Faculty and staff volunteers help first-year students move into Oak Hall on Thursday morning. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)

The annual ritual of Move-in Day commenced last Thursday at the University of Missouri–St. Louis as students and parents, assisted by volunteers, carried their boxed-up belongings and dorm decorations into Oak Hall.

The day launched a new phase in the students’ lives.

G Schmiedeke, who’s been playing the violin since they were 3 years old, and plays four other instruments, was looking forward to beginning their life at UMSL as a double major in music education and violin performance. They were excited to continue a family connection with the university.

G’s mother, Beth, also plays the violin and got her MEd at UMSL. Her stepmother’s father was James Westbury, one of the founders of UMSL. Beth’s stepmother attended the university as well.

All of this connection helped make Schmiedeke feel as if they made the right choice in picking UMSL for their college education.

“So many members of my family went here,” Schmiedeke said. “It just kind of feels like a rite of passage to get to go here and go through the music program. Music is my passion. It’s my hobby. It’s my reason for existing. I now get to go to school where music is the goal of my education. Everything I’m doing is going towards the thing that I love, and I’m really excited for that.”

Identical twins, Audrey and Ella Lantz, who are members of the UMSL women’s swim team, were also excited for their future, including the greater independence that comes with college life. The two drove to UMSL from Warsaw, Indiana, with their mom and dad, anticipating what this new experience will have in store for them.

Audrey and Ella Lantz got help from their parents as they moved into rooms next door to each other in Oak Hall. The sisters are members of the UMSL swim team. (Photo by Wendy Todd)

Audrey equated stepping onto the horizon of adulthood to being a “baby adult.”

“I’ll get to do a lot of what I want but still have my parents involved in a lot of it,” she said.

Ella, whose room is right next to her sister’s, had simple words of encouragement to those who may be afraid to venture out into college life on their own and live away from home.

“If you’re scared, just try it,” she said.

Chelsea Basa, a biochemistry major from O’Fallon, Missouri, followed that advice and decided to change her decision to live at home and stay in the residence hall. She wanted the full college experience.

“I already know it’s very different from home life to share a space with people,” Basa said. “I feel like it will be fun, and I’ll be able to meet new people. So it’s nice.”

Bryce May, of Maryland Heights, Missouri, will be studying nursing and chemistry this semester. She was also looking forward to making new friends and hoping for opportunities to socialize between coursework. Without a car, staying in the residence hall was a convenient choice for her.

May, whose mother is a nurse, became interested in the field while in middle school. She chose UMSL because of the reputation of the nursing program and its cost-effectiveness. Additionally, though she yearned for some independence, she wanted to remain in the area to remain close to her mother and younger sister.

“I just think it was better to stay home than try to go out and start a new life,” she said.

As Michael Elliott, interim dean of the College of Business and Administration was helping students unload, it brought back nostalgic memories of his initial days in college.

“The first day of going to college is like a new beginning,” Elliott said. “You feel nervous, excited and energized. You’re waiting to meet new people and are optimistic about the future.”