It's coming to that time of the year again: dorm move-outs. This is a bittersweet time of the year. We are filled with mixed emotions of how to react to being "done" with another year of our school lives. For those who are graduating, this can be a reality check that life as you know it is going to change. Here are all the emotions on what to expect when moving out this year.
Stage 1: The excitement of summer!
Right now you're probably super pumped with the fact that you'll finally be done with school dragging on your shoulders. All you can think about during this stage is what you'll be doing this summer. The idea of finals haven't even hit you yet, but it's close enough to get your excitement up.
Stage 2: The "Oh crap this is happening"—finals are real, and I haven't even packed a single item away.
So it's actually starting to hit you that finals are here, and you haven't even started to pack yet. This is also known as "panic mode," where you freak out because you wonder how the heck you'll ever get everything finished by the time you're scheduled to move out.
Stage 3: Looking for random trash bags or cardboard boxes to load all your stuff into. At this point, anything goes.
You are starting the process of packing up, and you realize you have absolutely nothing to store all your crap in. You wonder how you manage to keep making this same mistake every year.
Stage 4: Retrieving memories.
Now you're packing up everything including that name tag you wore during your first weekend and the feelings are all coming back. Now it's starting to hit you that you this year is actually over. You start tearing up a little, but you're still cool because you remember that school will be out for the summer, and you won't have a care in the world.
Stage 5: Okay, do I really need this?
Chances are no, but you'll keep it anyway. That magnet you found with the list of campus events for the year is pretty pointless, but you can't seem to let it go because it's "so college."
Stage 6: Now, how do I carry all this into my car, let alone get it to fit in my car...?
After taking several days to pack, you just now wonder how is everything going to fit in your car, and chances are you are also just now realized that you can't carry about half of those boxes by yourself. Now would be a great time to have a strong boyfriend.
Stage 7: Learning how to shove the past year of your life into every crevice of the car and still be able to legally drive home.
Or illegally because you can't see whatsoever out of the rear-view mirror.
Stage 8: The final goodbye.
You realize that you'll never be able to repeat this school year ever again, or if you're a senior this is it. You go around and say goodbye to every little thing, the stain on your floor, the neighbors that kept you up so many nights, your best friends and your favorite spot on campus. As excited as you were to get out of school for the summer, you're going to miss this place. And you're probably going to cry because you are not going to see them or live with them again. This change is going to be really hard. You know that you'll always hold those memories you carried with you this past year.
Stage 9: Why was I so excited to get out of there? I'm actually missing school. What's wrong with me?
You'll soon learn that college life and home life are very different. You don't have as much freedom to go hang out with your friends whenever you please or stay out as late as you like when you live at home. After a while, you'll realize that being at home makes you miss being at school. Don't rush your college years because before you know it you're moving out for good. Enjoy the ride, and don't forget to learn from the mistakes you make moving out every year.
