Duke Move-in Day Reflections

The U-Haul truck (not just a trailer but a very large vehicle) pulled up to the front of the residence hall. My colleagues and I, along with dozens of students, were positioned there to assist with new student move-in. The truck had been in view for several minutes, waiting in the queue. As it approached, we prepared to greet the new student and his family, ready to help move his belongings into the room where he'd be living for the next eight months at Duke University.

It’s not unusual for students to bring a lot of stuff to college, but a U-Haul truck load? We all became somewhat concerned as we pondered whether this student was living alone or with a roommate. Regardless, there was not going to be room for what was in that truck!

The back of the truck opened, the ramp was set in place, and a full-size refrigerator emerged.

Really? What was this student (and his parents) thinking? Several of us immediately approached the student and his family, welcoming them to campus. We politely yet firmly suggested they not unload the refrigerator and instead take it back home.

The student was baffled. “Why can’t I unload it?” he asked. We quickly told him that it would not fit in his room. “By the way, why would you need such a large refrigerator? You are on a meal plan that will provide you with plenty of food. Students find that a small ‘dorm size’ refrigerator is more than adequate for snacks and drinks.”

This experience from a few years ago is in the forefront of my mind as move-in day approaches in less than 48 hours. This will be my 50th move-in at Duke and it is one of the most exciting days of the school year.

Move-in and the opening of the school year for new students symbolizes fresh beginnings: the chance to learn new things, meet new people and establish new friendships. It can be so exhilarating but also a bit scary. Having spent my entire adult life on a college campus, I’ve witnessed this excitement and this fear, in students and their parents.

Regardless of the school or grade, being ready for a new school year is more than buying school supplies and books, labeling notebooks, and organizing pens and markers by color. It’s about approaching the year with an attitude of positive anticipation – a mindset of optimism. It’s about recognizing that the summer is over and your schedule as a student or a parent is about to change. It’s about considering what you want to accomplish over this next year, what you want to learn, who you want to meet, who you want to be. It’s an opportunity to start with a clean slate and fill it with intentionality.

So, happy new school year! May you approach it with a growth mindset, a positive attitude, level-headed decision-making and confidence in all that you do. And don’t forget: leave the full-size refrigerator at home!