Woohoo!! You FINALLY made it to the day you've been both looking forward to and dreading all summer long! After many tears were shed with your family members and close friends, here you are about to start a new chapter of your life, and man is it scary! Similar to many other kids your age, move-in day is just around the corner! As I prepare myself for my second year at Rollins, here are a few things I remember happening on move-in day:
1. The welcome greeting from the RAs and Peer Mentors
Wow. There are so may people here. The people helping me check in are so excited for me to be here - maybe even more excited than I am? Parents are carrying boxes upstairs and RAs and Peer Mentors are running around trying to make sure everything is going well. It looked kind of like this:
My RA was so sweet, and when we met, she was so excited that I was "her resident!"
2. Meeting your roommate for the first time in-person
It's 50% awkward, 25% excited to share a room with this fabulous person you've been paired with, and 25% scared you'll hate each other by the end of the semester. A lot of people actually knew their roommate from their high school or from Summer Orientation, but my roommate was from El Salvador, so meeting beforehand wasn't really an option. It was awkward, but we hugged it out and everything was fine.
I'm so happy she was my roommate freshman year! Our birthdays were three days apart and we got along really well. What I remember most about our experience is when I would come back from my 11 AM class and she'd be napping, so I couldn't do anything too loud or I'd wake her and I thought, Well, why not take a nap too? Sleeping sessions were great. We both took about a three-hour nap after Fox Day, and it was glorious. Also, when one of us was sad, we did everything to make sure the other one was okay. One time, I was crying because my dog had just died and it was finals week, and she immediately hugged me after studying at Club Olin all day.
3. Making trips to Target (sometimes three or four)
Target is both a blessing and a curse for college students. You simultaneously want to buy the whole store and nothing because you aren't sure what you want for your room. Fortunately for me, my dad and I only made two trips to Target throughout the move-in process. I'm out-of-state, so we shipped most of my stuff ahead of time - like my bedding, school supplies, shower kit, bandaids, and other necessities. We went to Target to buy storage boxes, which I had briefly browsed online before leaving home. The first time we got the boxes and the second time we got a lamp because the lamp I ordered (according to my dad) wasn't sufficient enough light for doing homework on my desk, but I'm glad I got it. We also made a trip to Costco for great deals on paper towels, cleaning supplies, and kleenex boxes. I recommend making a list of things to buy before you leave, then it will be easier and faster. But, do be prepared to go there more than once.
4. Lofting your bed
The RAs and Peer Mentors were around to help loft our bed to a certain setting, but my dad and I just decided to put one part of the bed on top of the other, so it was pretty easy, in my experience. After attempting to unloft my bed later in the year, I have decided not to loft my bed ever again because moving the metal bars to set it to a certain height requires a lot of work, help, and time. I gave up and dealt with it for a year. Climbing down the back of the bed is hard enough because the wood isn't that thick, but in the dark and when you really have to go to the bathroom, it's just not worth it. Unless, of course, you put your desk under your bed, but I recommend getting a chair you can relax on so you don't have to climb up to your bed to do that.
5. Getting your R-card
Upload your picture ahead of time (I think you do this on Foxlink), it makes the whole process faster and saves you a lot of embarrassment. Move-in day is in August, which is still one of the hottest months of the year in Florida, so sweat is just going to happen. And trust me, you will be sweating A LOT and it will not be pretty. If you forget to upload a picture, try not to go at a time when there are a lot of people there because you could be waiting a while. If it seems like there're a lot of people, maybe make one of those Target trips and get that out of the way first.
6. Awkward meetings between you and other students or parents
My dad and I stayed in the Alfond Inn throughout move-in process, like a lot of other families. We weren't sure what parking was going to be like (there's not a lot available), so we decided to walk all my stuff over. And when we were walking over to campus, we met this family on the elevator. We introduced ourselves and made conversation about whether Ward was better than McKean blah blah blah. It was nice that people are so willing to talk to you, but I have only seen this kid once on campus. And I don't even remember his name! (Sorry, person I met on the elevator at the Alfond Inn a year ago!)
My friend moved in early for preseason, and after she thought the coast was clear, made her way out of the shower, and ran into a dad. Apparently, he was weird about it. Be aware that some people move in before everyone else, and as a result, it's not strange to see people walking around the halls in a towel. Trust me, you will run into many people on your floor after a shower, just accept it and move on.
7. Once you're all settled in, you realize you need a nap
It has been a long day, and you've been moving boxes and furniture, talking to people, and just about everything else over the course of a few hours. And, man, does your bed look real good right now! You have earned that nap, but Rollins keeps you moving. I think we went to some sort of seminar or we met our RCCs, but we didn't get back to our room early. I showered and went to bed and slept like a baby. Just be prepared, move-in day will wear you out! Stay hydrated, especially with the Florida heat and humidity.
8. The tearful goodbye with your parent or family members that moved you in
I've been away from home for months, but I still cry every single time I have to leave. College is scary. You're starting a new chapter of your life and if you're like most of the other kids here, you have no idea where that chapter will take you. And that's okay! But your parents and family have been the main source of advice and guidance your entire life, and being without that can be hard. Even for students who live in Florida, being on campus and going to a new school is a lot of change. And don't worry, lots of college freshmen cry when parents and family leave. Just let it out. You will feel so much better afterwards and if you're an ugly crier like me, wash your face after and drink some water and you'll be okay. Then make sure you call your mom once a week, so she doesn't worry about you.
To the freshmen moving in soon, you will get through it! And college is so much fun. I can't believe I'm starting my second year at Rollins! Good luck, freshmen. You got it.
