Some of the best stories on a college campus come from Move-In Day when student residents and parents come to transform a college dorm into some semblance of home. Chase Walker and his parents let me witness a bit of their monumental day.

An only child, he’s moving in with three roommates, so to describe what he’s feeling would be to understate this quintessential moment of cascading transformations. He seems humbly prepared for it, even though it’s bittersweet for mom and dad.

Then there were these two brothers, Tim and Aaron Dreyer, who managed to haul a full-size sofa and loveseat into their suite, against the odds (those things don’t fit on an elevator, and the young men were on the third floor if you can imagine).

I met so many friendly faces and proud parents willing to let me document the occasion– welcoming new friends, celebrating old ones, and embarking on the journey into adulthood.

Take a look: