{"id":360236,"date":"2026-07-31T13:49:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/alabama\/what-to-pack-in-a-southern-college-survival-kit\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T13:49:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:49:24","slug":"what-to-pack-in-a-southern-college-survival-kit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=360236","title":{"rendered":"What to Pack in a Southern College Survival Kit"},"content":{"rendered":"


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This post may contain affiliate links. I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through my link.<\/em><\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re sending your child to college in Alabama\u2014or any SEC school around the Southeast\u2014there are a few things they probably won\u2019t think to pack, especially if you ain\u2019t from around here. I\u2019m here to give you some friendly advice from your favorite Alabama mom. <\/p>\n

Fun fact: My husband used to manage a team of student workers at the University of Alabama, and he once had to explain to a kid that they had heartburn because they\u2019d literally never experienced it before and didn\u2019t know what to do. <\/p>\n

He has some crazy stories about all the things he had to explain to 18-year-olds who had never lived away from home.<\/p>\n

With our son headed to Auburn in just a few weeks, I have been trying to prepare him for all the things he may not know and gather all the things he may not realize he needs. So, today I\u2019m sharing some of that wisdom here. These are the items I think every Southern college freshman should have before move-in day.<\/p>\n

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Most colleges offer great student health services on campus. But what happens at 3:00 a.m. when they wake up with heartburn for the first time and don\u2019t know what to do? <\/p>\n

One of the best purchases you can make is a large portable medicine organizer for dorms, to keep everything in one place. When your student isn\u2019t feeling well, they shouldn\u2019t have to dig through drawers looking for medicine. <\/p>\n

This clear plastic medicine box for dorm rooms <\/a>is sturdy, large enough to hold all the essentials, but has small organizing compartments to keep things separated. If you want to give them the true Alabama experience, you might just consider a tackle box since it\u2019s basically the same thing. HA. <\/p>\n

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All jokes aside for a minute, if your student is coming from another part of the country, this section is SO IMPORTANT!<\/p>\n

There are two things your kids MUST know about springtime in Alabama. <\/p>\n

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  1. First, learn exactly What to do and where to go during a tornado<\/a>.
    Watch     this video<\/a>, and get to know James Spann IMMEDIATELY. Add the ABC 33\/40 weather app <\/a>to their phone and yours with weather alerts set to turn on 24\/7 for their zip code. <\/li>\n
  2. Second, prepare them for pollen season\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Many people don\u2019t realize that Alabama has some of the highest tree pollen counts in the country, especially from pine, oak and hickory trees. Even students who\u2019ve never dealt with seasonal allergies can suddenly find themselves miserable during spring semester. <\/p>\n

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    Despite being born and raised here, my daughter has extreme seasonal allergies. Like, eyes-swollen-shut severe allergies. We got her allergy tested, and her biggest triggers are oak & hickory trees, and ragweed. All things we have an abundance of here in our great state. Her doctor advised her to take TWO Zyrtec daily during the worst of allergy season. Always talk to your doctor first, of course, but that was surprising news to me so I thought I would share it with y\u2019all. (This isn\u2019t medical advice.)<\/p>\n

    Here are the allergy meds I always keep on hand for our family. <\/p>\n

    Just so you know\u2026 <\/em>Pollen season usually begins in late Feb\/early March and lasts through April, so stock up now before it begins to fall!<\/p>\n

    My Family\u2019s Must-Have Allergy Medicine for Alabama Pollen Season<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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    Southern Soul Food Stomach Ache Relief<\/h2>\n

    College students eat and drink, um\u2026 differently<\/em> than they do at home. Especially<\/em> in the South!<\/p>\n

    In Alabama, they\u2019ll discover the greatest white-sauced barbecue on the planet, meat-n-three inside of gas stations, and if they\u2019re headed to Tuscaloosa\u2026 Taco Casa. Trust me on this one. I\u2019ve seen some things, and they\u2019re gonna need some things. <\/p>\n

    A Northerners Guide to Southern Food Packing List:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    College kids are gonna get sick, especially when they all start sharing germs in enclosed spaces. These first aid basics can save an unnecessary trip to the pharmacy if they wake up with a fever at 3 AM. <\/p>\n

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    These are the things students may not realize they need until they suddenly need them.<\/p>\n

    *Listen, y\u2019all. I\u2019ve gotta explain something to you.<\/p>\n

    I know this may sound crazy, but at some point during your child\u2019s college career in the South, they\u2019re probably going to get invited to do something completely random in the middle of the night. Around here, that could mean anything from chilling around a bonfire in a cow pasture, to frog-gigging, or heading out on the river to spotlight alligator gar. <\/p>\n

