Moving in means growing up

A mere 12 months ago I was waving goodbye to my parents from my fifth floor window in Read Hall. My only memories of my move-in include a lot of people, a lot of boxes, a lot of heat and a lot of stairs.\nThis year, as a mighty McNutt Quad Resident Assistant, I got a chance to step back and observe the dynamics of this important day in the lives of freshmen. I got to be the old soul who knew all the answers, and that role reminded me why I chose to leave home and move to IU. Cutting the cord from my parents was my first step toward independence.\nEager freshmen and frightened parents start the day by rolling up the circle drive loaded down with a year's worth of stuff. During check-in, big-eyed moms carrying armfuls of pamphlets, books and other assorted info followed nervous dads who laugh) too loud and too hard. Each set of parents did everything they could to mask the utter terror of leaving their child with me for an entire year.\nNext the kids get their first look at their new home. The initial reaction is "Oh my god, this looks like the seventh level of Hell." Once they are resigned to the fact that this isn't the Hilton, they change their tune to "Oh my god, can I please just start getting my acres of stuff in here right now?"\nDads take their chance to check the wiring, ask about power strips, nails, computers and a million other "can-I-fix-it" questions. Moms spend this time fine-tooth-combing the room and making sure we're aware of every nick, scratch and "I love Bob" graffiti scratched on the woodwork.\nOnce the paperwork is done and the keys are handed over, the residents are off and move-in has begun. Fathers carry mini-fridges up three flights of stairs while moms repeat their mantra: "You brought too much stuff."\nThe moms, of course, are exactly right. After Johnny crams his mountains of clothes, books, CDs, computers and big screen TVs into his 12x14 foot cell, he's going to have to hang a hammock out his window just to sleep at night.\nBut move-in can't last all day. Finally the last box is hauled in and the trunk shut. Then the goodbyes begin.\nIt never fails. The same girls who, only hours before, were screaming at their mothers for hanging a poster are now crying on their shoulder and promising to call.\nSoon the cars hesitantly pull off the grass, a little less empty and a little more empty at the same time. Moms wave out the back as dads try to decipher the campus map. \nThis roller coaster reminds the upperclassmen year after year why they return to IU's campus. Sure, we could have chosen to live at home and rely on our parents. We could have done without a dorm, a roommate, a meal card and the whole experience. Community colleges offer degrees as well.\nBut if we had remained at home we would have missed out on the valuable lessons that come with living on our own. Simple things like budgeting our meal points, buying our books and making sure we don't overdraw our checking accounts define us as independent adults.\nSo when I see a freshman staring at a map looking puzzled, I'll understand. I'll help them find Franklin Hall or the Chemistry Building, because I know the kind of courage it takes to make that first step. There will be rough patches along the path, but at least you started walking.