Dj Steckelberg
How much fun did you have on move-in day?
Everyone gets to be part of that glorious migration of the “fresh meat” and others from around the region to our fair, hallowed halls. The freshmen leaving the nests, the sophomores returning to the dorms, the upperclassmen moving into new apartments and the unexpecting community members foolishly making a “quick” trip to Wal-Mart, forgetting what weekend it is: all enjoy the wonder that is move-in day.
Every new freshman is nervous with the excitement, dread and sadness that inevitably shadow life changes such as these.
The conversation on the ride up is kept to a minimum as the student contemplates what will happen in the next few weeks. Sitting quietly, the mother reflects on a child that is leaving too quickly. Meanwhile, the father is trying to conserve his energy for the eighteen trips up and down the four flights of stairs, carrying eighteen years worth of his kid’s crap up to this tiny little box whilst mom and student “arrange.”
When the pickups and horse trailers start converging on this tiny campus, the eighteen-year-old mind begins to rethink this whole parent-helping thing. “God this is so embarrassing! I am supposed to be an adult now. I am going to be the only person here who has their parents along, I am such a dork!”
The fledgling student turns and stares at their dad in the driver’s seat with his white sneakers, frumpy jeans, straight billed baseball cap, and Twins shirt on.
Mom quietly sips coffee in a white SDSU T-shirt, gray shorts and a visor. And lil’ sis who won’t be in college for another two years “innocently” wears a Augustana hooded pull over that you know is just vain attempt to draw the attention of a cute college boy who might think she is of age.
But!
When the doors open on the pickup and the eyes adjust to the light the eighteen year old realizes that every family here looks just like hers do which really doesn’t do much to lighten the embarrassment just yet. She knows SHE will never be like THEM … HA!
The girls’ side of the halls comes alive with chatter as every one gets to know each other. Pictures and posters are hung and college life gets underway.
On the boy’s side things are a little quieter. Baseball caps are backwards and the moving is done in silence except for the occasional “s’up” between new floormates and the constant questions from a loving and concerned yet still embarrassing mom.
When the day reaches an end and exhausted families leave Perkins and say their goodbyes, a lump forms in the back of everyone’s throat.
Mom honestly and openly lets the tears fall, while dad remains quiet. The hugs are extra tight and long and the student turns to walk into the dorm feeling a little older, a lot more lonely and a little ashamed for feeling embarrassed about those wonderful people who are pulling away.
But don’t worry. By the end of Christmas break, they will be wondering how they ever lived with those people.
DJ Steckelberg would like to point out that he has moved far more times than anyone else at SDSU. Berate him at crazycircusguy@yahoo.com.
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