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It's been 25 years since I was a college freshman

A college friend of my happens to work in student affairs at our alma mater. Earlier this week I saw on his Facebook page that he will welcome 700 new freshman to campus on Friday.

I did the math -- it's been 25 years since we were moving in ourselves. Wow.

I don't remember a good deal about that day or that week. But I remember the important details.

I liked my roommate -- Robert was from Blackville, SC and his father was a Baptist minister, but not the crazy kind. He was the oldest of three and a math whiz. Scholarships paid his tuition, that and the money he earned running a cash register in the local Sky City. The residence life people paired us up as roommates. We were both coming early for the marching band camp and we were non-smokers. (That's about all we had in common.) He was thrilled to be away from home.

At this point 25 years ago, Robert and I had been there a week. There were two football players on our hall and a Resident Assistant who's name was Doug, I think. By the time everyone else moved in there, the football and band freshmen knew our way around campus, at least enough to not get lost.

Last year was our 20th college reunion and I had a great time reconnecting with these people who I've lost touch with.

A couple of my friends are moving kids into college dorms this week. My hope for those kids is that they end up meeting the kinds of folks I first met 25 years ago tomorrow.

If so, that will be a great blessing.

Filed under: college
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