You graduated high school only a few months ago and just like that you're already packing for your freshman year of college. It seems like the summer went by faster than you could've ever expected. You're filled with excitement but also apprehensiveness as you're not sure exactly what to expect. Move In Day is finally here and you're left with only one more thing to complete the waiting process; packing. It's weird to be leaving the house you've probably lived in for the past 18 years, and taking all of your stuff with you. As we gather and store away all our belongings we basically go through a whole roller coaster of emotions.
1. Disbelief
The fact that you're already a high school graduate and you're packing up to move into college is insane. You swear you were like 5 just yesterday. How did time fly by this fast?2. Nostalgia
No one really warns you how much you are going to reminisce on the past as you're going through eighteen years worth of your stuff. All the pictures, old toys, journals, stuffed animals, etc. remind you of the "good ole' days". It makes you feel emotional about leaving and puts a hinge in the ease of moving out.
3. Frustration
As you recruit your little brother or sister to come sit on your suitcase so that it can just barely zip, you feel very overwhelmed. You've been at this for hours, maybe even days. You wish all your stuff would just magically transport into your dorm and unpack itself.
4. Paranoia
You can ask as many people as you want, "what did you bring to college?" or "how much stuff did you bring?", but you're very likely to get a different answer from everyone. It honestly just depends on who you are as a person. There's minimalists, hoarders, and the people in-between. You'll find yourself constantly worrying if you brought enough things, or even too much.
5. Fear
College can be seriously intimidating. As you load the car up to start your new journey you start thinking about all these different factors. You're going to be in a totally new environment with complete strangers, for the most part. You'll have new classmates and teachers, a new room, and be eating new food. As scary as this is we all have to go through this process at some point in our lives and I promise you'll survive.
6. F.O.M.O.
You will inevitably experience FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), even before you get on campus. As you pack up and say goodbye to your family, friends, and pets, you can't help but wonder how homesick you're going to get and when the next time you'll be home is.
7. Anticipation
There's a lot of unknown factors weighing on your shoulders as you compile your life's possessions like; "Am I going to like living there?" "Will I get along with my roommate?" "Are my professors going to be nice?" "Am I going to make new friends?". Sadly, no one can tells you these answers, so you just have to hang in there and figure it out on your own.
