My Experience Becoming a Freshman at UT Tyler prt. 1: Housing

Coming to a new place is always terrifying, obviously.
I had no idea what to expect moving hours away from my home and family to Tyler. I tried to do a lot of research and see where I was going to live, what there was to do, what the people might be like, everything.

Every time I come to work I feel awesome that I can help someone with making their college experience by sharing mine. However, some people don't know to call or what to ask when we're on the phone with them.

So here are some things I had questions about when it came to  making decisions about financial aid to housing to just where to hang out.

If I tried to stuff all of that information into one blog, it would be way too long, so here is the topic for today: 

HOUSING

Housing was one of the things I was most excited about getting done. I was so ready and so excited to get out of my house and be on my own (no offense Mommy). 
There are a lot of options when it comes to living on or off campus.
It's required here at UT Tyler that freshman live on-campus if they live more than 50 miles away.
I know it's a good money saver to live at home and commute if you live close enough, but your freshman year I definitely feel like you should live on campus. 
That's not to say that you won't have a good experience living off-campus at all, because I have a lot of friends that commute here. (You'll be the one everyone calls for their kitchen and when people want to go out on weekends)

But when you take into account convenience and parking and just the freshman college experience, I'm so thankful I live on-campus.

How I Met My Roommates

          Everything changes; I'm still not used to it. I am one of those annoying people that likes to know what to expect. However, when I have to move every few years, and am constantly put in new situations meeting new people, it can really rev my anxiety. Having a strong support system is important to me, so I knew my goal when I got to UT Tyler would be to make friends. The idea of that excited me and put me on edge.

What if I couldn't find my kind of people? What is my kind of people?

        During new student orientation (what many of you are going through now) I met many, many new people. This guy named Sam was in my group, and he was very intelligent, and called himself "Stupid Sam" during our name game, and I'll never forget. He and I ate at Applebees a few days ago. Natalie was in our group, too, but at that time she feigned a mustache with her pointer finger and called herself "Notorious Natalie". She ended up dating one of our friends and I love seeing her around. "Krazy Kelsey," a future art student and I really hit it off. I got phone numbers. We traded emails and added each other to facebook.

When I ~finally~ got here on move in day, I had met my roommates and started making my rounds in OHall. I was texting all those new people I met. Kelsey invited me to the fifth floor, where she lived, for some coffee.

         Oh, I was nervous, but I walked up anyway. Kelsey is totally sweet, so I shouldn't have been nervous in the slightest. She introduced me to her roommates, absent-mindedly and
we realllllly hit it off.
Like. Really.

Baylee just stopped what she was doing to talk to me.
Cassidy came out in her towel and started talking to us.

The towel happened to be purple, and that really cemented it because we all exclaimed how it happened to be our favorite color- and the rest was college memory history. We became instant friends, and Kelsey is still cool and everything, but with some people, you just instantly click.

So, don't be too anxious to get out there.
You may find some fun memories and friends to keep.

Moving in College- On Campus and Commuters

             So, maybe y'all haven't moved as often as I have (37... going on 38 times), but if you go away to a university- moving is something to expect. I have been lucky enough to meet good roommates in my freshman year living in OHall at The University of Texas at Tyler! We've been living together for two years now, but I'm moving out in the middle of July to save some money- and live with my grandparents...
         

I'm the unicorn, Baylee is next to me, Cass is in front,
and that little devil on the side is our friend Katie.

Now, a college student, living at home. Maybe that will ring some bells for commuters. Yes, a few people in and around Tyler drive here every day they have class!

With my new found commuter status, I'll be able to shed some light on parking,
getting to class on time (when I can't just roll out of bed), and staying involved when
I don't have fun activities right under my nose! 

Where do y'all live?