Move-in Day 2014: The Saga Continues

Tyler Meeks and Josh Stewart, Academy Avatars

The day is August 17th, 2014. A group of twenty seniors stand anxiously outside Schnieder Hall. The rain pours relentlessly; umbrellas do little to shelter us from the torrent. All eyes are focused on the intersection in front of the parking lot. We hold our breath as we wait for a left turn signal from one of the passing cars. At 8:25, we see the blinker of a car flash. The first junior has arrived! We try our best not to swarm the car as it pulls in, and eagerly explain to the new arrival that we are here to help, not steal. Barely a minute later the car had been completely unloaded. As we struggle to carry in a small fridge, clothes, and even a musical instrument, more and more cars start to pile in. Soon, the parking lot fills with hopeful juniors eager to begin the next exciting chapter of their lives at the Gatton Academy.

The juniors pack their belongings into their new rooms, meet their roommates, and slowly begin to mingle with the people who they will be sharing their next two years. As the day progresses, initial apprehension begins to fade. The time finally comes for heartfelt, and some teary, goodbyes between parents and their students. It seems like only yesterday that we were in their shoes. As the cycle continues and a new class arrives, the responsibility of guiding the juniors has now fallen upon us.

It has been a long day for seniors and juniors alike, but it is only the beginning of what will be a truly remarkable and memorable year for us all.