Ball State enrolls about 21,000 students, with more than 17,800 attending on campus, according to bsu.edu. Students come from 48 states, two U.S. territories, about 43 countries and every Indiana county.
The past couple days have brought mixed emotions to campus as students from all over the state and country move into their new homes at Ball State University.
Move-in for fall semester students began Aug. 17 and will not end until Aug. 21, the Sunday before classes begin.
For upperclassmen, move-in can be a breeze — but for new incoming freshman, this time can be exciting but scary.
Abby Shavez, a freshman pre-pharmacy major from Florida, was excited to get on campus.
“It feels great to be on my own and I feel free to do what I want respectively although I am a little homesick already,” Shavez said. ”My parents taught me to not only be myself but also to hang out with the friends who will make me happy. I’m excited to actually live the college life. I want to make these next few years the best ones I’ve had in my life.”
For Shavez’s mom, Michelle, moving in her daughter so far from home brought bittersweet feelings.
“It’s pretty bittersweet to let my daughter go away, especially when she’s so far away from us back in Florida,” Michelle said. “I’m proud of her for doing what she wants to do and not letting anything get in her way. I hope she learns a lot about herself from this experience and make the best out of life. Not everyone gets a chance to go to college and I’m really happy she gets to do this.”
For Loriana McCullum, a freshman pre-vet studies major from Indianapolis, moving to campus and the independence that comes with it was something she has been ready for.
“I just feel confident because I’m on my own and I’ll figure life out for myself and what kind of person I am and what works best for me,” McCullum said. “I’m most excited to meet new people here at Ball State and open myself up to different things that I might not have been able to do or try in high school.”
McCullum said she owes her confidence to her mom.
“I’m excited to be on my own because my mother did well raising me,” McCullum said. “I was taught to put my best foot forward and to always give 100 percent and whatever my outcome is to be proud of that.”
One way to ease the moving process for freshmen is by getting involved in some of the early start programs like the Accelerate program, Cardinal Leadership and Service Seminar also known as C.L.A.S.S. and Excel.
Tyra Campbell, a freshman fashion merchandising and marketing major, took advantage of the opportunity and participated in the Accelerate program designed to help students develop skills that will advance a student's ability to be successfully connected socially and academically in their first year at Ball State.
“I chose to move in early because I wanted to guarantee that I knew people and I wanted to avoid the rush of regular move-in,” Campbell said. “Moving in early was a good idea for me. Seeing the rush and all those people would get me major anxiety on regular move-in day.”
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