Bed sheets: check. Computer: check. Clothes: check. The rest of my materialistic items I can’t live without: check!
I loaded up my little red car all by myself, filled up with gas and headed to Commerce for a semester of classes, work and memories I will most likely never forget.
I pulled into my new residential parking lot straddling a huge pothole. The big red brick building looked lonesome and the parking lot was dead. After lord knows how many loads from my car to my dorm, I finally took a break and sat down on the little blue chair in my jail cell sized room.
My first night here I hardly got any sleep, considering I had no pillow! When I woke up in the morning, I went straight to the bathroom door only to find I was locked out. Grabbed my keys, ran downstairs and found a sweet, young woman to help me. When I told her my dilemma, she responded with, “So basically you’re telling me you have to pee,” which made me laugh.
As a junior transfer student, I am learning a whole new campus, new people and how things work around here. Just about everyone I have met is welcoming and inviting.
When I moved here last week, I not only got a new “home,” but a new job, new school and I have met so many new people. It’s amazing how moving an hour away from home can seem like you’re living a whole new life.
Friday night, I realized I was not the only one in this position. All of the other transfer students and freshmen are in the same boat I am. In order for us to meet people we all need to get out there and push ourselves a little bit further. Introduce yourself to a stranger, smile at someone walking by and don’t be afraid to go out just because you don’t know anyone.
My new job in the weight room has allowed me to meet tons of people. In just six days, I went from knowing just one person in this town, to meeting handfuls of individuals just like me who make me feel at home.
I encourage all of the new students to get involved. Don’t just sit around in the dorms waiting for something to happen… because it probably won’t. Use your recourses; visit the library, rec center, bookstore, Grill 155, Mex to the Max, Einstein Bros. Bagel, The Bistro, The Club or any other place on campus. If you don’t know where anything is, explore; take a walk. A little exercise won’t hurt you.
For this new fall semester, I challenge each student to make a new friend (or many), try something they have never done before, and live life to the fullest. Just don’t get too carried away and forget to finish homework.