Realizing you overpacked—by 6 suitcases.
REALIZING YOU OVERPACKED—BY 6 SUITCASES.
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That first day on campus, carting luggage to your assigned room, it hit you, didn't it? Six suitcases. Six. Plus the carry-on, the backpack, and that essential mini-fridge box. We all wanted to be prepared, to have a piece of home, to not miss a thing. Maybe it was the ambitious stack of textbooks you thought you’d read, or the wardrobe for every conceivable social event, from intellectual debates to formal dinners. The reality of that tiny dorm room, however, quickly disabused us of any notions of spacious living.
The struggle was real: navigating narrow hallways, cramming everything into a space designed for efficiency, not excess. Remember trying to fit a trunk under a bed already occupied by a suitcase? Or the immediate need to purge, because sharing a closet was not a concept you had fully grasped? It was an early, unintended lesson in minimalism and prioritization. You learned what truly mattered and what was just dead weight.
This moment of realizing your logistical miscalculation wasn't just about clothes; it was a microcosm of the entire transition. It was the first "aha!" moment of many that year, teaching us adaptability, humor in the face of chaos, and the invaluable skill of strategic storage. We arrived with so much, eager for a fresh start, only to discover that the most important things couldn't be packed in a suitcase at all.
What did you overpack? Share your biggest "packing regret" in the comments!