And yet, it all comes down to this very moment, the quintessential moment of my college existence. I will never forget the first day I ever moved into UCSD – away from home, away from my parents, in a strange new land, with strange new adventures awaiting me.
My move in time was approximately 9AM. My parents, being the overachievers that they were, forced my brother to take me at roughly 7:00AM – we not only got there half an hour early but they also didn’t allow us to technically “move-in” until 9AM. We subsequently waited in the parking lot for half an hour before my parents dropped me off at my new destination. Then, they left. I was left all alone – that is, until Howard and his parents came, room 401 (residence hall 400).
They took me to Panda Express, and graciously treated me out. The last “paid” meal by somebody else that I would probably experience before whisking away in perpetual pain of monopoly-forced dining dollars. We got our student ID cards, and Howard’s parents subsequently took a picture of us before they eventually departed.
And we sat for 2 hours in our rooms playing around with the Wifi. This was my first ever access to high speed internet (being that I came from the home of crappy dial-up). I attempted to play Roller Coaster Tycoon for a couple hours but got bored in the middle of it all. Me and Howard both ate our first “college meal” together – all in the form of Ramen Noodles.
And yet, a new social experience was about to await us all. Me and Howard both agreed to go look for some tape (so I could hang up some posters). We went ahead and explored the campus, getting lost on our way back. IT WAS SO CONFUSING! Eventually, I found some tape at Earl’s Place and hung some posters up.
Eventually, as the night continued, I decided it best be time to began the new social experience. I didn’t go to college to sit in my room and play on the computer. Making that conscious decision to began socializing was not only easy, but it was necessary for my potential growth in the world.
Victor, who I had added in the summer before we moved in, was online on facebook. I subsequently messaged him, asking if he was there. He said “Yes.”. Shortly thereafter, me and Howard went to his room to knock on it and say “hello”. He went outside, and said hi to us. We also met Ryan, his roommate, as we proceeded clockwise to meet every single person in the apartment. Austin was next door (the other white guy that looked exactly like Ryan at first, except more jockish). Then we saw Leandro, who previously opened the door for us into the residence hall (when we couldn’t get our keys to work). We then met jolly ole’ John Torres, and then appropriately enough, Brett Sauls.
We all agreed it was time to socialize. Austin said “LETS FIND SOME GIRLS”! We ran into an awkward circle downstairs by Stewart Hall – where people were wrapped around in a circle saying their names and majors. We all agreed that was probably a bad idea, best reserved for Orientation (which would be the next day). While Brett and Austin disappeared to who knows where, the rest of us went back to the living room where we had an exciting LAN party and talked. I played some High School Musical and probably scared Ryan, but it’s pretty funny looking back in retrospect.
I made the unconscious decision that night to basically “unload” upon everyone. Those of us that remained in the living room all bonded that night, as we began dreading the upcoming week (the week of Orientation).
Orientation itself wasn’t that great or special. It was instead, the nights of the week bonding with my fellow suitemates that was most fun. In addition to going to various dances, and simply chillaxing, it was truly something special. Something you can’t really really duplicate, for it was a new and exciting experience.
When you’re a fish out of the water, you’re much more likely to want to meet new people, try new things, and create new experiences. That is exactly how I felt on move in day. In opening myself up to others, I opened the possibility of new endeavors, new adventures, and new experiences. In the end, move in day was a long coming projection of all the experiences I learned in high school. In overcoming shyness and adversity, I rose to be myself in college – to let go of my insecurities and let people see me for truly who I am. Move in Day is an event that simply cannot be duplicated, because of the sheer resonance it has in my spirit. The events of the day weren’t particularly striking or exciting – but the memories ARE, because they are the initiation point by which my whole college experience would began. And from that point on, it was destiny and fate that would control the future. Though that special “bond” with my suitemates that first night will never really be duplicated, the magic and memories will forever remain instilled in my thoughts and subsequent experiences.
And who knows – reunions are always possible?
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