BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Hundreds of new students are feeling mixed emotions Wednesday as they move into Buffalo State University housing.
"I'm very nervous but I'm also very excited," said Amy Guirguis, a first-year Buffalo State student from Brooklyn. "I get to finally move into my dorm. I've been having a countdown for this. I'm very excited."
"A lot of emotions going on, I'm nervous but I'm also happy," said Prince Defreitas, a first-year student from the Bronx. "I'm nervous because it's going to be my first time away from home. But other than that I'm still happy because I'll be away from home to be able to experience being on my own, being independent for once."
It was a busy day at Buff State with new students unloading their cars and getting ready for a new chapter. Amid all the commotion, updates and renovations at the university are taking place.
In addition to updated parking services and renovated buildings, Durand said Buff State is planning to finish a new building on Grant Street that will provide more classroom space on campus. The university also is working on increasing clubs and organizations on campus around students' interests, as well as moving along STEM programs.
The university is expanding its teacher education pipeline program designed to train teachers to teach in the five major cities of New York.
"We know that Buffalo State may be their beginning point and we hope it's not their ending point," Durand said. "We want to make sure that we are prepared to go wherever they need to go."
Some students traveled near and some traveled far, all to pile up their belongings to become a Bengal. Returning students and staff were ready to help new students move in, but also to help them through culture shock and all the mixed emotions associated with a new beginning.
"You'll actually find a lot of home with our friends oddly enough," said Jennifer Segura Lopez, community assistant and senior at Buffalo State. "You're practically living with your friends and it's a great thing."
"We encourage our students to reach out to anybody they see," Durand said. "I encourage my faculty and staff not to pass a student that looks like they may be having some trouble without stopping to find out what's going on. That's the family atmosphere that we have here."
