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Here come our college students

t’s an important weekend in Lock Haven – just as in many communities that are home to colleges and universities.

It’s move-in weekend.

If you haven’t already noticed, parents and students are arriving with cars, trucks and trailers loaded with furniture, clothing and supplies to load into their dormitories or apartments.

Today is move-in day for freshmen; Sunday is for upper classmen.

(So locals, steer clear of North Fairview Street on campus this weekend if you can.)

As Lock Haven University celebrates its 145th school year, enrollment this fall looks to come in at around 4,600, with more than 4,000 attending the main campus here and a few hundred at the university’s Clearfield campus.

That means Lock Haven’s population rises to over 13,000 – if you believe the U.S. Census estimate that the city is home to about 9,600 (but we believe a portion of that number already includes college students.)

Freshman and sophomores at LHU are required to live on campus.

To locals, think of it this way: Several thousand parents are entrusting the safety and security of their young adult children to our fair city.

Over the course of their college stay here, most of these students will contribute to this community in some way, whether helping to clean up downtown streets, hang decorations, study our water quality, work with the local women’s shelter, or volunteer with a nonprofit charity.

Giving is a part of their schooling and experience, as it should be.

And so we have some advice to these kids:

r Make friends with people who share similar goals.

r Don’t go home right away, or often for that matter.

r Join a club or group.

r Go to class, do your homework.

r Maintain your personal values and standards.

We agree with John Gardner, author of “Your College Experience: Strategies for Success,” who said, “Students are going to be confronted with choices about doing things to belong, and they should not compromise their values. If they do compromise their values, this can cause tremendous damage to their self-esteem.”

He adds, “Homesickness is a factor, particularly for men. Believe it or not, men adjust less well to leaving home than women do. Men tend to be less mature at age 18 than women.”

And parents, be firm as your first-time college student calls or texts you to say that “things aren’t going well.”

College days are among the most rewarding in life.

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