Yes, it is that time of the year to buy our flip-flops and favorite sunglasses because we are just beginning a great year at the University of Tampa! While every college student brought enough clothes, decorations, and pictures to style and personalize their dorm rooms, there are some items you will need to have as you will be attending school in west Florida.
1. A Beach Bag
Make sure to fill it with all of the necessities that you will need for a fun day in the sun. Some of those items may include: sunscreen, a UT hat, towel, snack, reusable water bottle, Frisbee, your favorite bathing suit and sunglasses, and a small speaker.Â
2. Rain Equipment
We live in the lightning capital of the United States and if you have been watching the weather channel this summer, Tampa Bay had historic rain fall and West Kennedy Boulevard was a river! So make sure you at least have an umbrella to get to class! Some other great rain accessories are bright colored rain boots and a rain jacket! Trust me, you do not want to sit in class soaking wet after walking through the torrential rain to get there. You will freeze in the classroom and be rather uncomfortable.
3. Summer Styled Clothing
Even though you may love your favorite pair of embellished and sparkled jeans and that warm, fuzzy scarf, you will not need winter clothes immediately in the Fall semester. We are lucky in Florida if the temperature is hitting the 70s by November. So when you go home for Thanksgiving or Christmas break, that would be a great time to stuff in your suitcase a couple pairs of boots and some warmer clothes just in case, but you DO NOT need to have them taking up space yet, instead invest in some cute bikinis and tanks!
4. UT Spirit Gear
Make sure you purchase some comfortable and cute UT clothing and accessories so you can show some Spartan love and support! The most popular items in the bookstore to purchase are the sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, and fitted shirts.
5. Theme Park Attraction Accessories
Living in Tampa has more benefits than just living close to the beach and more days of sunshine than cloudiness. You are near some of the most popular theme parks that attract thousands of tourists every year! So make sure you invest in a favorite pair Mickey Mouse ears, magical wand from the Wizarding World, or cutest Minions t-shirt because it is time to gear up for a day in the parks. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Bush Gardens, and Sea World are at your front door and each less than a two hour drive from campus.
6. Arrrrrrgh Matey!
The most celebrated holiday in the Tampa Bay area is Gasparilla. For those of you who do not know the story of this major celebration, we celebrate Jose Gaspar, the last pirate who invaded the bay area in the late 18th century and early 19th century. Each year the Ye Mystic Krewe hosts festivities that extend over a two month period, but the main event is the two hour parade in which thousands of adults go crazy over colored beads, and treasures that belong to pirates! So do not forget to buy some clothes that you can create into a pirate costume. Trust me, everyone goes to the parade dressed as a pirate; people really invest themselves on this treasure hunting celebration. Yo ho! Yo ho!