The past couple of days, people have been moving in and lugging suitcases up multiple flights of stairs, trying to organize their lives and rooms to get ready for the fall semester. I am just finishing getting my apartment organized myself! Well, the semester is upon us, which is definitely really exciting for me. As I walked around campus yesterday, I could definitely tell that new students, WVU staff, and faculty are all looking forward to a new semester and a great one at that. This week will be challenging and exciting, but one of the best things about this week will be meeting new people.

Freshmen, you have a fresh start. I can’t describe how unique that is. You get to meet new people on your residence hall floor, in your classes, and the new activities or clubs you will be getting involved with. My best advice is simple…reach out! Walk down the halls of your floor and introduce yourself. Take some risks, come out of your shell! You won’t regret it!

For the upperclassmen, it is exciting to see our old friends come back into town. Some of mine are coming tonight, and I can’t wait! It will be nice to catch up on the past summer and reestablish connections. I would also challenge you to reach out this semester and year to students who you may not know or come from different backgrounds than you. One of the ways I like to do this is by meeting the new international and study abroad students. Did you know that we have around 2,000 international students at WVU from over 90 countries (Not to mention all 50 US states and 55 WV counties)? I have already met students from England, France, Hungary, Morocco, Slovakia, Japan, and probably more I am forgetting! International students are a wonderful part of our campus community, so I challenge you to find, meet, and welcome them.

Overall, enjoy the weekend with your friends and Fall Fest on Monday! The lineup seems pretty good, so be sure to check it out. Later!