The trip to Europe was cool but it is great to finally arrive at the Abbey.  Moving in early definitely has some advantages.  You get to learn your way around campus, do a little individual exploring, and grab some nice furniture for you and your roommate.  Moving into the room is so much easier when there are not 300 people moving in at the same time.  High school seems eons ago and almost completely irrelevant.  It is a nice feeling to have a clean slate and a little gained savvy to avoid past mistakes and concentrate on good decision making.  College experience is beginning just as I found my dorm room, blank and bare and in need of color.  The athletes from soccer, volleyball and cross country are all here along with several RAs and college staff.  As the first few days pass, the color is starting to creep into the picture. The dorm room isn't blank and sterile and it’s nice to go back to after a morning of running.  It is now what I think of as home.  I am going to post some first year experiences from my new home.  Hopefully it will give some insight to those thinking about the Abbey, and give a smile to some of those already here.  For those I left back in New Jersey, know that I am glad to be here and this is a small way I can attempt to show it.  Thursday August 14th 2008, my college experience begun.

The first thing associated with arriving at college is the dorm.  Leaving your old home is probably the biggest transition one makes in college.  Yes the classes are harder, more work is required, but this is the first time you are away from where you spent many years growing up under your parents care.  Some are afraid, some feel a sense of liberation and independence to do what they choose.  When you arrival at your new home, it is empty and you think how will one ever make this into a home.  Well, the answer lies with some creativity.  Once you start arranging, rearranging and adding some color you can take an empty room and turn it into a home.

Reason for my early arrival was cross country.





Benny making an appearance with Brother Paul, cross country coach.



Ian a fellow freshman runner.



Behind this tree line, is the Brother Paul Trail that we run on frequently.



This is a view from behidn that immediate tree line pictured above, leading up to the trail's entrance.







Picture from inside.

Visit to admissions.

Some of Benny's fellow admission buddies.



Katherine



Dawn



Meagan







Mr. Jones

The week went by very quickly and in no time it was a week later, Friday the 22nd.  This was move in and Orientation Day for the incoming freshman class.



My roommate Brad



Lunch had rolled around by the time my cross country practice had finished.



Admissions at lunch, grabbing a bite before they began to put a face to the names of all the admitted students they had helped get to Belmont Abbey











Kelly and Jenny part of the orientation leaders.

After lunch, the freshman and their parents had a series of meetings to attend.


Pat, and Ian








Orientation Leaders



Chris and Heather

Freshman Social










































Late night volleyball game