Freshmen congregate for ENMU move-in day

Megan McClary sat in her new home Saturday morning with her father Brien McClary trying to figure out how to arrange a room filled with too much furniture.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

New roommates Megan McClary (left) and Amanda Lewis set up their Eastern New Mexico University dorm in Curry Hall Saturday afternoon. Pink and zebra print was a common color scheme the girls agreed on.

Welcome to freshman move-in day at Eastern New Mexico University.

Brien cracked a joke, a reference from movie "Step Brothers," suggesting his daughter and her new roommate should sleep in bunk beds to create more space.

While Brien laughed, Megan looked panicked as she scrambled to get situated in her new home — Curry Hall dormitory.

The recent Portales High School graduate and aspiring child behavior specialist, agreed on a room design and took action.

She said she chose to attend ENMU because it was inexpensive and her mother Stephanie McClary works for the university.

"I just wanted to get out of the house and get the full college experience," Megan said, even though her parents said she's welcome home anytime.

While Megan was unpacking, her roommate Amanda Lewis entered wearing a grand smile.

Lewis drove about eight hours from her hometown, Bloomfield, the day before with her parents Skeeter and Lori Lewis.

The two roommates bonded earlier this summer after they found out their room assignments. They met up in July to go school shopping and discovered they have much in common.

Between the chaos of other residents moving in and the excitement of students greeting families outside, the girls found solace in their new room.

They agreed on a pink and zebra print color scheme for bedding and decor.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Dads Brien McClary (left) and Skeeter Lewis adjust the height of the dormitory beds during Eastern New Mexico University's freshmen move in day so their daughters can sleep comfortably.

Each of them brought special items from home that they could not leave without.

"I'm deciding where to put up my handmade boomerangs," Megan told her parents.

She values the boomerangs because she brought them back from a trip to Australia earlier this summer. She said she also couldn't leave home without her Justin Bieber posters.

Amanda brought her X-box game system, but it came as no surprise the avid gamer was toting her system; she has dreams of becoming a graphic designer and animator for films and video games.

She chose ENMU for the graphic design degree and artistic classes offered.

"I want to work on animated movies," Amanda said.

Although they have different careers in mind, the girls said they have a lot in common. Both of them have goals of achieving and maintaining good grades this year as well as growing and making new friends.

Amanda cried after her parents were done helping her set up.

"It's very sad, I'm close to my parents," she said. "My parents are always there to help me."

Dealing with the adjustments of moving from home for the first time, the roommates said they plan to adapt.

They're looking forward to putting their best foot forward for a successful college experience.

"We'll just be prepared," Megan said.

"And don't bring too much stuff because I overpacked," added Amanda.