Let the Countdown Begin!

*Cue intro music to  “Eye of the Tiger”

Ladies and gentlemen, the countdown has begun. In just a few short weeks, you will be packing up your belongings, saying goodbye to mommy and daddy, and welcoming the best four years of your life.

On August 21st, over 1,200 freshman will attend Thunder Academy. You and hundreds of Future T-Birds have been waiting for this moment since the day you said “I Do” to this marvelous institution of Higher Education. Your college career can officially begin.

Starting college may be exciting, scary, happy, and even confusing as an incoming student. Thunder Academy is an action-packed 4 day course to help you transition from living at home with your family to making SUU your new home. We recognize the storm of emotions you may go through during this transition, so here are a few tips to make Thunder Academy at SUU the best kickstart to your college career:

#1. Let your freak flag fly! This is the perfect time to be who you really want to be. Mandy Hale said, “Just be yourself. Let people see the real, imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird, beautiful and magical person that you are.” You have a fresh start, so make the best of it!

#2. Make NEW friends. These few days of Thunder Academy should most definitely allow for some bonding moments. The friends you make during these first days may be your lifeline during the first few weeks of school when you get homesick or need some help with your math. You may find that your new friends need you just as much as you need them.

#3. PARTICIPATE! The activities in this course are designed to help you succeed in your first year at college. Go to all the speakers, and take notes. Participate in Campus Tie-Dye and the Red and White Dance. Have a good attitude about the Saturday Service Project. Active participation will give you a positive start to an exciting year. (Not to mention many of the planned events are required for the Passport Class.)

#4. Get some sleep. But not too much. New roommates. New friends. New campus. It’s like the night before your birthday, when you were nine. So exciting! All of these new changes make for quite a bit of energy, but make sure to get some sleep during the weekend. You want to be awake and ready for classes on the 25th. But I’m also going to tell you to stay up (some what) late these first few days with your new roomies. Get to know each other. Bond.

#5. Embrace SUU. You are now a TBird. Let me say that again. YOU ARE NOW A TBIRD!!! Nothing is more exciting than that. Wear your SUU gear. Tear up when you walk through the Carter Carillon Tower. Cheer as loud as you can when the fireworks go off and Thor repels from the ceiling. You are now part of the TBird Nation. And we couldn’t be more excited.

So let the countdown begin! We can’t wait to welcome you to our family.