Moving out of your college dorm and back home is an emotional and stressful time. It's emotional because you have to part ways with all of your friends for the summer and you will miss them. It's stressful because in between studying for final exams you have to pack up everything that you own inside of your tiny little room. If you're moving yourself out at the end of the semester, like I had to do, it's even more stressful because not only do you need to pack, you need to figure out how you are going to pack your belongings into your car (or truck). Based on my own experience, I've noticed these different stages of moving out of my dorm.
1. "I can just pack the little things" stage.
I've noticed that this comes right after classes end, and you know that you have to pack but you don't want to pack everything so that way you don't have to unpack if you need anything. Things packed in this stage usually include sticky notes, un-used flash cards, and the 20 pens and pencils you never used over the semester.
2. "I have one more final, I should probably pack at least something" stage.
The calm before the storm when you realize that you have one exam left before you actually need to pack something. Usually this is when you realize that you're only going to be on campus one day (or less, depending on when you leave) and leftover pairs of shoes and clothes get packed.
3. "I'm done with finals but I'm not leaving until the morning, I can just pack then" stage.
Because let's face it, you'd rather have a fun night hanging out with your friends while you still can before you have to slave away over suitcases and bins packing. Besides, who really wants to pack after enduring a final?
4. "Holy crap I have so much to pack and I just want to go home" stage.
When the clock is ticking for you to be out of your dorm or before your parents pick you up, you realize that you actually need to get cracking and pack up your room. This is typically the panic stage if you're someone like me who hates packing.
5. "Oh my gosh, how am I going to fit this in my tiny car?!" stage.
Once you finish packing up everything, if you're driving yourself home, this stage follows. I know that I felt this once I realized how much stuff I actually had and once I started packing up my car, getting all my stuff in my car was like playing a game of Tetris.
6. "Thank goodness it all fits!" stage.
Realizing that you can make it all fit, you can now qualify yourself as an expert packer.
7. "Crap, now I have to unpack all of this" stage.
Once you get home and you get it all in and think you can relax, reality hits you in the face when you realize that you need to get it all unpacked and put away.
You may be freaking out now about moving back home, but don't worry. Somehow I know that you can get it all to fit in your car or your parents car. If I can stuff my trunk and backseat of my Volvo Sedan with everything I own, then I believe everyone else can find a way. Good luck!
