COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KRHD) — Texas A&M welcomes 70,000 students back to campus for the first day of class
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The fall semester is underway at Texas A&M University, with 70,000 Aggies returning to campus Monday for the first day of class. Thousands of freshmen are learning to navigate campus for the first time, while returning students are settling back into Aggieland.
Sophomore Natan Cruz said the start of a new year brings a familiar kind of excitement.
"I have class later today and I'm looking forward to it and I have class for the rest of the week and it should be a fun exciting week for me to start my sophomore year of college so," Cruz said.
For junior Xichven "Juicy" Ju, the return to campus came with a new perspective — and a reminder of just how much the university has grown on him.
"I'm excited I think it's gonna be a lot of fun, you know, third year I'm not living off campus for the first time so definitely feels super old to be here, especially with all this traffic," Ju said.
Cruz said the first day is as much about reconnecting as it is about academics.
"Really just saying hello to all my friends that I haven't seen all summer, you know, the first day of class is really just trying to understand, you know, what you need to get done for the rest of the semester," Cruz said.
Returning Aggies had plenty of advice for incoming freshmen. Rebecca Rodriguez with Texas A&M Student Activities encouraged new students to embrace everything the university has to offer.
"Just really soak in the traditions, almost be a sponge is the advice I'd give and get involved," Rodriguez said.
Fifth-year senior Jake Hrvacek echoed that message, pointing to the unique culture at Texas A&M.
"It's very important that younger students go and find their community and enjoy what we have at Texas A&M and enjoy this special place that we have and buy into traditions, go to football games, go to yell practice, and do all those things," Hrvacek said.
Ju kept his advice straightforward.
"I would say definitely go to class, skipping class is a huge temptation and if you skip class, you're not making a good grade. Let's just be honest," Ju said.
Cruz urged freshmen to push past their comfort zones.
"Try to get out of your comfort zone as much as possible. I know a lot of people say that, but it really is. I mean, college is, you have such an endless amount of opportunities and possibilities, and you never know what one door can lead you into. And so really just saying hello to everybody, meeting as much people as you possibly can," Cruz said.
The message on day one at Texas A&M remains the same no matter the major: learn to say howdy, step off the grass, pass your classes — and, as Cruz put it, "Gig 'em Aggies."
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