I know better than anyone how stressful starting this new chapter of your life can be, but after attending SOAR, I feel more excited than ever. This two-day experience was exactly the reassuarance that I needed to remind me that I made the right decision, and give me a sneak peak to what the next four years will have in store for me! Amazing people, a staff that genuinely cares, and a campus almost too beautiful for eyes.

Whether you've already attended SOAR or you're waiting anxiously for your session to roll around, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that this experience officially welcomes us to the Spartan family, and I couldn't be prouder to call this place my home.

1. Introducing yourself to people seems scary at first, but it’s worth it

Everyone’s a stranger at first! And chances are, most of your fellow SOAR-goers are just as nervous as you are. After the first few introductions, you’ll be plopping down beside new people at dinner or the Spartan Experience, and opening up will become easier and easier!

2. Keeping an open mind is essential

The purpose of college is to open ourselves up to new experiences, and overall broaden our horizons. How do you know that you won’t like something if you’ve never tried it? Positive thinking can change your entire experience, and that’s something you need to remember.

3. Asking questions is extremely encouraged

I swear, I must’ve asked my SOS the same question a thousand times, because I still wasn’t quite understanding what they were saying. But please, if you’re unsure, ask! The Spartan Orientation Staff is there to help you in any way you need, so take them up on their offers!

4. No matter how well you think you’ve memorized Fountain View, you’re still going to get lost at lunch on the second day

The first challenge of meal time was resisting the urge to lay out by the fountain out front! Once I peeled myself away and went inside, the real struggles began. With a plate of pasta in one hand, and my drink and schedule in the other, I think I walked around the center median 30 times before finally seeing my group in the far corner. But it was totally fine, and I most certainly picked up additional food during my adventure.

5. Finding your way around campus is a lot easier than you thought it would be

After getting acclimated to the campus, you start to expect to see Minerva as you approach the back entrance of the EUC, or the fountain in front of the dining hall. You remember which trees give off the best shade during afternoon downtime, and a general sense of where the bathrooms are located (because we all know that this is the most important part). It’s overwhelming at first, but it gets easier! After your two days at SOAR you’ll have a good sense of direction. Imagine how you’ll know the campus like the back of your hand by the end of fall semester!

6. Seeing your residence hall in person for the first time is an extremely intense experience

Seeing the hall I’m going to be living on, touching my door, meeting my neighbors -- it was so much more emotional than I expected it to be. Without realizing it, I was seeing flashes of move-in day, haunted house excitement, and all of the rumored traditions my building has in store for me.

7. There are so many different resources here for you, not just during SOAR or move-in week, but every single day

Whether you need help getting organized, you get lost on your way to class, or you need a tutor, there’s a place for you to go and get the help you need. All you have to do is ask, and the sooner, the better. Everyone is here for you.

8. UNC Greensboro puts their students first

At a school our size, sometimes it’s hard to feel like anything more than your Student ID number and your GPA. But at UNCG, students and faculty alike go above and beyond expectations to always make you feel at home, and help you in any way you need.

9. You are already part of the Spartan family

No questions asked. This community doesn’t discriminate, and loves you just the same, no matter who you are or where you come from. In the two days I spent on campus, I felt more at home than I ever had anywhere before. I made friends at SOAR that will definitely last into the coming year, and beyond. Being immersed in something so foreign is unnerving at first, but once you dive in, the nerves turn into excitement, and you miss campus as soon as you leave.

So, my fellow classmates, do not fret. You are never alone, and there will forever be an abundance of people who are more than willing to help you get where you need to be. Have a little faith in your family, the Spartan family, because we stick together in times like this. Enjoy this time on campus -- move-in day will be here before you know it!