    You may think I\u2019m exaggerating, but my niece\u2019s boyfriend went to college in Florida, and he recently told me about a spur-of-the-moment midnight iguana hunting trip. That\u2019s just a normal day the South. It\u2019s what we do down here for fun.<\/p>\n

    The point is, your kids are going to be exposed to experiences they\u2019ve probably never imagined. <\/p>\n

    Some Bubba is going to come along and take them dove hunting in a cornfield at 5am (why are we awake) or on a kayaking quest to find elusive Cahaba lilies\u2026 <\/p>\n

    \u2026 or snorkling to save the endangered Tulotoma snails, <\/p>\n

    \u2026 or a random weekend road trip to the Coon Dog Cemetery, <\/p>\n

    \u2026 or late-night spelunking with Desoto and the Dismalites <\/p>\n

    \u2026 or some other uniquely Alabama outdoor adventure. <\/p>\n

    Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states in the country, and just about every kid who grew up here spent time on a river, lake, or in the woods. <\/p>\n

    Your sweet Northern child has NO IDEA what they\u2019re walking into. But be prepared\u2014they\u2019re about to collect some adventure stories they\u2019ll be telling for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n

    Send bug spray, mama.<\/p>\n

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    My son also carries a Swiss Army knife on him with scissors, a screwdriver, tweezers, and a nail file. Just be sure to check your university\u2019s housing policies before packing any pocketknife, but I am gonna assume most colleges in Alabama will be OK with them carrying a pocketknife. Country boy can survive, and all that. <\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s a few other things to consider: <\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t laugh at those last two\u2026 <\/p>\n

    If your kid is planning to rush a fraternity or sorority at an SEC school, there\u2019s something you need to understand: things are different down here. While there are PLENTY of rednecks in this state, there is also a LOT of generational wealth. <\/p>\n

    My husband\u2019s office was near Sorority Row at the University of Alabama, and during back-to-school season he watched girls pull up in Maseratis and Lamborghinis while their dads directed crews of men in moving trucks to furnish their dorm rooms. It really is that serious.<\/p>\n

    Some of these kids grew up in very different worlds than us normal folks. They wore smocked jon-jons in preschool, attended private schools in starched flat-front khakis and tucked-in Polo shirts, spent summers in Europe, and knew from birth they\u2019d be expected to attend their granddaddy\u2019s alma mater.<\/p>\n

    Roll Tide. War Eagle. Go Dawgs.<\/p>\n

    That part doesn\u2019t really matter. What matters is the game of life they\u2019ve instinctually been taught to play\u2014and the polish they know how to present, both on their shoes and in their personality.<\/p>\n

    Whether you agree with it or not, many of them were raised with very conservative Southern traditions and expectations. Family reputation matters, and going out in public in wrinkled pants or scuffed-up loafers ain\u2019t it.<\/p>\n

    So here\u2019s my advice: teach your children to know when to lean into that old-school Southern charm just a little bit while they are here.<\/p>\n

    They don\u2019t have to use them all the time, but explain social cues\u2013 when it\u2019s appropriate to use manners and be on their best behavior. Watch a YouTube etiquette class so they know what a formal place setting looks like. And believe it or not, dropping a well-timed \u201cYes, Sir\u201d or \u201cYes Ma\u2019am\u201d can go a long way for their college career. <\/p>\n

    Also, remember when it comes time to graduate and get a job, fancy monogrammed thank-you cards will go a long way for their actual career. <\/p>\n

    Iron the pants. Shine the shoes. Write the Thank You notes.<\/p>\n

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    Finally, if there is one item every dorm room needs, it\u2019s this. <\/p>\n

    Did you know as of 2023, Narcan is available to purchase over the counter<\/a>? <\/p>\n

    If you don\u2019t know, Narcan (also called naloxone) can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose while emergency responders are on the way. We\u2019ve all heard heartbreaking stories of accidental fentanyl overdoses and ways your children could be exposed without even knowing about it. <\/p>\n

    I pray they never need it.<\/p>\n

    Hopefully they never even SEE it used.<\/p>\n

    But if a friend, roommate, or classmate experiences an overdose, having Narcan nearby\u2014and knowing how to use it\u2014could literally save a life. <\/p>\n

    They sell Narcan on Amazon,<\/a> so you can get it delivered right top the privacy of your doorstep. <\/p>\n

    Before your student leaves for college:<\/p>\n