Like most universities, UH Hilo has a website for students to consult when preparing to live in our residence halls. Should you bring a microwave or a mini-fridge? Pro-tip: There are community fridges and microwaves in the halls, so if you do not mind sharing, you can probably do without. We all have our favorite pillow, so this one is key because we want our students to get a good night’s sleep! If our students are coming from a distance, they often plan to purchase things in Hilo or have things delivered.
That works, too. When I worked in Illinois, I led a team that “adopted” a residence hall, so we helped with move-in. My hall, the oldest women’s dorm in Illinois, was a beautiful building that had no elevator and no AC, so lugging things up the stairs was an adventure (and a great workout!).
It was a tiring but joyous day, as we witnessed students, particularly the new students, prepare for the upcoming year. This same thing will happen this week at UH Hilo, where teams will greet students with aloha, help the residents get settled, and in general share in the excitement of our newest students. A recent article in the New York Times suggested that students might need some other things — phone cards, medical records, an emergency credit card.
Some families tuck encouraging notes in their students’ belongings, to be found and opened when they unpack. Others give their student a free pass of sorts. “If you get in trouble, call me and I promise I won’t get mad.
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