Today is the first day for freshmen in Storrs. So…welcome new Huskies!
A group of freshmen Huskies. Just kidding: "Greenland husky puppies" via Flickr/chrissy575
While I’m not in UConn Country quite yet, I thought I would blog about a N.Y. Times article I read the other day: “Students, Welcome to College; Parents, Go Home.” I’m sure many people who are now in Storrs can relate to this article.
The piece discusses the approaches of a few colleges to drop-off days. Some colleges are very specific in setting parent-student boundaries:
Formal “hit the road” departure ceremonies are unusual but growing in popularity, said Joyce Holl, head of the National Orientation Directors Association. A more common approach is for colleges to introduce blunt language into drop-off schedules specifying the hour for last hugs.
I don’t remember attending a “hit the road” ceremony at UConn. However, I do see a “Time to Say Goodbye: End of Family Program” on the schedule. Here’s what I do remember from my first day from last year:
*I moved in and met my roommate — awesome dude.
*My parents and I ate at Husky Pizza, a place that later became the late-night hangout for my dorm.
*I went to a convocation ceremony in Gampel. I sat with my dormmates, but I think I could have sat with my family if I wanted to.
*Due to rain, the outdoors goodbye BBQ was moved to a couple of dining halls on campus. The hall closest to my dorm was swamped. So, I said goodbye to my parents on the South Campus lawn. The separation was really symbolic since my parents were standing on top of a knoll and my new friends were on the field below. I was moving from one level of my life to another.
So Huskies: what are your memories of the first day on campus? Bonus: if any freshmen are reading this blog…what did you think of today?
