What I Remember About Welcome Weekend

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I will never forget my second day of Welcome Weekend, NU’s new student orientation week, when I moved onto the Northwest University campus as a freshman in 2011. After we all said goodbye to our parents, we had a movie night. We huddled together in groups on blankets in the grass with our newfound friends and floormates. I had found a great group of girls from my floor, and we were talking about how we were so excited for our first solo night as “real college kids.” The movie shown was “Toy Story 3,” where Andy goes off to college, and we all—as in the entirety of the field of NU students—ended up crying on the grass. So many people cried that the NU orientation crew sent us an apology for setting up a movie that was “too fitting” for the events of the day! 
  
However, what I really remember about that night was relief. I felt like I was the only student who was going to cry over saying goodbye to my parents. All the other students, though they were also my age or thereabouts, were college kids. (Of course, I was conveniently forgetting that so was I). I thought everyone else was “tougher” than I was.

I was wrong. 
  
Going off to college is emotional for everyone—students and parents alike. However, that day solidified for me that I was not the only one missing my parents and that I deeply loved my parents. Although I never doubted this, I was able to feel the depth of that love in a new way. Distance makes the heart grow fonder is not just a saying.

If you’re a parent of an incoming student who will be going off to college soon, I encourage you to know that although things will change as your child enters this new phase of life, a new level of love, appreciation, and respect may emerge. I know it did for me and many of my classmates.

This is a time for your child to truly begin to see your everyday efforts throughout their lives—everything from meals and laundry to helping them build a strong foundation in Christ. We are excited to continue to partner with you in developing your student into not only a strong scholar, but a person devoted to our Lord, Jesus Christ and those He came to serve.  
  
May God bless you and your family in this new phase of life and love.   
  
Crista Greenwood 
NU alumna (’15 and ’20) and current employee