Dear over-excited freshman who can't wait to move in,
Move-in day is approaching fast and we all know you already have a countdown till when you are set to move in. You may have your roommate already or still searching for the "perfect" one. This is a stressful time but trust me, everything will work out for the best. Once move-in day comes, all the nerves will fade away and you will finally be on your own. I remember my move-in day like it was yesterday. I packed up my minivan the night before and got everything to just barely fit. The next day came and I could not contain my happiness. We were off on our three-hour trip and all I could think about is how I am going to arrange my room. I was also thinking who was going to be my neighbor and what the room would look like once my roommate and I were finished setting up. Once I stepped through my door, I knew my life was going to change for the better. I was ready for all the challenges and all the new experiences I would go through as soon as I was done setting up my room.
That small, 16'x12' room will become your new home and soon into the year, you will start calling your room home. The first couple weeks will be weird living with someone and hearing all the noises around you, but you will soon start to appreciate it. You will miss the late night conversations with your roommate that will help you fall asleep when you are back at home. You will not be able to fall asleep without hearing the rattling of the vents that soon become something that you don't even realize is there. Appreciate the floormates who bother to say "hey" to you when you see them around and appreciate the RAs who make living with others the best it can be. You'll realize how much you will love having your friends live right down the hall from you and being able to hang out whenever. This means you can have multiple closets instead of just one and always have someone go to when you need to talk.
I would've never thought that living in a small dorm room would let me make friendships that last a lifetime. Being able to connect with others on the floor makes those stressful nights worth it. There is always someone willing to help you with your homework and someone who is always down to get food with you after a rough night. You and your floormates will become a family who are always looking out for each other. Appreciate the time you have in your small room because in a blink of an eye, freshman year will be over. Good luck in your decision and remember that everything will work out for the best.
From,
The freshman who moves out too soon
