Olivia Logan
So the fall semester starts in five days. Um, what?! Goodbye, summer? I know exactly what you’re saying to yourself, too: “Didn’t I just finish my final exams? Didn’t I just pack up my things and move home? Didn’t I just have three months to do nothing with my life?” Yes, my friend, but believe it or not, the time has passed.
Regardless of all the whining and pouting you do, school is going to start. But you still have five more days before you’re pounding the pavement to get from class to class or becoming a slave to your textbooks. That being said, I have constructed a plan for you – I call it the “I haven’t done anything all summer except watch Lifetime movies and eat TV dinners” plan. OK, so maybe not all of you fall in that category, but I’m sure you can still follow the plan.
On Friday, prepare yourself for a significant population burst in College Park. By this time, all Commons residents will have been allowed to move in. However, South Campus Commons only houses 1,825 students. The weekend brings in the rest of the students – 8,250 to be exact and that’s just on-campus housing. Add in fraternity and sorority housing, Knox and Hartwick towers, Knox Boxes and the rest of off-campus housing and you practically have a small country migrating to CP. I’m not really sure how you prepare to be part of a community with thousands of new additions, but, if anything, get to a bar and enjoy the elbow room because that will be gone all too soon.
On Saturday and Sunday, get up at the crack of dawn (literally, since move-in begins at 8 a.m.). Grab a folding chair, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and maybe a magazine or book for some down time. Go to The Bagel Place; grab a hearty breakfast so you are satisfied for a long time. Believe me, with the sights you will be seeing, you won’t want to get up. Also, get a gallon each of water and coffee. The water is so you stay hydrated, the coffee is so you don’t fall asleep. “Am I going to the beach?” you ask. Oh, no, no, you are in for a much more thrilling day. A day where sun, surf and sand are all things of the past. This day is called, (trumpets, bells, whistles) Move-In Day!
Set up camp in front of a dorm. Position yourself so you are not a nuisance to those who are shuffling loads of belongings. However, do make sure you can see the unloading area and the entrance to the residence. Your day will consist of watching students move in. I know it doesn’t sound all that exciting, but just think of the plot that such a day entails.
You see a freshman pull up to the curb, all smiles and ready for college. You get a little tear in your eye as you remember the day you did the same. You watch as a student carries loads after loads of stuff with his or her parents. You watch them drop things, break things and hurt themselves, and you think, “Hmm, I could help them.” But you don’t because everyone needs to experience moving-in pains. You see all three of them get wearier and tired as they go in and out because – surprise – the elevators are broken. Typical. Then the family disappears for an hour or so because they are unpacking and setting up the room. Finally, they return to the car and you witness the hugs, kisses and teary goodbyes.
So there you go, basically a movie for free. I’m thinking about turning it into the next summer blockbuster.
On Monday and Tuesday, do whatever. Stay out in the sun as much as you can because before you know it, you’ll be in a classroom or in the library for most of the day. Start drinking at 9 a.m. because the only other time you will be able to do that is for Saturday tailgates. And because the first four football games start no earlier than 6 p.m. this season, I don’t see how anyone is going to make it to the actual game if they start drinking that early. Don’t prepare for the first day of classes. This is not elementary school where your classes give you a list and you prance to Office Depot and have Mom buy you fancy pencils and folders with Hot Wheels on the front. Get real. The first day is a mere nothing of introductions and syllabus reviews. Best of luck on the first day!
Olivia Logan is a junior journalism major. She can be reached at ologan@umd.edu
