It’s that time of the year again…
We have received our final paycheck from the 2-month job we somehow managed to keep all summer long. We have made all of the last-minute pit stops to our favorite hometown food restaurants. We have said all of our teary-eyed goodbyes to friends, families, and pets as if we are never going to see them again. And we have packed up all of our lifelong belongings into a single car to the point where sitting comfortably for 3.5 hours is completely out of the question. As bittersweet as this sounds, nothing is more exciting than returning to a house with 40 of your closest friends (well, sisters) in a city where drink specials are offered every single day of the week.
Moving into the sorority house for the first time is as stressful as it sounds. You will experience every type and form of emotion you have ever gone through in these short (but dreadful) few hours. Fortunately enough, most of you have already mastered the art of moving into the cardboard box-sized dorm rooms in the midst of crying families, broken elevators, and heavy lifting of futons and television sets. Try to picture the move into a sorority as less dramatic and with a few extra girls, parents, and Lily Print duffle bags. Luckily enough, I have moved in and out of a sorority house many times and know how to make the most out of this extravaganza.
#1 Leave as early as possible, even if that means before the sun rises. As unappealing as this sounds, trust me, the earlier you leave the less chaotic it will be. You will be one of the first people at the house and you will feel so much better being all unpacked before others have even started!
#2 Make your dad, brother, boyfriend, or any male figure come along for extra help. Even though it is your mom’s duties to help organize, set up, and decorate your new room, it is your dad’s duties to haul everything out of the car and up a flight of stairs or two. They may not be much help with what poster to hang up or what color flower to place in your vase, but they do have the extra strength to carry all of your dresses, heels, and purses…and from what I am used to, there’s a lot.
#3 Have patience. No one expects you to tackle moving into one house with 40+ other people in a perfect fashion. While it is hard work, the key is to have patience… even if this means driving around the block seven times just to find a parking spot within walking distance of the sorority house.
#4 If it is too hectic for you at any time, feel free to take a break and visit the Coralville mall. Chances are you forgot something at home, whether it’s your favorite pair of jean shorts or something as simple as a toothbrush. Rather than wasting any time, now is your chance to take a 5-minute trip out to the mall to purchase any last minute items at Target or have a quick meal at Panera!
#5 Coordinate with your roommates. Whether you will be living in a double, triple, or quad, it is very important to plan together who will bring what. Of course you won’t have everything all perfectly together and that’s totally fine! Before visiting the mall, as mentioned earlier, or a local convenience store on campus, divide up items equally to avoid any fuss later on. Recommended items include decorations, (posters, canvases, pictures) full-length mirror, stepping stool, rug(s), and portable speakers.
Good luck!
