Southeast freshmen prepare for a new experience as they arrive on campus Thursday

Like hundreds of other incoming freshmen at Southeast Missouri State University on Thursday, Josie Seely spent her morning and afternoon unpacking belongings and settling into a campus residence hall.

A pre-med major from Cuba, Missouri, Seely already has started a job at Saint Francis Medical Center as a lab assistant and will begin classes Monday.

"It's not scary or anything," Seely said of moving to a new town. "I'm just nervous to start school."

Southeast Missouri State University freshman Josie Seely hangs up a shirt Thursday as she settles into her dorm room in Merick Hall. (Glenn Landberg)

She and her parents, Jody and Doug, arrived on campus at 9:30 a.m. for new student move-in day.

Seely said she always has been interested in attending Southeast, and several family members have graduated from the university as well. But she is the first of three daughters in the family to move away for college.

"It's a little different," Jody Seely said. "I think I teared up more when I saw her in scrubs, though."

"You haven't left yet," Doug Seely added. "It's going to be a long ride home."

Southeast's residence halls were filled with similar stories, as students, parents and about 1,000 volunteers unloaded cars and carried televisions, computers, refrigerators, bedding and other supplies to the rooms.

"There must be 30 kiddos down there, waiting to unload people," said Keith Lester, whose daughter, Grace Lester, was moving into her new room. "Years ago, it's like you and your family did it all and made 100 trips. It's very nice they have all those volunteers."

Southeast Missouri State University freshman Brenden Leahy moves his computer into place Thursday as he settles into his dorm room in Myers Hall. (Glenn Landberg)

Grace Lester of St. Louis plans to major in communications at Southeast and said she was drawn to the university because she liked the Cape Girardeau area.

"And I really liked the Catholic involvement, because my faith is really important to me," she said.

Lester said she has experienced long trips away from home before, so she wasn't concerned about being away from St. Louis.

"I don't get homesick," she said. "I'm super excited for it."

As a parent, her dad said, that's comforting.

"We know a couple others who have anxiety already," he said.

The university has a full schedule of activities planned for students before classes begin, from orientations to opportunities for exploring campus.

The hallmark of the weekend is the welcome convocation at 10 a.m. today in the Show Me Center.

The event offers students the opportunity to meet new Southeast president Carlos Vargas-Aburto, Student Government President Peter Jacobsen and faculty representative Willie Redmond.

"Convocation is an extension of the student's orientation program, and all new students are expected to attend," Katie Foshee, assistant director of admissions for new student programs, said in a news release. "It is really the only time students get to sit down with their whole class. It's the first time to be addressed by the president. It's the first time to really get your charge as a class and to go forth and take Southeast by storm."

Brenden Leahy, an incoming computer science major from Auburn, Illinois, said he has been excited to move to campus.

"Last weekend, I was crying, but by Tuesday I was like, 'I'm ready to get you out, too,'" his mother, Toni, said with a laugh.

Leahy and his parents got to campus at 5:45 a.m. for the early-bird move-in, and Toni Leahy said it was an easy experience.

"This swarm of student helpers came in," she said. "It was unloaded in a snap."

She said the drive to campus for orientation earlier this year came with a sad feeling.

"But then I was feeling very positive about the experience when we toured the campus," she said. "There was really a small community feel to it, but still had that bigger college aesthetic, as well."

Asked whether he was looking forward to college life, Leahy said, "I'm ready."

klamb@semissourian.com

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