By: Alice Scott
In the time leading up to my move-in this semester, it often felt like my days were measured in lasts. Last trip to my favorite coffee shop. Last drive in my beloved Subaru Forester. Last game night with friends. Last family dinner. Last look at the city of Austin before walking into the airport.
It’s not that I wasn’t excited about starting my first year at UNC. I couldn’t wait to begin classes and join clubs. It’s just that I was keenly aware of all the things I would be missing on campus.
It didn’t help that I’m an out-of-state student not planning to travel home until winter break. As I boarded my flight to Raleigh-Durham, I knew that I wouldn’t be going to my house to do laundry on weekends or meeting up with my parents on Labor Day. I was about to be very far away from everything and everyone I’d ever known. And that was scary.
But my worrying didn’t stop move-in day from coming. On Aug. 16, my mom and I arrived at Cobb Residence Hall with our rental car full of luggage and Target purchases like we were on a mission. Thanks to our Texan resilience to the heat and a dolly from the McClinton service desk, we were able to transport all my belongings to my dorm in just under an hour. I won’t lie, unpacking took much longer — my ultra-specific vision for the space is probably to blame for that — but by dinnertime, my room was completely set up.
The next morning, my mom and I went to breakfast before saying our final goodbyes outside of Cobb. As I watched her drive off, my stomach dropped. This is it, I thought. This is the moment that everyone talks about — when you’re alone and freaking out and regretting everything. Any second, the panic would set in. I was sure of it.
But actually, it didn’t.
The university must have known that this is how I, and so many other incoming first years, were feeling because I didn’t have to look far to find a myriad of activities that I could participate in to keep my spirits up.
That day, my roommate and I played mini golf at the Undergraduate Library, competed in a game of trivia at an out-of-state student kickoff event and attended a pep rally at Kenan Stadium. And since I was living on campus, all those events were easily accessible to me.
In the following weeks, I continued taking advantage of my surroundings.
I found study spots at Davis Library and the Student Union. I spent time outside at the picnic tables by Lenoir and the steps of Wilson Library. I met new people at events like the Rock the Hill Concert and a back-to-school movie night in the Cobb basement.
Despite my fears, I found myself adjusting to college life. And it wasn’t nearly as hard as I’d imagined.
So, if I could give one piece of advice to incoming students, it would be this: Be open. Be open to new people, new experiences and new ideas. Because that is how you will make the most of your time at Carolina. Take it from me.
I met a friend to go to the first football game with because I shared my steamer with students on my floor. I’m registered to vote in North Carolina because I was walking through the Pit at the right time. I have a tennis partner because I went to Cobb’s community kickoff event, Cobbtropica.
None of that would have been possible if I hadn’t been open to those opportunities.
And now, instead of being preoccupied with everything I miss from back home, I find myself focused on the new people I’ve met and the new things I’ve tried.
It seems that suddenly, my days are measured in firsts.
