Move-in day can be a
traumatic experience, and not just for parents. For some students, it marks the
first time they will be living away from home for an extended period of time.
Volunteers from the New Student Orientation Program make the move-in process run
remarkably smoothly, but there comes a time when goodbyes are said, more than a
tear or two is shed, and parents and students go their separate ways. As
first-year students settle into unfamiliar quarters in residence halls such as
Carman and John Jay, we asked, What one special thing did you bring with you to
remind you of home?
“I’m a runner, so I like to stay healthy. Oatmeal is really warm and comforting and I made it for breakfast every day at home, so hopefully I’ll keep that up in college.” — Laura Vigilante, 18, Brookside, N.J.
“Ratatouille is the one movie I always watched with my friends when I was sad or unhappy. I couldn’t leave it at home.” — Andrew Wright,18, Parsippany, N.J. |
“I’ve always wanted to be a composer and it was really important to me that I could bring my clarinet to college.” — Solomon Hoffman, 18, Port Washington, N.Y. |
“Music is the one thing I definitely know I want to study here. If I could only bring one thing with me to college, it would be my keyboard.” — Gabriel Ray, 17, Baltimore |
“My family is very important to me and I’m going to miss them — but I’ll go home to visit every couple weekends.” — Bolivar Charles, 18, White Plains, N.Y. |
”A really good friend gave me this poster of Jessica Biel and I’ve always had it in my room. I think it’ll fit in well here.” — Juan Ocampo, 18, Bogota, Colombia
“I’m not really a photo person, but I brought this one picture so I can always keep my family in front of me when I’m away.” — Zahra Bhaiwala, 18, Boston
“This is the Maryland flag and it reminds me of where I’m from. My oldest brother brought it with him to college and had it in his room and then my other brother did it, so it’s become a family tradition.” — Gideon Wolf, 17, Baltimore |
“These are the hair products that I buy when I go home to Buenos Aires that I can only find there — my hair is disgusting without them!” — Ayelen Rodriguez, 18, New York City (by way of Buenos Aires, Argentina) |
“This photo is from my best friend’s Sweet 16 party. I’ve known her since I was 4, and she gave me this to remember her by.” — Mya Reid, 17, Fort Washington, Md. |
“I brought this one picture so I can always keep my family in front of me when I’m away.”
”This is the only family portrait we’ve ever taken, so I had to bring it. My family means everything to me.” — Tayler Johnson, 18, Los Angeles |
”Lacrosse is a huge part of my life and who I am. I’m a recruit, so I’ll definitely be on the Columbia team, and I’m really excited.” — Camille Richardson, 18, Philadelphia |
“This monkey is always on my bed, no matter where I am.” — Charlotte Haney, 18, New Rochelle, N.Y.
“I’ve had her for four years — she’s a Build-A-Bear, and whenever I see her she makes me feel more at home.” — Hannah Ellison,18, Evanston, Ill.
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”I’ve had this pillow since I was little. I actually grew up in Brooklyn, so it’s traveled around with me. It’s nice to bring it back to its original home.” — Anna-Luisa Mirto, 18, Sterling, Va.
“This is the picture from It’s a Wonderful Life, which is the movie my family has watched every Christmas since I was born. It was also my school play senior year, and even though I’m really an athlete I tried out on a whim and got the main part, Mary. It was a life-changing experience.” — Hilary Szot, 18, Tewksbury, N.Y.
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“She’s a Build-A-Bear, and whenever I see her she makes me feel more at home.”
“I’ve had Peter Rabbit since I was born, and I still cuddle with him.” — Justin D’Agostino, 18, Monroe, N.J.
See more of what this year’s freshman brought with them.
PHOTOS: DANIELLA ZALCMAN ’09