First Week!!!

    No I'm not talking about First Week, as in the seniors in High School go to the beach first week, but I am talking about something even better!!! The first week at Clemson, I don't know how the first week of school is at other schools but it absolutely crazy and soooo much fun here at Clemson! There is always something going on all week the first week. Basically the first week is just slammed packed with specific events for freshman and events open to the whole student body and the public as well.
    When freshman come to Clemson, they always move in the Saturday before classes start...and when I say they move in I mean they park and a whole bunch of student volunteers move all their stuff to their room...literally all the new students have to do is pick up their loft if they got one, and unpack their boxes. It probably is the best idea ever. That is the best feeling ever when you are a freshman moving into college for the first time, you really get a big sense of family cause there are all these really nice people who are complete strangers offering to carry your heavy boxes up four flights of stairs just to help you out and welcome you to the school. Clemson strives on trying to make the huge campus (19,000 undergrads, 4,000 grads) feel small, and family oriented. That is a huge reason in why I personally chose Clemson, it also happens to be the best college for engineering in South Carolina.
     Sunday is when all the upperclassman move on campus and it is a chill day to allow freshman to adjust and settle into campus. Monday on the other hand is super busy for all the new students on campus they have their huge Convocation, which is basically a pep rally/ceremony to welcome them and give them some encouraging words from the higher ups here at Clemson. Then later that afternoon the Football team held their fan appreciation day, in which they open the stadium to the public and all the football team and head coach Dabo are throughout the stadium signing memorabilia. Nichole and I attended the lovely fan appreciation day and received several signatures, my tiger rag is covered in names and numbers of the players! After the fan appreciation day there was the president's picnic in which the President invites all the new students and returning students to come and enjoy lunch with him and his wife on their lawn. President Barker goes well out of his way to make the new students feel welcome and welcome back the returning ones. He makes a point to shake everyones' hands as they enter the picnic. Our president is truly amazing and very student oriented. Monday finishes out with one of the craziest events here at Clemson. Its the Target Back to School Event. Basically the Target closest to Clemson literally opens its doors after hours to just Clemson students and throws a huge event for us. It includes free stuff, awesome giveaways and a random dance floor in the middle of the store. When I say crazy I mean crazy, the line to go to the event literally wraps around the shopping center, and the shopping center has several other large stores in it. If you go to this event I guarantee you, you will not walk away empty handed.
    Now Tuesday  wraps up all the required events that freshman and new transfers must complete and the day ends with a huge Welcome Back Festival in Downtown Clemson. The Downtown area in Clemson literally is blocked off so no cars car drive on it, tents are put up and local businesses give away free things or sell neat stuff for super cheap. This year Bi-Lo was selling backpacks full of food for only 50 cents! The festival also has a stage set up where part of the TigerBand preforms, as well as the Rally Cats and other local bands. Its a great atmosphere and another great way to welcome students back, both new and old!