Preferring One Another

Here at college, I can see a tendency in people to be so "self" focused, that they forget that other people exist as well. Sure, they might know in their head that other people live in the dorm, other people are in the library when they are, other people eat in the dining hall; but when it comes to practicing out this knowledge, I fear many college students fall short of where they should be. A verse that keeps coming back to me during my times of frustrations with dorm life, work in cafeteria, or studying in the library is Romans 12:10: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." I feel if people (especially believers) would put this verse into practice, everyone would get along so much better. So, I have a few little ideas about how college students, as well as most other people, can prefer one another.

Library Courtesy:
1. Phone calls: take them outside where it won't disturb those who are trying to be studious
2. Long conversations: use study rooms

Dining Hall Courtesy:
1. Clean up your trash
2. Drop your tray, cup, plate, etc. on the tray return please, don't just leave it on the table for someone else to clean up
3. Griddle: keep the temp at 7/8, so not to burn food onto the griddle b/c it is very hard to clean off
4. Griddle: melt cheese on meat, not meat on cheese. This can result in #3.
5. Say thank you to the servers, checkers, and dish room personnel. They like to know that their work is appreciated.

Dorm:
1. Conversations: in rooms, not in the hall way b/c the sound travels
2. Running: just don't do it
3. Piano in basement: please use headphones (first floor CAN hear you)
4. Second floor: please tread softly upon your floor. It can have a tendency to sound like a herd of elephants to the people down below you
5. After dorm lock/ devos: please keep the noise to a minimum b/c people are trying to study or sleep and your noise can be a disturbance
6. Weekend nights (Esp Saturday nights): Please respect people who are trying to rest by being quiet in the halls. Some people need to get up at 6 AM (or earlier) for church. I once had a roommate who had to be up at 4 AM for Sunday church. It's kinda hard to get adequate sleep when people are up yelling in the halls at 12-1 AM. Side note: staying up late on a Saturday could induce sleep in the Sunday AM service, so get sleep!

General tips:
1. Smile! You don't know whose day you might brighten when you smile. Plus, smiling makes you seem more approachable and friendly. I know some people who are very friendly, but hardly ever smile, so people don't know they are friendly and sweet.
2. Say Hello to people you may not know. It may just brighten their day.

I know most of these are pet peeves of mine, but I honestly think they are just common courtesy. Please try to prefer one another in love. :)