I can’t wait to put myself out there and to make friends. It’s a good experience for me.
Families hauling oversized blue tarp totes and pushing bins stuffed with pillows, mirrors and lamps streamed across Bridgewater State University during last weekend’s move-in days ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.
For Sherry and John Herron, helping their youngest, Joshua, move into Woodward Hall on Saturday morning was bittersweet.
“He’s the last to leave, but the first to go to college and live on campus,” Sherry said. “I’m excited, but anxious … it’s the mom in me.”
“I’m (also) excited and sad,” John said, “but more excited to see him go to college, live on campus — just the whole experience.”
The incoming freshman from Lakeville plans to study political science and said he chose BSU because he loves the campus and the accelerated law degree program, offered through a partnership with UMass Law. The 3+3 program gives students the opportunity to earn their undergraduate degree and a law degree in six years instead of seven.
“I’m aiming to work in business law,” Joshua said. “But I’m most excited about growing up, being on my own and figuring things out for myself.”
Fellow freshman Alyssa Johnson, a business management major from West Yarmouth, had her father Jay and “nana” Carol Almeida helping her move in.
Like the Herrons, Jay admitted he was a little sad. “But I’m excited for her to be on her own,” he said.
For Carol, moving the youngest of her five grandchildren into college was the closing of a chapter.
“This is it for me,” she said. “I want her to make friends and experience being on her own and being independent.”
President Frederick W. Clark Jr., ’83, and his wife, Carrie Kulick-Clark, ’85, G’98, were on hand to greet students and help calm parents’ nerves by sharing their own personal stories.
“We met here; all of our kids went here … When we moved our daughter in, we had three carloads,” Clark joked while talking with parents.
Watching her freshman daughter, Elena Harris, leaving home and starting college was also emotional for Jessica Gomes, but knowing Elena isn’t too far from their Brockton home is reassuring. Gomes also said BSU is affordable, making it a good fit for their family.
“It was the smartest choice for us,” she said. “I hope she gets to achieve all of her goals.”
Elena, who is planning to study biology, is looking forward to immersing herself in the campus community.
“I can’t wait to put myself out there and to make friends. It’s a good experience for me,” she said. “And it’s nice to know, because I’m so close, I can always visit home.”
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