Students Power Through Moving
Jensen Lassiter
The newest class of Manchester University students weren't about to let a little rain ruin their fun while moving in on a humid Saturday. While the rain refused to let up for over an hour, students and good-natured parents lugged their belongings up to their dorms tirelessly.
“My mom brought a whole bunch of stuff,” said Victoria Clark-Conrad with a chuckle. “We argued that it would never fit, but it did, luckily. We thought it was going to take forever.
“The rain wasn't too much of a problem for me,” she continued. “Everyone was mostly inside setting up their rooms. Only the families still moving in were affected.”
When sports teams moved in several days earlier, their day went much more smoothly, and with a lot less rain. “I moved in on August 18 along with the rest of the cross country team,” Natasha Niccum said. “My experience with that was pretty great because it was easy just being able to get in and out without [worrying] about stepping on other people’s things in the hallways.”
Having a space to call your own, finally, has many great pros. While the residence hall rooms may be small, the freedoms that go with having one is mighty. “Finally I can just chill and do whatever I want to,” Clark-Conrad said. “I like having independence and privacy. It's great!”
For Niccum, the independence comes as a new, welcome change. “I love it!” she exclaimed. “It is completely different for sure. But I wouldn't change it. I like how I am finding who I am as a person.”
For many, move-in-day is daunting, but when students stay close to home, it's just another day in another building. “It is kind of weird living on campus, while my house is here in town, but I don't think it affects my experience at all,” Niccum said.
The adjustment seems to be pretty easygoing for other students as well. “I adjust pretty well anywhere I go,” Clark-Conrad said. “As long as I have wifi, I'll be fine.”
For many first years, this is their first true step of being on their own. Indeed, homesickness can be a large concern among all students, regardless of their year. “The only thing I miss about home is my cat,” Clark-Conrad said.
While even living in a residence hall close to home, college life and adjusting can be scary. “My SOL group was pretty cool; I made a couple friends there too,” Niccum said. “It really helped that my cousin was part of my group. That made it a little less nerve-racking.”
Moving into a new place, especially surrounded by unfamiliar faces, and becoming engaged within a new community can be challenging. Finding the right fit is crucial in student success, and move-in-day is just the beginning.