The Georgia heat hangs thick in the air, cicadas buzzing from the oak trees that shade the red-brick pathways of campus.
Families crowd the narrow street outside your dorm, car trunks popped open and piled high with fans, coolers, and bedding.
Student volunteers in red “Hunker Down” shirts weave through the chaos, pushing carts and calling out friendly greetings.
The sharp bark of “Go Dawgs!” echoes from somewhere nearby, instantly answered by a chorus of “Sic ’em!” from a group of upperclassmen helping with move-in.
Your parents’ car pulls away slowly, leaving you with your suitcase handle gripped tightly in your palm.
The dorm looms in front of you, its white columns catching the late-morning sun, a steady stream of students lugging mini-fridges and microwaves up the steps.
A wave of nervous excitement rolls through you—this is Athens, this is the Bulldog Nation, and this is the start of your college story.