Honestly, who likes moving in? It's one big hassle of packing, buying a whole slew of stuff, and trying not to break anything during the actual move. It's a very stressful process, and for college students, it's one that has to be endured twice a year. Taking this into consideration, there definitely is a discrepancy in the process of moving in when it comes to freshmen versus seniors. When you're a freshmen, moving into your dorm is an event. Senior year...well, you just sorta go with it.
Packing:
Freshmen year, you begin to pack up your college stuff waaaaaaay in advance. I remember just a few weeks after I graduated high school, I was putting together a pile of things to take in the corner of my room. I had stuff organized by category. I was on top of it, man. Also, I felt the need to bring anything and everything that I owned. What if, for some reason, I suddenly wanted to wear that shirt I hadn't worn in a year and a half?! I couldn't leave it behind!
Senior year is more of just haphazardly throwing stuff into bags a day or two before move-in. "Do I need this?" you might ask yourself. "Eh, nah." Then you throw it back into your closet and keep it moving. I think "downsizing" is the best word to use for packing for senior year.
Greeting your roommate:
The first year of college, you might be very hesitant about meeting your roommate for the first time. You want to make a good impression. You definitely don't want to come across as weird. You may watch your language around them for the first few weeks. (I can personally attest to this). It's walking on eggshells with your freshmen year roommate.
Then you swing into your last year with absolutely no regard. At this point, you'e hopefully living with your best friends, so they know exactly what they're getting. They've been around your distaste for wearing pants while in the room, your potty mouth, and your ability to sleep through almost anything. They know you, so you don't need to be cautious about them anymore. Even if you don't know them, you probably don't care as much, because honestly, it's senior year. Who cares?
Unpacking:
Freshman year, unpacking goes along with being super organized and put together. Your pants have to go here and the shoes go there and so on and so forth. It's a very contained event, and you definitely do it all in one shot.
Senior year you just sorta unpack whenever you feel like it. You probably still have a bag or two to unpack that you haven't yet. What's the rush?
Missing home:
Getting to college for the first time might leave you pretty homesick. I remember my first year, I had a difficult adjustment period. I missed home a lot. I went home most weekends. I didn't want to be at school all the time.
Now, as a senior, I can never get to school fast enough. Who knew I'd ever want school to start earlier. I hardly ever want to go home because my university is now my home, my friends now my family. If I could live at college all year long that would honestly be my most ideal situation.
