The alarm sounds “Like a small boat on the ocean…” at 5 a.m. and I wake to realize that it is August 20th, and it is move in day. My day starts off with me shutting off my alarm, getting dressed and packing the car up with my parents for the three-hour drive to Saint Leo University. When finally arriving at Saint Leo University and pull into the Marmion/Snyder dorm parking lot, which was up hill from the main campus. We go and park, and we are met by a group of energetic students wearing green, they are known as the orientation leaders. The orientation leaders help my parents, and I got all my stuff to my dorm and helped me know where my dorm was.

This was the first time I saw where my dorm was, but there was a problem that occurred – I didn’t have my dorm key. I then turned around and went back downstairs in the Lion’s Den and got my dorm key and meet my RA; her name was Kat. Finally, on my way back up to my dorm, I was able to open the door and see what it looked like. It was so bare and clean I couldn’t wait to make it my own with the help of my parents and the year to come. Also, there was a great view from my room of Lake Jovita.

Next thing I know I see the girl I have been texting and got to meet over the summer walk into the door. It was great we got to get our rooms in order and our parents got to talk. My roommate and I then departed from our parents to start our journey as adults. Then we started our day by going to get our computers and getting to meet our orientation leaders along with a great group of people new to the school just like us. My roommate and I then got separated because we were in two different orientation groups. We then went off with our orientation leaders and they gave us notebooks, and we played introduction games. Then all the orientation groups had to sit through a presentation by residence life about the expectations of living on campus in a freshman dorm and the rules to follow.

Then we were all dismissed and went back to our dorm rooms to get ready for Club Leo, which was in the board rooms in the student community center. We headed down the hill to Club Leo, and it was fun. We got glow stick bracelets and necklaces and got to experience meeting more new students and getting to dance and socialize with them. At the end of the night, my roommate and I ended up meeting some great people and staying connected to them. My roommate and I then went back to our room, showered, put some of our stuff in order in our room and talked about our day and what we expected to come with the rest of orientation week. It was a great night and hopeful the new students to come get to experience it like I did.