I recently had the unfortunate and embarrassing experience of locking myself out of my room. For most people, the option of calling your roommate is there, but since I don’t have a roommate, I had to call the RA phone.
Though locking yourself out of your room is not the worst thing that could happen, it is definitely a circumstance best avoided. Luckily for those of us in residence, there are many resources available to help us remember our key card.
One of the most useful tools for remembering key cards are lanyards, which we have access to at the bookstore and the Security Office. The lanyards at the bookstore come to about $10-$12, taxes included.
This may seem like a lot of money for a cheap-looking necklace-like thing, but it is a worthwhile investment. The Security Office on campus offers lanyards for free,, but they have a tendency to wear off your barcode, so be aware of that.
Obviously a lanyard isn’t a fool-proof method of remembering your key card, but a long, colourful string attached to it is a helpful tool. However, if you are like me and have forgotten your key when it was attached to your lanyard, there’s got to be a couple of other things we can do to remember our key cards.
Another method you can try is hanging your lanyard on your doorknob. As you go to open your door to leave, it will either fall off or dangle against it, reminding you that you have to bring it with you.
Keeping your key card—and its handy lanyard— on a stand beside your door might be useful, too. If you’re like me and look around to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything before you leave, seeing your brightly coloured lanyard in a pile by the door would be a good way to remember to grab it.
Putting your key card in your phone case is another way to keep it close to you. Most people don’t forget their phones or other mobile devices in their rooms, in all honesty they are like a lifeline. As a residence student, especially those with a meal plan, your key card is also a lifeline, so combining your key card with your phone is a good idea.
Of course, there will be days where you may leave your phone behind to charge, or to have a break from the outside world. Simply try to be conscious of when you decide not to take your phone, so that you don’t end up locked out with no way to contact anyone for help.
If all else fails, keep the key card with you at all times. Sleep with it around your neck or keep it clutched in your hand. Don’t let it out of your sight to ensure that you will always have it.
No matter how you approach this situation, eventually it will become completely natural to grab your key before you head to class, to the Commons, or wherever.
Even though it may not be ideal, the RAs are always available to help you out of a tough situation; all you have to do is swallow your pride.