Make the Most of Your First Days: Five Tips for the Opening of School

For every new student, the Opening of School, from arrival through the first week of classes, brings a healthy mix of anticipation and nerves. Whether you're coming from across the globe or just one town away, these first few days are filled with new faces, new routines, and plenty of excitement.

The good news? You're not the only one. Everything you're feeling is completely normal. 

The even better news? The Opening of School is intentionally designed to help you settle in, make connections, and start feeling at home.

Here are our top five ways to make the most of your first days as a Seawolf:

1. Introduce Yourself—Even if It Feels Awkward.

It's a brand-new year at the School by the Sea, and everyone, even the veteran senior, is starting fresh. 

For new students especially, registration can feel overwhelming. When you’re standing in line with tons of other students and families, many of whom are exhausted from driving all morning, don’t be afraid to turn to the student next to you and ask, “Is this your first day, too?" Sometimes one simple question is all it takes to spark a friendship.

While you’ll meet a mix of new and returning students as you’re moving into your dorm, the afternoon’s orientation program is just for new students. The purpose of these orientation activities isn't just to help you learn your way around campus (though there's plenty of that, too). It's also to help you get to know one another.

Everyone is meeting new people from new places with new names you'll probably have to hear (and repeat!) a hundred times, and I promise, the student next to you is feeling just as nervous as you are. A simple “Hi, I’m…” goes a long way in breaking the ice.

Remember, friendships don’t happen all at once. They're built through lots of little interactions. Someone has to get the ball rolling; it might as well be you.

2. Keep Your Door (and Your Mind) Open.

Go ahead and prop your door open while you're unpacking. You'll probably find houseparents, dorm proctors, and returning students wandering the halls introducing themselves (or maybe even offering to help carry that suitcase you probably overpacked!).

More importantly, remember to be open to new experiences. Everyone here is still figuring out who they are and where they fit in, so don't be afraid to jump in. Whether it’s the campus BBQ, an arcade game in the Campus Center, UNO with your dormmates, or cornhole by the waterfront, every invitation is an opportunity to make a connection.

Even if an activity doesn’t sound like “your thing,” the Opening of School is the perfect time to give it a try. You may not discover a hidden talent or a new best friend in these first days, but you’ll still have fun and share a few laughs along the way.

3. Don’t Stress the Dining Hall.

If there's one thing every new student worries about, it's this: Where am I going to sit at meals? 

Here's the secret: you're far from the only person wondering that. In the first weeks of school, everyone (from new students to seasoned faculty members alike) is expecting to meet people. The dining hall quickly becomes one of the easiest places to strike up a conversation, reconnect after orientation activities, and take a seat next to someone new. 

If you're feeling unsure, take a deep breath, admire the waterfront view, and walk up to the nearest table to ask if there's room for one more.

Some of the strongest friendships at Tabor begin over breakfast, lunch, or dinner. So don't be surprised if the thing you worried about most before arriving becomes one of your favorite parts of the day.

4. Ask Questions. (That’s What This Week is For!)

Nobody expects you to know everything on your first day. Seriously, it would be weird if you did!

So don’t be afraid to ask:

• Where’s my classroom?
• How does this laundry machine work?
• When is check-in?
• How do I get to the tennis courts?
• Which way is the swim dock?
• What time is lunch?

Between our friendly faculty, Peer Helpers (that's what we call our student orientation leaders), boarding and day student proctors, student co-heads, dorm parents, and your advisor, you'll never be far from someone who's happy to help.

5. Give Yourself Grace.

It's okay if you're nervous and excited at the same time. It's okay if you and your roommate aren't instantly best friends. And it's okay to feel homesick from time to time.

Homesickness isn't a sign that you made the wrong decision; it's a sign that you have people and places you love. The feeling usually comes and goes as you settle into new routines and friendships, and we promise that every student experiences it at some point. Talk to your dorm parents, proctor, advisor, or another trusted adult if you’re struggling; you don’t have to navigate it alone.

And don't worry; missing home doesn't mean you aren't beginning to feel at home at Tabor. In fact, those two things often happen at the very same time. Before long, you'll recognize familiar faces in the dining hall, know the quickest route across campus, and settle into the rhythms of daily life. Then one day, almost without realizing it, you'll look around and discover that Tabor has started to feel like home.

And here's one last bonus tip: Next year, when you're the experienced Seawolf helping new students find their way around campus, pay it forward. Help someone find the Acky, point them toward their dorm in time for check-in, show them how to get the perfect chocolate-vanilla swirl from the ice cream machine, or invite them to sit with you at lunch. You might be the person who helps turn someone else's first-day nerves into their very first Tabor memory.