Tis the week, move-in week.

I have been looking forward to move-in day since the first day of my senior year in high school, but the closer it got, the more I dreaded it. I'm ecstatic to be heading to college, but the thought of packing has been eating away at me for months. If you know me, then you know that I'm a shopaholic, and as much as I hate to admit it, I am very attached to my things. I got done packing a couple days ago, and well, here is how it went:

Stage 1: I emptied out all my closets/drawers.

I literally just grabbed everything and put it on the floor in a pile. This was definitely the easiest part of the process because it did not require any heavy thinking.

Stage 2: I decided what I want to take, and what I want to leave behind.

This was difficult for me, as it is for many people, because by nature we are materialistic. I had to keep reminding myself that I am sharing a room with two other people, so taking everything would be the worst possible decision I can make. I ended up leaving nearly 50 percent of my things behind. Which in turn had a good outcome because it gave me the opportunity to donate my things to people who actually need them.

Stage 3: I cried hysterically because I want to take everything, but I can't.

LOL, right? You may think I am joking, but this actually happened. I was devastated by the site of plastic bags filled with things I had to bid farewell to.

Stage 4: I sorted my things.

I like bottoms separate from tops, and workout clothes in a completely different category. I spent a good amount of time working on segregating my clothes. I was not as picky about how my shoes were to be packed, but I definitely did not want to intermix them with my clothes. When it came down to "stuff"—shampoo, body lotions, detergent, sheets, bedspread, etc.—I decided to separate them on the basis of what they are used for. I am satisfied with how my method panned out, but it might not work for everyone.

Stage 5: I packed and panicked.

Once everything was sorted and folded, I began packing. The panic did not begin until my friends pointed out that I was overpacking. I did not understand how this was possible considering I had given up so much of my stuff. Despite their advice, and pressuring to leave more things behind, I decided to take what I had originally planned to take.

Stage 6: I had a service for all the things that didn't make it into my bags.

No, this did not actually happen. I love my stuff, but my mourning was enough to make my love known to them. I suggest that everyone who had to leave things behind have a mourning period of at least three days, but no more than a week.

Packing for college is not the greatest experience you will have, but make the best out of it. College will be a great time, and the dorms will not be horrendous as long as you do not take an overload of things. Trust those who warn you that you will not need as much as you think.