There’s no wrong way to move into your college dorm for the very first time – unless, of course, you forgot your toothbrush or your favorite pair of sneakers.
I wouldn’t recall there being a right way to move in either, but if there was, Point Loma Nazarene University certainly nailed it.
Becoming a freshman in college is something that society prioritizes from the time we are little. It starts early with college funds, which many parents begin setting up in elementary school. And as you grow, conversations about “where you want to go” and “what you want to be” become part of everyday life. The anticipation increases in high school with the pressure to build your resume and write those daunting personal essays – all while attending as many college fairs and guidance meetings as you can. National Decision Day arrives, and you take that leap of faith to commit, sign and make the university deposit.
After committing to PLNU, I had no idea what to expect. I certainly didn’t expect to be cheered for because of my decision when I pulled into the parking lot; it was as if the Lord couldn’t make it any more obvious where I was meant to be.
I felt what any college student would feel on their first move-in day — excited yet anxious, with a flood of questions circling in my head – because everything I had worked for in high school was happening here and now.
The car was packed with boxes and bags, each filled with pieces of my life that would help me start this new chapter. I bounced my knee up and down in the passenger seat as nervousness rushed through me.
As soon as I pulled into the Hendricks Hall parking lot, those worries started to melt away. I was greeted by something I hadn’t anticipated — an entire team of PLNU students cheering me on as if I had just won a big game. Their energy was so contagious. This wasn’t just a polite greeting, either; they were enthusiastic and excited and genuinely eager to help me settle in.
It wasn’t the usual “Hi, how are you? Here’s your to-do list and a map of where to go.” Instead, the students were chanting my name, and one member even said, “We are so excited that you’re here! We want you to know that you belong here.”
Her words immediately made me feel at ease. As a follower of Christ, belonging was exactly what I had been seeking and praying for all throughout high school.
This act of welcome reminded me of Romans 15:7, where it says, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” I realized that this wasn’t just a move-in day gesture; it was a reflection of the kind of community PLNU has — one where you are seen, valued, and accepted right from the start.
The PLNU student guided me to my Residential Assistant (RA), who greeted me with a warm smile. She handed me my key and led me up to the dorm that would soon become my new home. When I opened the door, I was in for yet another surprise. The belongings that had just moments before been packed tightly in the car were now neatly placed in my room.
I didn’t have to lift a finger – my backpack, boxes of clothes and even an extra pillow I probably didn’t need were all carefully moved in for me.
It wasn’t just the convenience of the gesture that left me speechless; it was the care and thoughtfulness behind it. It was a huge expression of kindness, one that made me feel not only welcomed but truly cared for.
I’m living in a quad this year, and I was the third of my roommates to move in. One of them greeted me with a big hug and immediately started helping me make my bed and unpack all of my clothes.
As we settled in, we all quickly hit it off, chatting about our move-in day experiences. But the best part of that day was the anticipation that came with each new cheer from the parking lot below. Every time we heard the cheers echo through the building for another freshman, we’d laugh and stop what we were doing and take turns guessing if it was our fourth roommate arriving.
This experience brought to mind another scripture, Matthew 25:35, where Jesus says, “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” PLNU showed me that the right way to move into your dorm for the very first time is to be embraced by a community that reflects the love of Jesus. I found a home where I’m valued, supported and, most importantly, where I belong.
It also served as a reminder to me that no matter where you come from or what you bring with you, there’s always a place for you in the family of Christ.
Noah Shaw