So, it's that time of year again, college move-in-days are whizzing by like leaves in the autumn wind. As a student at University of Denver, where the quarter system is in place, I have to sit at ease, watching friends head back to school while I lie and wait for September. This year, I get to move in a little early, so I wasn't really thinking too hard about packing up or getting ready until a few days ago. I've had the same thoughts cross my mind many times:
"Do I have enough stuff?"
"Am I really ready to head back to school?"
"Is grabbing this useless thing last minute really worth it?"
And that is how it seems to go. Even as I inch closer to my move in date, I can't help but want to add more and more to my pile of stuff, and there comes a point when it just has to stop. When I need to realize that I only live 2 hours from home and that any thing I really need can be with me in a flash.
It's simple enough to pack for college, but the fear of forgetting something or not finishing in time or the fear of nothing fitting in your car definitely cripples such an easy job. Grab some notebooks, clothes and a mug for coffee and you're set; I really wish it were so easy.
So, here is what it's like to pack for college as told by BBC Sherlock. A task that really should be "Elementary, my dear Watson."
One minute you were packing, but somehow you've ended up taking a three hour break and you cannot motivate yourself to continue.
That moment when you swear the clothes you own are multiplying (and that one piece of clothing you haven't worn since high school is suddenly so important you can't just leave it behind.)
When you're rummaging through that stuff from last year you pretended to unpack and you find that thing you've been looking for all summer.
"But mom, I might need all 10 of those toothbrushes and I'll definitely this as-seen-on-tv cupcake tin. I will literally not survive college without this stuff!!"
Realizing you're definitely packing way too much so you have to start undoing all the hard work you thought you had almost finished.
Waking up in the middle of the night realizing you completely forgot to pack that one essential thing so you get up right then because you're afraid you won't remember to pack it the next day.
In all honesty, finishing all your packing probably feels a bit like this.
But you're proud as heck that you finally finished packing without destroying an entire city trying to find that one thing.
And you're finally all moved into school when you realize you forgot something. Somehow....
But knowing it'll all work out in the end, even if you have to wear your sheets to class for a few days in a row.
Because it's all fine in college.
Hopefully you didn't forget all your clothes or misplace your wallet last minute, but moving back into college is a stressful time. You simply need to allow yourself to relax, laugh a bit and solve things the college way (duct tape anyone??)
Good luck moving back to college! Have a wonderful , wonderful year.
