Freshmen say hellos, goodbyes

By Alicia Rimel

Published: August 28, 2008

By Alicia Rimel
The News Virginian
STAUNTON
Autumnal temperatures and a steady mist greeted Mary Baldwin College freshmen Thursday, the official move-in day for first-year students.
Ample staff and student leaders were on hand to welcome fledgling squirrels into the pack; the puffy cheeked rodent is the college’s mascot.
“The O Team [Orientation Team] and other student leaders came a week earlier for different leadership activities meant to energize the freshmen and as ice breakers to help them get to know each other – just to get everyone pumped up and ready for the year,” sophomore Kasey Lohr said.
The Orientation Team – composed of MBC veteran students – offers a variety of activities meant to acquaint new arrivals with issues such as the college honor code and social networking.
More than 300 women have been admitted to the class of 2012. Sixty-eight percent of enrolled students hail from Virginia. Twenty-four other states and four countries also are represented in the total enrollment. Upperclassmen will filter in throughout the remainder of the week. Classes begin Monday.
“It’s been very calm, actually,” said Lynn Gilliland, director of the first- and second-year student experience. “I can usually tell [when new students are nervous]. It’s usually not any one particular thing; it’s just that everything is new – new place, new roommate. Most students have never lived with anyone before. Finding your way around – that’s one of the biggest fears – being afraid you’re going to get lost.
“I’m the campus Mom, so today I have 320 new children.”
In unchartered territory, many freshmen kept reality at bay – and their parents close. Most were thankful for the institution’s commitment to the first-year experience – a key initiative in President Pamela Fox’s state of the college address on Wednesday.
“It hasn’t really hit me that I’m on my own yet,” said Simone Williams, of Richmond. “It probably will hit me when she [Mom] leaves. It’s good because most of the group leaders are still in school themselves and it wasn’t long ago when they went through it. So, they remember how we feel.”
Simone’s mother, Michelle, helped her daughter buy supplies from the campus bookstore Thursday morning.
“It’s scary,” said Williams. “I’m nervous and excited – it’s overwhelming. It’s wonderful that she is getting this opportunity to have this experience, but it’s hard to let go. It’s a feeling I’ve never felt in my life.”
Shavoni Yarborough, Simone’s roommate, has already said her goodbyes.
“I’m really homesick,” Yarborough said. “Before I came, I was excited to leave – even though I love my parents. My group here is very supportive, but I miss my mom and my friends. So, I’ve been watching familiar movies that remind me of home.”
Returning students played their own role Thursday in the college’s initiative to ease the transition. Many drew upon their own experience as freshmen.
“I had a great RA last year who guided me through my freshman year and I want to do the same for these girls,” said Elisabeth Maddrell, a sophomore and resident advisor for a freshman hall.