New Science & Math Students Move In

or, New Science & Math Students Maius Opus Moveo In

Move-in started at 9am this morning at the School of Science and Math (a magnet boarding school for academically talented juniors and seniors from across North Carolina, located in the old Watts Hospital at the corner of Broad and Club).

I was an alumni volunteer, positioned at the Reynolds circle with teachers sporting yellow t-shirts, members of the student orientation committee, current seniors, and current parent volunteers. As soon as a car backed into the circle, new students and their moms and dads and siblings were met with a whoosh of volunteers ready to carry dorm-gear up stairs and elevators. Inside, smiling student greeters handed out packets, water, fruit snacks.

What room is this going to? Is that Reynolds C, D, or E? Okay, grab a hand-truck for the fridge. Let’s go. Hold the elevator! So where are you from? Oh, I know somebody from there. Here it is, what a great room you got. Okay, you’re set, have a great year!

So many things the new students brought! Coordinating bed linens, plastic baskets of toiletries, laptops, mini fridges, DVD collections, posters were common; but also a harp, a guitar and amp, a blender, a papasan chair. With so many more students, I saw many double rooms have been converted to triples, and the single on my old hall is now a double. It’ll be a tight fit for the chair, I think.

I wandered over to Bryan to see other alumni volunteers, but quickly hurried back to Reynolds. Bryan has changed so much, I wasn’t much use. I couldn’t even find my way out of the building from that side of campus! Before I left, I recognized Dr. Boarman driving gear across the lawn to the Bryan/Beall entrance in a golf cart (steel ramps covered the stairs).

I also saw the most charming scene, and regretted leaving my camera in the car. A family was helping their son move in, and the little sister–maybe 3 years old–led the way, carrying a lamp shade, excitement and determination on her face, not realizing her brother was leaving home for good but perhaps one day looking back with inspiration, his experience sparking her own little fire of interest in math and science. It was more touching than I can describe. The whole morning was pretty darn touching.

Happy adventures, juniors! Make the most of it.