DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) – “Nerves” were a common theme Thursday as hundreds of new freshmen started filling their dorm rooms at St. Norbert College in De Pere.
The campus was buzzing with new faces and plenty of help from faculty, staff and administrators, helping students get aquatinted with their new home.
Sophomore Naomy Garcia was part of the “Bruess Brigade,” helping transport new students’ belongings to the dorms.
“It’s a big day; you’re going to a new school. A lot of these people are coming from far away. Then you feel overwhelmed, making new friends, where you’re going to live, you’re on your own and then just having a bunch of friendly faces around you is super reassuring,” said Garcia.
Freshman, Grace Johnson, is finding her way around.
“I think I’m the most nervous about not being at home but I’m the most excited about new experiences and making new friends and kind of being on my own,” said Johnson.
Another new face on campus is St. Norbert College President Brian Bruess.
Thursday was his first time welcoming students on campus since taking over for former St. Norbert President Thomas Kunkel.
Bruess has a unique perspective since he was a freshman at St. Norbert over 3 decades ago.
“31 years ago my mom and dad dropped me off on the steps of Burke Hall and my mom cried for 3 hours on the drive home to Monroe but the excitement and energy that new students and families bring to the campus is just palpable. These kinds of days are our favorite kinds of days on college campus,” Bruess said.
Although new experiences can be scary, Bruess has a couple of tips for incoming freshmen.
“Do things that you love to do and try some things that you’ve never done. But the most important thing is to be engaged, to be involved, and know that these are the greatest years of your life, at least thus far,” Bruess said.
Returning students move in on Friday.
Classes begin on Monday.
