Don’t worry, moms. We’ll take good care of them.
Over the summer, Illinois students and their families descended onto campus for summer registration to get their official student IDs and learn more about the place where they’d be living, working, studying for the next four years.
Like any new students, some of our freshmen said they're nervous, anxious and excited for the upcoming year. So were some of their parents.
Phuc Do, incoming freshman, Alleman High School, Quad Cities, engineering
“I’m definitely anxious. This is a totally new thing. I’m starting fresh. Basically, I’ve lived in the same area all my life. What’s it going to be like to start a new leaf? It brings up anticipation, anxiety.
Maybe I’ll get involved in recreation sports – maybe tennis. Maybe join some engineering clubs. High school was definitely busy for me. I anticipate being more free in college, but I know I probably won’t be.
I’ve been here before. I participated in the ICTM (Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics) competition in high school. But being here now, it feels more real.”
What does Phuc’s mom think?
“I’m worried!” she said smiling. “The campus is BIG.”
Breana Wright, incoming freshman, Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, Chicago, Illinois, biology
“Before I visited, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to come or not. And I didn’t know the cost.
The first thing I noticed was the amount of students and the size of the campus. I’m happy it’s a big campus. My high school was small.
I’m excited to start school. I’ll have more freedom and the classes will be different. And I won’t have to want up early in the morning. I’m excited about taking genetics - it’s just interesting. And calculus. I like numbers. They’re easy for me.”
What does Breana’s mom think?
“It’s a good school. I’m excited. I’m nervous. I like the fact that it’s close. But it’s far enough for her to be independent. It’s a big campus. But she’s so used to a big city, I know she’ll adjust.”
Tanner Koehne, incoming freshman, Greenfield High School, Greenfield, Illinois, engineering
I had never been here before I got accepted, but I knew the prestige of the University of Illinois.
I knew it had a really good engineering school. I like doing things with my hands. When I was a little kid, I used to take stuff apart and put it back together.
Greenfield (population: 1,048) is a small town, so coming into a big city, I’ll just have to get used to it. There were 30 kids in my graduating high school class.
What does Tanner’s mom think?
“I’m very nervous, but I have an older daughter who is out of college. She’s been up here living in Urbana for two years. So her presence here has made me feel a little bit better.”
For updates on beginning of the year activities from Move-In Day to Welcome Week, make sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or find us using the hashtag #ILLINOISwelcome.
