FAMU began welcoming students back to campus Monday, as cars filled with luggage pulled into residence halls and families helped their students settle in for the fall semester.
Move-in continues throughout the week, bringing new and returning students back to a campus that had grown noticeably quieter during the summer.
For some, the arrival marks their first experience living on campus. For others, it is a familiar ritual, one that can carry a sense of finality.
Sarah Dominguez, a resident assistant at FAMU, said the return of students has transformed the atmosphere on campus.
“It’s so exciting; summer was fun. It was very quiet, but it really is such a treat to see so many excited faces, so many people starting their Rattler journeys and so many Rattler families,” Dominguez said.
For senior Oksana Sun, move-in brought a mix of excitement and reflection.
“It’s a bit bittersweet being that I’m a senior,” Sun said. “You know this is my last time actually getting to experience my undergrad, but it’s also exciting because I know that I made it. I’m a senior!”
Dominguez said the opportunity to welcome students — whether they are arriving for the first time or beginning their final year — is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.
“We’re so excited to have our Rattlers back and welcome new Rattlers for the very first time,” she said. “Our students have a very special place in our hearts and we love to be able to assist them on their educational and personal journey, in their growth, and it really is such a privilege to be able to serve them through this process.”
By week’s end, residence halls will be filled and the quiet of summer will have given way to the energy of another academic year at FAMU.