MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Northern Michigan University’s campus filled up on Thursday as students moved in to what will their new homes for the next nine months, toting cartloads of luggage.
“I pretty much brought everything,” said NMU freshman Jaiden Demaray. “I like to overpack. I’d rather be overprepared than underprepared.”
“Really just kind of like the essentials, the stuff you need, and the stuff you keep to entertain yourself,” said NMU sophomore Austin Graham. “Then obviously the school supplies as well.”
Along with the luggage, students came bearing excitement, and nerves.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how our athletic teams are going to do,” said Graham. “Really excited to see our theatre department, it just keeps growing every year as well. Really excited to see the growth of NMU this year.”
“I’m pretty nervous about leaving my friends behind I guess,” said Demaray. “And not being so close to them and my family, and leaving my pets.”
Luckily they didn’t have to undertake the process alone, as many returning students were ready to help out.
“We are greeting them at the door and bringing them around to their different dorms if they don’t know where they’re going,” said sophomore and welcoming committee member Megan Oehler. “I wanted to make a welcoming community on campus because I remember being so nervous coming as an out-of-state student that I wouldn’t know anybody.”
The football team also helped out by handling a lot of the heavy lifting.
“Pushing in and pushing out like big cargo, cause there’s definitely a lot of people who need some help from people who are able to do things like that,” said freshman football player Kelby Key. “Just to give back. You know the housing community was kind enough to lend us the housing over the summer for summer camp and all of that, so definitely we’re just giving back and saying thanks to them for that.”
In the evening NMU also held a “Welcome Home” party to help all the students settle in to their new dorms.
