Traditiation / Week one

Last Saturday I moved into my dorm here at Whitworth! From the minute we walked in to check in, everybody was so welcoming and helpful. The leadership students were waiting on the curb, just itching for someone they could help. It was so much easier than my parents and I anticipated. Not long after finding my room, I met my roommate. She is incredible. Her name is Erin, and we get along extrememly well. We are so similar, the school could not have found a better match for me. I love it :) We are both neat, tidy, and organized. Just in this first week the other freshman girls on our floor have named our room the "best study room." Then there is the fact that our room is extremely bright and colorful and even when girls are bored or looking for people to hang out with, our room is a place they generally check first, haha. I am loving dorm life, I enjoy it.

Sunday afternoon our parents left, and not long after - traditiation began! Sunday night we had a formal dinner, and we were randomly paired with a guy from another dorm building. Turns out, there were twice as many freshman girls as there were guys. Therefore, each guy had the pleasure of escorting not only one girl, but two. It was a fun dinner, I always enjoy meeting someone new and getting to know a little bit about them.

Over the course of the next several days, we did all kinds of things as a dorm. Usually all the freshman girls together and all the freshman boys separate. The tradition is that the girls who live in Arend Hall become Arend Belles, and the men of Arend Hall are Carlson Men :) So even if we participated in activities separately, it was instilled in us that we are brothers and sisters and we are always supportive of one another as a whole/individually.

One night the Arend Belles had a more serious, bonding time together. As we were together the Carlson Men came and had us circle up and they bent on one knee in front of us and pledged to us to "protect, respect, and support us." It was a fun way for us to come together in unity and set things straight from the beginning.

Another night we had "yell off", where each dorm got on stage and showed their dorm hall spirit, chanting the cheers and chants we learned for our residence hall. The next night we had "mock rock", where each group of girls/guys create some sort of dance or show to music they choose and then perform in front of the school. It was hilarious and a blast to watch.

After Mock Rock, we had "wooing." We had very short notice about this event, and I have to say I was dreading it. I did not know how I was going to be able to do this without laughing and giggling the whole time. What happens is: all of the freshman girls from each dorm building stand outside their building while all the different groups of freshman guys travel around campus and try to "woo" the girls through song. They would sing a song to us, and then we would either sing a love song back if we were "wooed" or we could reject them. This usually went back and forth for several songs. I have to say, the guys were incredible! I was very impressed. :) Every group of guys was in unison and knew their songs. They were not afraid to get into it and seem passionate about it. It was a ton of fun to watch. On the other hand, when it was our turn, it was really hard and embarrassing and I couldn't sop laughing. I mean, there may have been one time when there were so many guys that there happened to be six guys to one of me and after they sang adorably and it was our turn I may or may not have forgotten the words but hey, we don't need to talk about that..minor detail ;) It was probably one of the most awkward things I've ever been a part of but I will always look back and crack up because it was a lot of fun!

So after being so busy and constantly having activities and fun things planned, classes started on Wednesday. It was an odd transition and honestly a little overwhelming, but once I got some things settled and straightened out I feel a lot better about things. I think it was mostly just a matter of getting back in the swing of school. I like having such a different schedule compared to high school. I am excited to meet new people, as I have been meeting more and more people everyday. It should be a fun (yet challenging) year, and I can't wait to see what's in store. From the minute I stepped back on campus the day I moved in, I was reminded once again, as I am everyday, that this is where I belong.