By Emily Jenkins
Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 6, 2025, incoming freshmen arrived with great expectations for the school year as Welcome Week kicked-off with Move-In Day at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Many incoming freshmen expressed excited for the new friendships, upcoming events and classes.
Sarah Moreno, musical education major, and Ariana Campos, nursing major, are both excited to play in the Cru Spirit Band and attend the Crusaders’ football games this coming semester. Additionally, Cadence Sen, pre-med biology major, said that she is looking forward to learning more about the clubs on campus at the Big Fair on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
In addition to extracurricular activities, incoming freshmen are excited for classes. Brooke Thomas said she is excited for her night classes as a criminal justice major. Cole Berry, a transformational development major, is most excited for his public speaking and Old Testament classes this semester. Sen said, “I am looking forward to my classes being directly geared towards my interests. I know organic chemistry is going to be really hard, but I am still excited for it because it is going to be something I like to do.” Sen is also looking forward to her anatomy and physiology class this semester.
However, along with exciting new experiences, each student is facing new challenges from moving away from home to unpacking.
Cadence Sen also said, “I’m kind of scared [about moving away from home] because I won’t have my mom’s food but it’s going to be fun. I’m excited to meet new friends and meet new people.”
Although no-one can replace mom’s home-cooked meals, Welcome Week volunteers are a great help in easing the transition of moving.
“Everybody helping us move all of the stuff out of the cars was really nice of them. It made the whole process a lot smoother and easier and got us into the room a lot quicker.” Cadence Sen.
At the end of the semester, incoming freshmen have a purpose at UMHB to accomplish their individual goals. Campos and Moreno want to work on communicating with others and socializing, but Campos explained they have already begun becoming better communicators by becoming friends with Moreno and Thomas, her roommate.
Cole Berry said that his goal is to grow as a man of God as he leaves home. Some of Sen’s goals are to make straight-A’s and form better studying habits. “I think just balancing everything out may be challenging, but I’m getting ready to do it,” Sen said.
Be on the look out for the second part of this story in the November 2025 issue to see how these freshmen’s semesters turn out.
PHOTO: Collin Harwick and sophomore Alec Saltzman cheer the cars of incoming freshman on as they help unload their boxes at the Remschel dorm.
