Wednesday, August 20, 2008

A New Semester



I meant to get out and shoot some pictures of the first day of classes, but you'll have to settle for pictures of the second day of classes. After the relative quiet of the summer, the Pit seems to be bursting with students. It's probably the busiest place on campus, since it's bordered by the Student Union, the Undergraduate Library, Lenoir (one of the main dining halls), and Student Stores. A lot of student organizations also set up tables and signs to recruit new members, so it's a great way to see what's going on around campus.



Watch the Pitcam to see what's going on in the Pit right this second.



This morning in the Daily Tar Heel, I read a great column written by first-year Olga Kuzmina. She writes about how she made the decision to come to Carolina, and also about the challenges of adjusting to college life. It's a beautifully written and honest piece. She ends by saying:
"We all bring our own ideals of how our UNC experience should be. We put aside parts of our old lives and look to fill those voids with something new; a membership in the Campus Y or the friendship with a roommate that extends beyond Facebook wall posts. Rather than wallow in the absence of familiar faces, I'm throwing out preconceived notions, wearing the tar on my heel with pride and leaving my own footprint on campus."
It's exciting to think about all the first-years who are settling in and contemplating how they'll leave their footprint here. And in the Admissions Office, we're already thinking about the next class of amazing students (that'll be the Class of 2013!). The ones who will be walking through the Pit this time next year, feeling slightly lost, a little homesick, but confident knowing that Carolina is the right place for them. Is it the right place for you?

Our student bloggers are back on campus, and blogging over at the Tar Heel Blog. They are an incredibly enthusiastic and helpful group of students. Check it out, and ask them any questions you have.