UW Orientation

Last weekend was Freshmen Orientation at University of Wyoming. The two day event was similar to several other days we have spent at UW as far as content. However, unlike the other times, the students stay overnight in the dorms and spend a good part of the time separate from the parents.

We got her all checked in Thursday morning to her home for the night.

Her roommate was a nice girl from Casper, although neither of us can remember her name:/ 

They didn't spend very much time in their dorm.

For all the positive things the University has to offer, the dorm rooms are not one of them. They are old and in need of a remodel (coming in the near future we hear). Basically, they are what a dorm room and college living is supposed to be. Not like the housing complexes that are popping up on campuses that are more like luxurious apartments with ridiculous amenities.

Kars was still at camp and Mark felt much of it was repetitive enough that he worked part of the first day in the Laramie office. Luckily I  had my little sidekick (and her sidekick;) to keep me company.

The second day we skipped part of the parent presentation that we have heard more than once and walked around campus. We stopped in at the Geological Museum where we took Bailee frequently when Mark was in school. 

Emmrey had her fill of the Augmented Reality Sandbox, an interactive exhibit that teaches concepts like topography, watersheds and ecosystems.  

We may have overdone it with the tossing of pinecones in the resident T-Rex's mouth.... 

a "rite of passage" since the 60's

Later that afternoon we met up with Bay and had lunch at Panda in the Union.  She had just completed the big step of registering for her first semester of college. She was pretty surprised to learn she has taken all the Math she needs as an undergraduate!! She was equally disappointed to learn that despite taking it in high school, she still has to take another Chemistry class. She will be taking 14 credit hours of Chemistry, Biology, Labs, Taste of China (Freshman Seminar) and an Honors Colloquium on Western Civilizations. Because she took advantage of the concurrent enrollment program in high school, she already has 34 credit hours under her belt. 

Her "opportunities are many" 

We are so excited for her and this new chapter of her life. I feel confident that University of Wyoming is the right choice for her at this time. However, I have no illusions that this transition will be without struggle. I am fully prepared to have a break down:)