socks organized.

I bought phone and computer chargers to keep in my room and in my backpack so I always have one handy.

When it comes to decorating, double-stick tape works to hang pictures and doesn't ruin the walls. And if you're wondering whether you need a disco ball in your room, the answer is always yes.

I'm being challenged

I was someone who skated through high school: Everything came easy, and there weren't many options for challenging classes. When I came to Drake, I set myself up to enjoy what I was doing but also to be challenged.

I have two majors and one minor. This allows me to take a variety of classes that I'm interested in but that still benefit my learning and my degree progress.

I recommend mixing and matching your majors and minors. And pick things you're genuinely interested in — I rarely skip classes because I look forward to what I'm learning.

I didn't have good study habits in high school, though, so I'm still at a disadvantage in college. I also learned I can't do my homework in my room, so designating my room as a place to relax instead of study has been huge.

I try to have at least one friend in every class

I joined one of the biggest student groups on campus, so I knew I had to make friends from the get-go. One way to do that is to attend events where everyone is new. I also try to make at least one friend in each of my classes so I can have someone to work on homework with or just to sit by.

I'm in my first real relationship, and the hardest thing to balance is boyfriend time and friend time. I'm fortunate to be with someone who puts in the effort to see me, values our time together, and genuinely enjoys my presence. When I need to relax, I gravitate toward seeing my boyfriend. When I need to be productive, I gravitate toward getting coffee and doing classwork with my friends.

I also had to accept that I don't have to overexert myself to get people to like me. If they want to hang out, they'll ask.

I'm working on getting better at reaching out more. Living with three roommates this year has been beneficial because I can ask them first if they want to do something.

These past three semesters have had their ups and downs, but I'm thankful for it all.

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