For Amber Holt, move-in was a daylong affair

Amber Holt, freshman pre-med major from Lillington, North Carolina, moved into her room in Hinton James on Saturday afternoon. She thought the most stressful part of moving in was getting stuff back and forth and only having a limited time to park at the dorm. She is excited about meeting people, getting used to the campus, and it will be her first year away from home. "It will be the first time I will be living by myself and my mom and I are really close. I'm excited and nervous at the same time; it's mixed feelings," Amber said.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said Amber Holt’s mother received a successful kidney transplant, but she is still on the waiting list. The story has been changed to reflect this.

Amber Holt, a 17-year-old freshman from Lillington, N.C., moved into her residence hall on Saturday.

Holt plans on majoring in biology to help people with kidney disease. Her mother had a kidney failure and is on the waiting list for a transplant from UNC Hospitals.

The family planned to get up at 4 a.m. but overslept until 5 a.m.

Holt then started the long, stressful and exciting process of moving in at UNC.

5:20 A.M.: Began loading car
The family planned to rent a minivan, but there were none available that day. The Holts had to rent a Ford Expedition instead.

“I said, ‘Who’s going to drive that?’ It’s like driving an 18-wheeler. Intimidating, but we did it,” said Amber’s mother, Polly Holt.

8 A.M.: Grocery store run
The Holts spent two hours buying food and other supplies for Amber’s room.

10 A.M.: Left hometown
There are more students in the class of 2016 than residents in Holt’s hometown of Lillington, which has just more than 3,000 people.

Holt’s first visit to campus was for new student orientation this summer.

“It looked like a city,” she said. “It was so big.”

11 A.M.: Arrived at UNC
Holt said she’s excited to live in Hinton James Residence Hall because meeting other freshmen will be easier.

She said she thinks sharing a bathroom with the seven other girls in her suite might be a challenge, so she plans to make a schedule to prevent conflicts.

11:02 A.M.: Began unloading
Holt said carrying all of her belongings to and from the car was the most stressful part of moving.
It took five trips with eight people to take everything up to her room on the 10th floor.

“I wanted to bring everything (from home),” she said. “It was hard.”

Polly Holt said she appreciated the help of the student volunteers.

1:05 P.M.: Started organizing
Holt was pleasantly surprised when she realized her roommate’s bedding was the exact same shade of pink as hers.

She said her roommate was randomly assigned, but they have a lot in common.

In addition to their similar tastes in decoration, they both like the room cold and have similar sleep schedules.

1:27 P.M.: Last trip from car
Although she knows she brought everything she needs, Holt said she is still nervous about the transition to college.

“I’m nervous about finding classes and getting used to the workload,” she said.

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She also said UNC was her first choice.

“I like the medical program. I like the school spirit. Everyone’s friendly.”

4 P.M.: Finished unpacking
Holt said she was happy with her room but thought she brought more than she needed. Her family left at 4 p.m.

“I cried a little when my mom left,” she said.

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.