First-year packing pains

For some, making the transition from being a high school kid in the summer to becoming a collegiate on move-in day can be stressful.

For Kallie Smith, a first-year student living in Olson Hall, the change went smoothly. After driving three hours from her hometown of Springfield, Minn., she is primed to major in business and accounting after a calm move-in day.

One of the keys to staying composed for Smith was being well prepared.

“We had that USD checklist, which really helped get us started with organization,” Smith said.

Smith said she had no trouble at all with volunteers aiding first-year students in the move-in process at North Complex.

“I think it went by nice and smooth,” she said. “We had a lot of helpers; my parents and I didn’t even have to bring anything up.”

While some students may have brought their whole wardrobe along with them to college, Smith decided to go the route of bringing her clothes in spurts.

“I started off with just bringing my fall clothes. I think I packed just enough,” Smith said.

When it gets colder, she said the winter fashions would cycle in. Since she is staying on campus for a while to get comfortable with the new environment, she plans on doing most of her laundry here, but will not take the chance to do it free when she visits home on longer breaks.

Smith’s preparations for move-in day started in early July, buying a little at a time.

Smith and her two roommates found out through an email they would live in the extra large room at the end of the hall.

Over Facebook, the three roommates were able to coordinate who would bring what to make the room livable. Coincidentally, the three each had the same colors in mind —touches of blue and green.

“I think we all have at least a picture of our family and friends just to make us feel a little more at home,” Smith said.

Throughout the year, students will have their fair share of being homesick, depending on who they are. For Smith, the first two days at USD were filled with many emotions, but not homesickness.

“Yeah, it’s sinking in. But I’m quite comfortable here,” Smith said.