Meet first-year roommates Mikayla and Leanne from Ball Hall
Leanne Block (left)
Major: Undecided
Hometown: New York City
Mikayla Hernandez (right)
Major: Kinesiology, Pre-physical Therapy emphasis
Hometown: Whittier, CA
What do you appreciate about each other as roommates?
Leanne: I hadn’t met Mikayla until move-in day, but I could not be more happy with her. We do many activities together and I feel comfortable talking to her about all subjects. We are both clean people which has helped to keep our room clean and cozy, sharing many room decorations. I appreciate her for many things, but mostly because she has become my built-in best friend.
Mikayla: I appreciate that Leanne is very helpful and organized. She helps me with anything I need without any hesitation. She’s also very organized like me, so we rarely have a messy room.
What types of things do you do together for fun?
Off campus, we’ve done day trips to Balboa Island, Long Beach, and the Santa Monica Pier. We have also gone on short trips to Target, Walmart, Michaels, and other stores. We walk to Uptown Whittier to enjoy boba tea, sushi, crepes, and more.
Additionally, we have attended a school-organized event in Long Beach for kayaking and exploring the area. Transportation to and from the beach was included as well as the tickets for kayaking, making it a perfect activity for adventurous students without a car. Other examples of school-organized trips that happened during our first semester were to trampoline parks and Knott’s Berry Farm (an adventure park).
On campus, we attend many events listed on Engage, our school’s event planner. With different events each week it is easy to find fun things to do both on weekdays and weekends. Whether or not you have a car, there are plenty of activities and opportunities to get to know your roommate and new friends both through Whittier’s Engage website and in Uptown.
What are the three best things about living on campus at Whittier College?
Leanne: Meeting new people outside of my courses, working on my independence while being away from family, the feeling of being connected to Whittier.
Mikayla: The proximity to shops and dining, not having to wake up early for classes (commuters wake up earlier), residential life activities.
Do you have tips about what to bring for your dorm room?
Definitely bring a mini fridge, microwave, and bedding. Most importantly bring a mattress topper because it makes the beds more comfortable. Also bring dining utensils, laundry/dish soap, and fans. Also bring some small bins to put on the top of the closet in case there are things that don’t fit in the drawers. And make sure to bring hangers. For decorations, consider bringing LED/fairy lights, a rug and items that remind you of home, such as a stuffed animal or desk toy. Having personal items throughout the room
helps to create a more home-like feeling.
The two main things not to bring: printers and TVs. There’s no room for these things, and you’ll find printers in the library. Be sure to reach out to your roommate before moving in to coordinate what each of you plan to bring.
Why should a prospective student consider Whittier College?
Mikayla: A prospective student should consider Whittier College if they like small campuses. The campus is easy to navigate and it doesn’t take long to walk to classes. Also, this school should be considered if students want accessible resources to help with their academic life and/or life in general.
Leanne: If you are looking for a small school community located in a bigger town, Whittier College is the right choice. With Uptown Whittier being blocks away, activities are endless while Whittier College itself is small, ensuring the individualized nature of your education.
