Moving to a new experience

Each year brings a new generation of college students to campuses all across the country. First-year college students embark on a new adventure, moving away from home and onto campus at Viterbo. It comes with no shortage of boxes, bags, packing tape and maybe an anxious parent or two. Oh, and not to mention the stress of trying to pack and unpack in a span of 24 hours while trying to prepare for orientation, learning campus, and making connections with everyone. At the end of the day, this is just the first step for many preparing for the next chapter in their lives.  

Viterbo is a hub for many diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, and the new students each year embody this. Even though the campus is quiet for the most part, students come from near and far, and no matter how much travel is involved, transitioning into college life can be difficult. As one first-year student noted, “The first night it kind of felt like a sleepover. Then after a few days I realized I’m stuck here until Thanksgiving.” The transition would be a lot for anyone to handle, especially when everything about it is new.  

However, starting college is more than just the beginning of one’s next academic journey. It’s about self-discovery and exploring new things, especially during move-in weekend. As one new student commented, “I started to understand that everyone else was in the same boat as me. I thought to myself everyone here is probably just as nervous as I am.”  Going from the comforts of home to a dorm hall filled with strangers doing the same thing brings a sense of community between the First Years and reinforces Viterbo’s Contemplation core value of giving back to the community. 

After moving in, first-year students were not given the weekend to relax, as their schedules were filled with orientation and Service Saturday, which often consists of volunteering at places like local food pantries and supporting homes for women. Orientation serves as the ultimate Viterbo 101, teaching students about the area and useful details like how to use Moodle. It also serves as a great opportunity for new students to meet one another and socialize.  

Many students didn’t mind the packed schedules and agreed that orientation was helpful. One student noted, “It was really smart to have us just kind of keep going,” with another student saying “They packed the weekend so tight that we didn’t have the time to get homesick. Which honestly helped.” Students did admit that it would have been nice to not have some activities go too late into the night or to have an extra hour break or two in the day. Keeping the days busy not only helped keep their minds from missing home, but it helped them lay their own foundations in a new home.  

Having the students experience another Viterbo core Value of Service right away really helps emphasize what Viterbo is about and what makes it so special to be here. It models for students that giving back is a true act of compassion.