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What I wish I knew on my first day of university…
I can remember my first day of university like it was yesterday. By the expression in my moving in to residence picture, I’m sure you can tell that it was a mix of emotions, extreme excitement and definitely some apprehension! You can almost see the words, “This is so awesome….but do you really have to leave?!?” in my eyes as I looked into the camera.
On moving day, when saying goodbye to my family, surrounded by suitcases and holding a note from my new roommate, my stepmom turned to me and said, “Cailey, this is the first day of the rest of your life.” If everything wasn’t overwhelming before, it sure was then!
Even though in that moment I felt both completely independent, and totally alone, what I wish I knew on that first day of school was that I had simply branched off from one family, and became part of a new one. Sure, the population of my new home had increased a little, and there’s a voice down the hall calling out, “Come watch a movie!” instead of the usual, “Shouldn’t you be doing your homework!” but all of the care and attention of my old family, was found in my new one at Carleton. Much like my family members provided, all of the help and guidance I needed was waiting for me at university. At Carleton, this started even before I moved in, with the ability to read blogs from current students, a website dedicated to incoming students, and free campus tours. After moving in, there was no lack of activities to take part in through the student experience office, and a community of dedicated professors and support staff to help guide me along my academic journey.
So, after your family has cleared out, and you take that first deep “this is it” breath, remember that you’ve just joined a new community of people who are there to help you make a smooth transition and who will enrich your entire university experience.
Posted on July 27, 2012 | Category:
Cailey 
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