PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Members of Brown’s Class of 2028 have already moved into residence halls and navigated a jam-packed schedule of New Student Orientation events.

Soon they will pass through the iconic Van Wickle Gates to symbolize the start of their academic journey at Brown as they participate in the University’s 261^st Opening Convocation. And when classes begin on Wednesday, Sept. 4, students will start carving their own academic paths through the Open Curriculum, while joining clubs and organizations and participating in activities to advance their distinct passions, interests and identities.

But as the buzz of the semester’s start quiets down, Brown’s first-year students will inevitably come to a crossroads that’s familiar to nearly every college student: discovering who they want to become, while honoring the unique life experiences that made them who they are.

In the vignettes below, five new students share meaningful items they brought to Brown that offer a bit of familiar comfort and make them feel the most like their quintessential selves.