Art of Fengushui
At the end of summer vacation, we eagerly wait for our dormitory assignments, hoping for one of the most renovated rooms located at the most convenient spot of the campus. Once you walk through that door and plop your luggage on the floor, the small space becomes your new home, a place where you will struggle with math problems, read your favorite books or converse with your best friends. No matter how big your single is (Garland/Watson), or how tiny your room is (Dana), your room becomes an important part of your life, and it is important that your room is organized to maximize your performance at Hotchkiss. Believe it or not, the secret is hidden behind how you arrange your room.
Closely linked to Daoism, Feng Shui is a type of philosophical system that unites people with the surrounding environment. One of Feng Shui’s most important principles closely relates to the organization and placement of furniture in your room. Depending on the direction of the bed or desk, your concentration level can be affected. So take out your compass, and let’s rearrange your room.
Before arranging your furniture, the location of the dorm room has some influence as well. If your room is on the west side of the dorm, calmness and stability is guaranteed. On the opposite side promises you a new start, or a challenge. If your window is facing towards the center of the campus, also known as the North side, it means that you will be able to gain concentration and focus for academics. If the room faces south, you will benefit from passion and social excitement.
Not only is the direction of your room important, but the furniture and interior decorations are critical. But of all the furniture, the desk is considered to be the most important. If you sit at the desk with the door facing your back, you may feel nervous or paranoid. This will distract you from concentrating on your work, get you into petty arguments, and make you feel so empty inside that you get restless sitting at the desk. Even though your back is facing the wall, the desk should never be facing the door directly. In that particular case, you will read carelessly and study without focusing. Hence, the most ideal position of the desk is diagonally across from the door and your back should be facing the wall. Unfortunately for Dana, their “desks” are nailed into the two brick walls that are infested with Dana bugs.
The beds should be located on the South or the East side of the room. While sitting at the desk, the bed should not be directly in front of you, for you might be tempted to hop into the bed. When lying in the bed, your head should be facing South or East.
The center of the room is like the "heart" of the room. It should not be piled up with litter or junk.
Your room should not be cluttered with distracting items like posters or dolls.
Therefore, if you ever need to reorganize your room, try using the Feng Shui method. Well if you live in Dana, it might be a different situation, for you won’t be able to move your high bed to any other sides of the room nor move your desk. However, there is a way to help Dana students as well. To improve concentration, you should use desk lamps that creates tension. LED lights are closest to natural sunlight, so they will eliminate stress off of your eyes. Try putting a small plant on the desk to get rid of “unfortunate vibes,” according to Feng Shui.
Therefore, if you have an APUSH test tomorrow and feel insecure about the test. Take a break and let Feng Shui take over. Take out the compass and reorganize your room. Who knows?
