The big day has arrived.
Thousands of students moved into their UCSB dorms—their first time away from home—during the annual move-in weekend.
It was a day of emotional goodbyes, and new starts before classes at the university officially start on Thursday.
Families hauled move-in carts filled with clothes, toiletries and mattress covers across university residence halls on Friday. The News-Press spoke to the class of 2030 about the beginning of their college journey.
Dayanna Gonzalez, lugging a suitcase outside San Nicolas Residence Hall, said she is a first-generation college student and that she felt lucky to continue her education at UCSB.
“I just want to make my parents proud,” said Gonzales, who is majoring in pre-biology.
Move-in for UCSB’s residence halls started Friday, and will last through Sunday, Sept. 20.
A pop-up tent with UCSB staff greeted families outside San Miguel and San Nicolas residence halls. Signs directed cars along El Colegio Road.
The university assigned students time slots to move in.
Ariana Solomon said she was excited to leave Colorado and start her new life in Santa Barbara.
“Getting to start over really entices me,” said Solomon, a resident of South Santa Catalina Residence Hall.
Solomon will be studying economics at UCSB, and eventually wants to go to law school. She was accompanied by her mom, dad and older sister on Friday.
On the same floor of the residence hall, Sophia Flaa settled into her three-bedroom dorm with her mom and dad. Flaa, who is from Santa Maria, said she chose UCSB for its “beachy vibe.”
Flaa will be studying psychology and brain science at the university and wants to rush a sorority.
Since she is closer to home, Flaa expects the transition to be smooth.
Over at San Miguel Residence Hall Benicio Labuguen unloaded duffle bags beside his mom and dad inside his dorm room.
Labuguen said the university was his first choice when applying to schools. His mom, Therese, graduated from UCSB in the 90s.
The incoming mechanical engineering student was homeschooled from kindergarten until 8th grade in Brisbane and now is ready for college.
He is part of the university’s track and field team, and he hopes the sport will help him to meet new people.
As Labuguen looked around the inside of his new home for the next year, he said, “I want to just enjoy my best life here.”
