Single Ladies Survival Guide

As a student pursuing a master's in publications design, I've spent many long nights at UB. I always leave by 11pm because I'm terrified that my car will be locked inside the parking garage, leaving me with no other option than curling up on a concrete bench in Pearlstone Park (has anyone else heard that it is called Crack Park?) for the night.

Since I work at the BSO, I already pay for a monthly pass to park in the Meyerhoff garage, so I just leave my car there and walk to and from UB. While this is convenient, I always end up walking alone back to the garage, late at night, in the dark, on the streets of Baltimore, passed dark alleys, etc. I've heard of cars getting broken into, people getting mugged, and as of late, people getting the crap beat out of them by high school aged kids at this Mt. Vernon club. Besides the fact that I'm a 5ft tall female (and without saying a weight, let's just say that if I was stuck in a hurricane, I would be airborne), I'm also extremely paranoid and easily frightened. So how do I manage the 10-minute walk (five if I walk really fast) back to the garage? You might not want to know. But for anyone else out there as paranoid as I am, here is your single ladies (or dudes) survival guide:

1. Don't carry mace, a knife, a samurai sword, etc. If you fumble with it, the attacker will just take it and use it against you.
2. Grip your car key in between your pointer and middle fingers. So you can punch out the attackers eyes, of course.
3. If you're uneasy about the person you are about to pass on the street, growl and/or talk loudly to yourself. No one wants to bother a someone who is arguing with themselves.
4. Talk on your cell phone. It's usually too late to actually call someone, so just pretend someone is on the other line and you've got a great story to tell. No one will try to get you if they think you can scream for help to whoever is on the phone.
5. Hold your book bag by the arm strap like its a sack of potatoes and get ready to swing.

Do I take my own advice? I stand by #1; I resort to #2 if I'm not holding something heavy; I've done #3 twice (the last time the guy was another student and I think I scared him); I always do #4; I'd be stupid not to do #5.

Is this overload? Maybe. Am I super paranoid? Definitely. But there's no harm in it. I'm just risking embarrassment in the name of safety.

What do you do to stay safe when walking back to your car?

Oh yeah, this is my first post--hope you've enjoyed it. Find out more about me here.

safe? not safe? or just home?

Many people may think that the area that the university is located in is dangerous and unsafe at times... well, what city isn't? I've grown up my entire life in Baltimore and the car break ins and any other misdemeanor is honestly nothing new to me. Some people may feel unsafe to walk to their cars alone at night (I'll admit, my boyfriend does come and pick me up from class and take me to my car, because he's worried about my safety, he's such a sweetheart!)... but for the most part I feel fine by myself. Yes... where I normally park, I have seen, on numerous occasions, broken glass from a car window... but hey, it happens and that is what insurance is for. Maybe if their were more student parking garages that could have video surveillance, then it would make people feel safer? Oh well... I guess all anyone can really do is what common sense tells them to... be alert and mindful of your surroundings.