Being a residential assistant (or as we call them at ASU, "community assistant") has its ups and downs. But there's one day in the entire school year that just feels... magical. That day is move-in day. If you're an incoming first-year student looking for the inside scoop on what things will be like once you arrive at ASU, or you're an older student looking to reminisce, here are 12 things about move-in that you'll want to know.
Your RA is *actually* excited to meet you!
Although we might seem like the "fun police," 99% of people who have taken on the RA job are there for a reason! We love working with other people, connecting with others, and finding ways to make your first year memorable. That starts with a great first impression. If we seem super pumped to meet you, it's because we genuinely are. We want to get to know you and help you kick ass!
Meeting your roommate for the first time might be awkward. That's OK.
Maybe your roommate's mom grilled you with a ton of questions or things just... felt awkward. That first encounter with the person you're sharing a room with for the next year might not go as smoothly as you would have hoped. Have no fear!! A bumpy initial meeting won't necessarily imply that the rest of your relationship will be, it just means that you're two people thrown into a new space and you're finding your footing. Once you face the dining hall together, things will smooth over. Trust me.
There are A LOT of people working to move you in.
From the people making sure you get the right keys, to the people somehow making boxes vanish from your car and magically appear in your room, to your little ole RA, there are a lot of people navigating a lot of moving parts to make Move-In Day happen. While this sometimes demands a little patience, know that all of these people want you to feel welcome, safe, and ready to succeed.
Your Room Inspection Report is important!
While it might just seem like a boring, mind-numbing form, this thing will help you in the long run when it comes to saving money and worry. Just like a professional apartment complex, the RIR is there to ensure that you aren't charged for any damages at the end of the year during move-out. Make sure to know exactly what to fill out on there and thoroughly check your room for any pre-existing damages... especially chipped paint on the walls.
The dining hall is always scary the first time.
That's why you don't have to face it alone! While it can be intimidating when you see other people somehow magically know where the silverware is or how to get extra salsa, trust me when I say you'll be owning the dining hall in no time. Grab your roomies and face it head on!
It's the start of so much more.
Move-In Day is just the beginning of Welcome Week!! Do you know what events you want to go to? NO?! Then check them out!!
Your RA is a person, too.
I'm not going to lie: meeting you on Move-In Day is one of my favorite days of the school year. I'm also coming off of two full weeks of training and prep, so please excuse the giant coffee in my hand and the fact that my undereye bags might be huge. If there isn't a question I can answer, I'll find someone who can, and always remember that, no matter how much I'm twitching or how many dad jokes I make, I'm here to help.
You'll probably have forgotten something.
You'll be three boxes deep in the unpacking process and it'll hit you like a truck: you forgot a necessity. It might be your sheets, your laptop charger, or your "Live, Laugh, Love" poster, but you'll almost definitely have forgotten something in the stress of packing. Everyone does. It'll either reappear or, in most cases, be a quick trip to Walmart. Don't beat yourself up too badly about it.
Unpack. Then decorate.
Although you're simply itching to hang your ten feet of fairy lights, hold off on the poster posting and the Command Hook-ing until everything else is unpacked. If your room is already cleaned and set up, you'll have a much better starting place for making your decor visions a reality.
Ask questions!
Although you might need to catch your RA at a slow moment (which might be fleeting and hard to find), I promise that even the most moronic of questions Are. Not. Stupid. Questions. Move-In Day is weird and confusing, and if you don't know where the trash room is or where the nearest pharmacy might be, ask!
Your parents are nervous, too.
You might know this already and be preparing to shrug off helicopter parenting and extended teary goodbyes during move-in. You might also be saying to yourself, "Yeah, right." No matter how (or even if) your parents show their nerves, know that they're proud of you and it's just hard to see you take this leap into the great unknown. Let them live up the few hours of college they have again. You'll have the whole rest of the year to yourself.
It's OK to be scared.
Move-In Day can feel like everything. It's exhausting, incredible, and intimidating. You might be wondering if you're going to be able to handle everything your classes can throw at you. You might be wondering if you're going to have to eat lunch alone every day. Whatever anxieties you're grappling with, know that they are totally valid and understandable. This is something new, which is great. Newness, however, is also one of the most frightening things we can take on.
Take a deep breath. The only way to do move-in "correctly" is by being your most authentic self.
You're going to be awesome.
Trust me, I'm an RA.
