The educational district of Georgian College teems with life this weekend as hundreds of first-year students begin their college journey. With the dawn of Sunday, about 500 fresh-faced students transitioned into the college’s campus residencies while approximately 2000 spectators witnessed the bustling scene from the sidelines.
This year Georgian College brimmed with cars, as parents and guardians came to drop off their young adults to their new homes. “In previous years, we scheduled the moving process over multiple days, in discrete time slots, to maintain order,” explained Richard MacIsaac from the Georgian College Residence and Conference Centre. “However, this year we opted to revert to the old way- orchestrating the move en masse on opening day itself.”
In an attempt to aid this transition and minimize the potential chaos, almost 50 student volunteers dedicated their Sunday to settle the newcomers into their new homes. “A friendly face to welcome you makes the overall experience much more pleasant,” acknowledged Sarah Chisholm, a third-year student at Georgian College. “It’s nerve-racking to start a new academic year, and relocating only adds to the mix of emotions.”
Emotions were indeed running high as parents bid tearful but hopeful farewells to their children. Elated at their child’s new journey but holding back overwhelming sadness, the parents conveyed a mix of emotions. “This is an especially emotional day for us, as our youngest one has now left the nest,” shared Elaine Coles, a mother accompanying her son to college. “While we’re thrilled as he embarks on this new phase, we can’t help but be carried away by the strong rush of emotions.”
Classes officially begin on Tuesday at the college. However, an orientation day on Monday has been scheduled to help students acclimate to their new environment and commence their academic journey on the right foot.
