Yesterday, was a special day for a couple reasons. First of all, it was my birthday. This was the first year that I really didn’t care if I got anything, and truthfully, I didn’t care if anyone remembered. It helped that it also happened to be the day my sister, Brenna, was moving off to college.

I remember the day I moved off to college. I had be eagrly awaiting it for months (maybe even years). As I’ve said so many times before, Virginia tends to bore me and get on my nerves. Moving off to college, I hoped, would get me on the fast track out of here. Looks like it didn’t work so well because I am back here right now, but I digress. I had everything I needed packed up into our two minivans the night before and I rushed off to bed like a rich kid on Christmas Eve. The next morning, I woke up early, and made the trek down to St. John’s. Upon arriving, I was immediately thrown into the move in day chaos.

I’m sure you’ve seen it in a movie or two. That first day of college (especially for freshman) where only chaos rules. Being that I was moving into the sophmore dorms instead of the freshman variety, afforded me a lot of the hassle. However, I was living on the 3rd floor and that meant hauling everything in an elevator (or up the stairs). I think we did a bit of both, but most of it went up the stairs.

I was greeted at my new room by one of my best friends, Andy, who I went to high school with. He was the reason I was there. He’d talked me into checking out the campus and it was him who got me into the sophmore dorms. Together, with some help from our families, we put together our loft, and moved things in. I can remember thinking that living in that small of a room was going to suck really bad. As not to disappoint, it did. However, those are some memories I’ll hold on to forever. It’s almost like you’re a kid again. No parents. There are a few building and school rules. Other than that, its up to you. Looking back, I was an idiot. I didn’t know shit even though I thought I did. I made a ton of mistakes. But I wouldn’t change a thing.

So this past Sunday when I moved my sister down to college, I was trying to put myself in her place. The confusion, the fun, orientation, new friends, a roommate, and every other thing that rolls through your head on the first day at college. To all the freshman out there. Make this year count. Do stupid stuff in your dorm. Get drunk every weekend. Go to class (or skip it). It’s all a part of the college experience. Take it from someone who’s been there. You can only get away with these things once in life.

I’ll leave with my freshman year motto: “There’s a time and a place for everything, and that place is college.”