Settling into campus life

Throughout the semester, a select group of ASU freshmen will be blogging about their first year as Sun Devils. In the same way that graduation serves as a milestone marker for both students and the university, the freshman year experience is one of significant formation as it sets the foundation for academic excellence.

Marina's blog:

August 12, 2010 – Today I moved into my dorm at ASU. I got to move in two days ahead of schedule because I am a Fall Welcome Leader with the Canon Leadership Program. When I first got to the Barrett Honors College campus, I checked in and got my room key – how exciting! My roommate is also a Fall Welcome Leader, so we were both moving our things in at the same time and deciding how to arrange our room. We agreed on most things about placement of furniture and stayed up quite late that night decorating and putting everything away. Our room looks pretty sweet, if I do say so myself.

I know my roommate from high school so we were very excited, not only about college, but living together. Being the typical teenager in the technological age, my suitemates and I had all found each other and talked on Facebook previously. We even took a trip to IKEA and Target the week before to get things for our bathroom, which we will all share. My suitemates and I get along really well so I am very glad we were placed together.I can already sense that this is going to be a great year!

Before arriving at ASU, I was slightly worried because of the whole "new city" mentality. I started to get anxious about things like getting lost or not making it to my classes on time – you know, normal freshmen worries. However, after I was all moved in and started walking around campus, things seemed way less intimidating and I felt like it could be easy to find my way around.

Another concern was that I would be too shy to make new friends, but I quickly found that nobody in college really wants to be shy so it is kind of cool to see everyone trying to make an effort to talk to everyone. One of my favorite new things to do is to choose a random floor in my hall and walk through it, stopping at open doors to talk to new people. Although it is confusing because there are so many new people, it is good to see someone at the dining hall and just say "hey."

I'd have to say the biggest change from my life at home to college life is the independence. It's a weird feeling the first night that you're here and out with friends, when you start to get anxious about being home on time and then you remember: you don't have to be home on time.

So far, ASU is turning out to be pretty awesome, and the school year has just begun!

Marina Celaya is an incoming freshman who is majoring in biochemistry. She is originally from Tucson, Ariz.