As in-person events and activities increase on campus, students moving in face both excitement and nervousness regarding the adjustment. 

Zara Khan, freshman in LAS, is excited to be on campus and said her adjustment has been “pretty smooth” so far despite moving in early and being alone for some nights. 

Some of Khan’s concerns with residing at FAR this year include transitioning to sharing a bathroom with other people, figuring out buses and also time management skills. 

A unique struggle freshmen on campus this year have to face is adjusting from a high school senior year filled with more COVID-19 restrictions and remote learning to a college freshman year away from home. 

“It’s definitely been hard because I feel like we definitely missed out on that one year that would help prepare us more for what we’re going through because we sat at home for a whole year and now we’re by ourselves,” Khan said. 

Hiba Mirza, freshman in AHS residing at Illini Towers, is “very excited to be on campus and actually see the buildings” but is worried about making it in time to classes and finding her way around campus. 

“The most overwhelming part would probably be the transition from higher level classes and being able to juggle all of them in addition to the huge campus that you have to be going around where in high school it was all that one building,” Mirza said. 

Saleh Akasha, junior in Engineering, had to complete all of his classes online from the United Arab Emirates since March of his freshman year. He moved into an apartment on campus a few days ago and is adjusting to life in the United States with the current COVID-19 situation.

“Honestly, back home, there were a lot more restrictions because of COVID,” Akasha said. “The number of people not wearing masks, for example, was kind of shocking.” 

Akasha is generally excited about taking time to move into his apartment and being able to see friends and attend in-person classes and office hours. He is also looking forward to returning to the campus life he is used to. 

“I hope everything will be the same as it was when I first got here,” Akasha said. 

Khan, Mirza and Akasha all agree that despite the rough parts of moving in, they will be able to adjust and look forward to having an in-person college experience this year. 

“I think through learning and being open to adjusting ourselves and figuring out new things, things will get easier,” Khan said. 

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