I love move-in time. As the students and the faculty and University staff are all starting to get into their routines, I can’t help but think about the promise of that first move-in. There’s something about the air being fresh, the leaves starting to change color. 

All the hope, excitement, anticipation.

My son even met his future wife while moving into his dorm freshman year.

One thing that University of Nebraska faculty do (that I think is fantastic) is they help students move in the week before school starts. Not only is it a friendly gesture that adds some extra muscle, it also gives students and faculty the opportunity to mix in a more casual setting. It humanizes professors in a way that hopefully helps reduce potential anxiety or first-month jitters among new students.

There are always things we can do – some big, some little – to make life a little easier for students.

Sometimes it’s apparent what they are, sometimes it’s not as obvious, but it’s important that we always keep searching out those opportunities.

I was always excited to go back to school. The New Year for me never started on January first, but on that first day back in the class, surrounded by eager minds and all the promise in the world. I still run my life around the academic calendar, it’s very much a part of me and I’m grateful for it.

My hope is that we give our students that same promise, that same excitement. They deserve it. 

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.