Getting Back To Campus

When I was a first-year, I was really worried about all the logistics of returning to campus without my parents after winter break. Now, after having done it exactly twice, I feel pretty confident getting from anywhere in the country to my dorm in Northfield, Minnesota.

At 4am (EST) on January 2nd, I rolled out of bed, hugged my uncle’s Boston Terrier, and was dropped off at Bradley International Airport. My uncle so very kindly helped me take my luggage out of his truck. 

Tip: Arrive to the airport plenty early after the holidays, at least 2 hours before boarding time. 

Although it was super early in the morning, the airport was incredibly busy. My TSA Pre-Check came in handy for reducing my stress levels and moving a little bit quicker through the line. If you follow all the rules set forth by the TSA, which can be found online, you’ll be okay. TSA is by far the most stressful part of traveling for me, but I try my best to remember that TSA agents put their pants on one leg at a time just like me.

The night before my flight, I familiarized myself with the layout of the airports I would be traveling to: Bradley International, Chicago-Midway, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. I learned where my terminal was, where the toilets were, and where to buy a coffee.

Tip: The line for the restroom is always long. Get in line before it gets any longer!

Even though I’ve heard the plane safety spiel a million times, I am always surprised at how smoothly the flight attendants model how the seatbelt and oxygen masks work. If I were up there, I just know that I’d drop that seat belt buckle on the person sitting next to me. As the flight attendants “arm doors and cross check,” I got comfortable in my seat by putting my neck pillow on. I knew we were going to be there for a while.

Sleep, read, listen to music, and eat snacks. That is what I always do on flights. After having spent many, many hours on a plane over the past year, I got used to take-off, landing, and even turbulence. I am pretty sure that I was asleep before the plane even took off.

Tip: If your ears hurt during take-off or landing, chew some gum.

Once the plane touched down smoothly at Chicago-Midway (no one clapped, unfortunately), I started mentally gathering all my things in my head. Headphones, check. Backpack, check. Winter coat, check. I never want to accidentally leave anything on board!

I would love to always have a non-stop, direct flight to MSP, but it isn’t always possible. Trying to find my terminal in a very short layover can be stressful, but moving walkways and overhead signs are my best friend in airports. 

Tip: If you wear Carleton merch to the airport, sometimes you might find a fellow Carl headed back too. That’s what happened to me this time around! We talked about OCS and our plans for winter term.

It’s a well-known fact that Northfield has limited ride-share app options, but when you’re coming from MSP to Northfield, there are often plenty of Uber/Lyfts available. In the past, I have split Ubers with fellow Carls, but this time, I went solo.

There is also a bus that goes from MSP to Carleton, but make sure you buy your ticket well in advance. Don’t be like me and accidentally forget to book a ticket. (I may or may not have actually planned on taking the bus back. We will never know.)

Tip: Share your location with a trusted friend or family member. Remember to check the license plate of your ride-share vehicle. It is better to be rude than unsafe!

By the time I reached my dorm room, I was running on fumes. It definitely is a bit of a hassle to fly half-way across the country, but I wouldn’t trade my experiences at Carleton for a closer college anyways. After the long haul, I took a shower and crawled into bed for a nap.

We’re back on campus, and I am so very excited to see what happens next!

Lexi Wallace (she/her) is excited to be returning to Carleton as a sophomore. She works as an Admissions Blogger, Russian Teaching Assistant, and Writing Consultant. She plans on becoming a SOAN and Russian double major, but you’ll have to ask her what she ends up declaring in the spring. Her current obsessions are oat milk, NCIS, and Doc Martens.