Jazmyn Fuller  

The first weeks of the fall semester kicked off with a bang at UNCG. Thousands of students began to move into their respective dorms as the ridiculous heat pounded down. Summer is officially over for many of us now (although the weather says otherwise). Boxes and moving carts were central in the building halls with both new and old residents unloading. Roommates were meeting and talking about future plans. Friends were rekindling and comparing schedules together while professors began to approach the fall season with lesson ideas.  

Tate Street and Downtown Greensboro have both been hot commodities lately. Even the new thrifting spot that just opened, Late Checkout Thrift on West Gate City Blvd, had a lengthy line stretching past other nearby shops during its grand opening. On campus, the annual Fall Kickoff took place on College Avenue during the first day of classes, and it was hard to with all of the colorful booths introducing learners to over 250 organizations and university departments. Many other fun events took place, especially on weekends, catering to various hobbies. The Piney Palooza annual kickoff, hosted by UNCG Recreation and Wellness, happened on August 29th, and hundreds of excited students attended. The event included a volleyball game, paddleboats on the lake, and arts and crafts activities. For one activity, students decorated flower pots and wrote down personal goals to put inside, and the message was simple and powerful: as the plant grows, your dreams grow along with it. 

For some students, the first couple of weeks are spent shifting back into college life, while for others, it’s their first time navigating UNCG. I took the liberty of interviewing two students about their first weeks on campus to capture the experience. Juliana, a returning student in the class of 2028, expresses that she is “definitely still adjusting and trying to find a work-life balance whilst also trying to have fun.” Regarding social life at UNCG, she says “it has been a fun, social time meeting new people and parties,” but that she is “still trying to find friends that stick.”  

Gaia, a first-year student in the class of 2030, had plenty to say about her own experience. When asked about how her move-in went, she responded that “it was honestly kind of hard at first. It was a lot of trial and error–moving stuff around… but overall, it ended up being a success. Once everything was finally in place, it started to feel like my space, and that made it worth it.” Gaia also describes a great first day despite the stress of locating her classes: “The only frustrating part was figuring out where everything was,” she explains. 

Now, with the first week excitement dying down and September arriving, a routine sets in with an established daily campus life. I have learned from talking with students that we all are experiencing the return differently, but one opinion remains the same: to have a good start to the year, get your foot in the door, spend valuable time getting to know the people, and familiarize yourself with everything UNCG has to offer.