At the University of Wisconsin in Superior the dorms are full of new students getting settled in before classes start. Parents and their kids were hugging each other goodbye, as college students start their journey in higher education. The Weekend of Welcome is an opportunity to explore the UW-S campus, join clubs, and try new experiences.

It’s an understatement to say move-in day is a whirlwind of emotions. From the stress of college classes starting soon, to excited freshmen storming the campus, to saying goodbye to family. But for the past three years, Josh Porter has helped new students move into the residence halls. He says one part of college life that can be a bit easier, is the number of older college students willing to lend a hand to make moving in a breeze.

“It’s really nice to have all the volunteers we have today. Otherwise it’d be way more chaotic than we have it right now. Right now it’s actually pretty nice,” Porter said. “But when it gets to the busy hours it does take everyone we have to make it happen. A good check-in every once in a while would be great, making sure they’re doing all right. They may get a little homesick in the first couple of weeks, but they’ll be fine.”

Every student has one reason or another for which college they want to learn at. For some it’s being close to family. Others its to pursue their career goals. Isabel Miller is a freshman this year, she says it took her a while to figure out where she wanted to go to college. But she decided to learn at the University of Wisconsin in Superior, because she felt a strong connection with the staff and the support for students.

“So I toured way too many schools, so I think 20, so we really racked them up on that. So I just really like the place. I’m joining the track team, so the coaches were major for what brought me here. Not for the program itself, but for the support they provide with that,” Miller said. “I’m going for biology and pre-med, so they had a really good biology program that I was excited about. And so talking to the teachers, it just really felt like a good fit.”

Also the Weekend of Welcome gives a chance for international students to have UW-S feel like a second home. Nemo, a student from the middle east who’s graduating in the spring, says there’s plenty of clubs and organizations to join.

“Just open themselves up to the new community. It’s probably people’s experience for the first time for college. For the parents, it’s to trust us, to stress the process. It will take time to fit in and feel comfortable,” Nemo said. “Everybody had the culture shock. Everybody had the giddies of the first days. So, just wait for it. It’s going to work out and everything is going to be fine.”

While moving away from home and family is already hard enough as is, the Weekend of Welcome move-in crew are there to help with a smooth moving process into the residence halls.

Here’s more information about moving to campus you can read more here. Also for other stories happening at UWS you can read more here.