The Crusader Update

3 Tips for a Successful Move-In Experience

“Move-in day” is Saturday, August 23^rd.  To help make it smooth, I have included a letter from a Crusader parent.  Hopefully, this letter will be helpful and give you some perspective for the day’s event.  Trust me: it’s going to be a wonderful, emotional, exciting, and proud moment for you.  See you Saturday.

Go Cru,

Steve

LETTER FROM CRUSADER PARENT:

Dear Crusader Parents,

I am the parent of a Crusader and although I thought I was prepared, the same feeling that came over me when my daughter Michelle entered Kindergarten returned to me in August 2005 when I moved her into Burt Hall.

Here are 3 tips for a successful move in experience:

1.  BE THERE EARLY.  I can’t emphasize this enough to you. August days in Texas will be hot and there are no elevators in some of the dorms.  The good news is that upper class students will be there to help you move things in.  Take advantage of the help of these students because while they are carrying your boxes, they are also talking to your student, encouraging them to get involved in Welcome Week activities and making new friends.

I was amazed at just how much “stuff” my daughter thought she needed to put in that small dorm room, but somehow it all fit and she began to unpack.  Fortunately her roommate arrived about the same time as we did, so together they worked out the layout of the room and agreed on their own “individual” space.  You will find out pretty fast—there’s not much room for “individual” space in the dorm room.

2.  PUT THE SHEETS ON THE BED.  I realize this sounds silly, but once I left campus my daughter was off in a million directions and I’m pretty sure that by the time she arrived back in her room (at an hour I don’t want to know) she was too tired to put sheets on her bed to go to sleep.  So at least I went to bed that night knowing I had done what I could to help her settle in.

3.  GO HOME.  Don’t stay too long.  It was a big adjustment for me and my daughter for her to be on her own and for me to be on my own.  The longer I stayed the harder it was going to be for me to leave.  So after her things were in place in her room, the sheets were on her bed, her computer was installed, and we had lunch and made that first trip to Wal-Mart, it was time to go.  I gave her a huge hug, I told her how proud I was of her and how much I loved her and told her to “call me” when she had time, then I quickly walked to my car.  That lump was in my throat and tears were running down my cheeks, just like on that first day of Kindergarten.  Amazingly,  before I arrived home, she called to tell me how much she appreciated me helping her move in, how much she loved me and how excited she was about being a Crusader.  At that point I knew that the big lump in my throat and my secret tears were well worth it and that my little girl had grown up and would succeed in life. 

Good luck as you begin your Crusader journey.  GO CRU!!!

In 1920, UMHB was the first school in the US to have a Baptist Student Union that provided the “student-led” ministry model that persists today.  The organization, now known as Baptist Student Ministries, is open to all denominations.  This past summer, UMHB sent over 190 students into summer missions to 23 different countries around the world.

Plan now for Parent/Family Weekend: October 3 – 4.