A Whole New World
Less than one week until Move-In! Everyone is getting prepped for the big day. I’m sure that you have already packed, but to stuff even more into your suitcases, pack economically by cushioning your picture frames with t-shirts, rolling your clothes rather than folding them, and filling any dead space with socks. Perhaps your high school friends have made you a scrapbook so you won’t forget them in college. Your parents, well, they have probably already decided to convert your bedroom into their new pool room.
Although your Road to Vanderbilt may be greasy and wrinkled from thumbing through it so many times and you’ve practically memorized the handbook, you might still be wondering what really goes on during Move-In Day.
Vanderbilt has perfected their parking and unloading system. All around the Vanderbilt campus, policemen are manning the streets and directing traffic. Your car will pull into one of many very organized lines, and students wearing professional Vanderbilt shirts will check you in and hand you your room key among other fun items.
Once you finally exit the car line and pull up next to your house, your car will be assaulted by the Move Crew, who will be clapping and wildly cheering you in. Who are they? Enthusiastic helpers in bright t-shirts who will ask for you house and room number, grab all your things out of the car into your room, and miraculously don’t lose anything. They are so efficient… and scarily energetic.
Once the Move Crew has evacuated your room, you can start unpacking! You will meet Roomie, together decide who gets which bed and the general room configuration, talk with your floor’s Resident Adviser (RA) and fill out a few forms, and roam the hallway to greet your floormates and check out how they decorated their rooms! On the way, you might bump into SPEAR people who wander around and disappear all of your cardboard boxes.
After you think you’ve set up enough, you can head over to the bookstore to pick up the books you ordered and Vandy gear for your parents. On the way there, you might want to stop by Commons to register and eat some much needed lunch. There, you will pick up your Commodore Card and other forms, register your bike and laptop with the Vanderbilt Police Department, and maybe play a game of foosball with your brother.
Once you’ve thoroughly schooled your brother in foosball, you can head off to your school’s welcome meeting and orientation. I lugged my cello all the way to Blair, got my locker assignment, settled into a chair in Turner Hall, and met with the Administration and faculty at Blair, who will tell you that you are in the smartest, most qualified, best class that Blair has ever had the pleasure of accepting. Then I met the Blair kids that I had been talking with via Facebook, Skype, and Google Hangout and gave them really big hugs.
In the evening, dinner is provided for all the tired, hungry people. A wide selection of salads, wraps, ice cream, and other foods are laid out in a huge ray of tables under a festively decorated tent.
Afterwards, you can wave good-bye to your parents and head into your dorm, where your fabulous RA will have you and your floormates will introduce yourselves, chat for a little while, and go over some house rules, and then your Head of House might pop in to welcome you. Finally, you will crash on your freshly-made bed and enjoy the first of many nights in your new room.
See you on Saturday! If you want to find me, look for the girl singing the “I Like to Move It Move It” song!