Naturally, the new freshmen are excited and nervous to be living on their own for the first time. Parents are both excited and a little sad that their little baby boys and girls are growing up and moving away. They have been a constant for their children for 18 years and now Mom and Dad are going to have to get used to them not being at home all the time.

Samantha Voelker who is from Baltimore, Maryland was excited to be going away to college. “I am very excited, nervous but excited,” said Voelker, who will be a communications major and will be playing lacrosse for the Hokies. Sheila and Bob Voelker, Samantha’s parents had some bittersweet emotions about sending their oldest daughter to college. “She’s our first. For 17 years we were used to having her around. This is a different dynamic for us. We are going to miss her but she is ready.” said her parents.

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April 16^th has been on the minds of the incoming and returning students as some parents were a little apprehensive about sending their children here to school, but they got over that shortly after the tragedy when they saw how the Hokie family came together and supported each and every one of their fellow Hokies like they were family.

Julia Vietz, a freshman from Northern Virginia moved in on Thursday. Her parents and sister were still here bringing her some more stuff for her dorm room. “Its exciting and such a big school with a beautiful campus,” said Vietz. Brenda and John Vietz who are Julia’s parents did not have any reservations for their daughter’s safety after April 16^th. The decision to come to school At Virginia Tech was never questioned by anyone.

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