Dear Freshman Laci,
First off, good job choosing Kent State. I know it was hard leaving friends and family and traveling hundreds of miles to start a new life by yourself, but the opportunities you’ll receive and memories you’ll make here are more than worth it. However, there’s some wisdom I’d love to share with you while you’ve still got plenty of time left here—things I wish someone had told me when I was just starting at Kent. So, here we go:
Meal Plan
We’ll start with something simple: your meal plan. That number that says the balance you have left? That’s for the rest of the semester, NOT the entire year. Chill out. Also, whatever you have left over transfers to the next semester! Although, you HAVE to spend it at the end of the year or else it just goes to the school; You don’t get it back any other way except in food. So, go crazy at the end of the year and stock up as much as possible, because honestly, you could almost feed yourself through the entire summer with that leftover money. Come May, you’ll have like 500 dollars left and no clue how you’re going to carry that many cases of water bottles and boxes of cereal to your car
Fashion School
Now, we’ve got to discuss something a little more serious—the fashion school. Look, I get it; It can be extremely intimidating. You graduated high school in a small, chicken-farming town in Texas. You’ve never really seen people dress like the people in magazines and fashion blogs, and that’s FINE. You’re here for a reason! Nobody will judge you for coming to class in sweats, especially if you have 7:45 a.m. classes. If someone does, they just haven’t realized this is college—you make the wardrobe up as you go. There are literally people lounging around in Snuggies. So, don’t feel the need to dress up everyday and stress yourself out. You only get four more years of slumming it before you’re off into the real world, and then you definitely can’t wear sweats to work. Just remember to enjoy it while you can.
Scholarships & GPA
First and foremost, grades are important. Don’t ever tell yourself they’re not, especially when scholarships are on the line. HOWEVER, that GPA you have to maintain? It’s cumulative, which means you can afford slip-ups and you don’t have to spend all your time in the library studying. One bad assignment won’t change your entire GPA; only the final course grade itself can do that. So go out, find your friends, become social, and join a club you love. Weekends shouldn’t be spent stress-studying (unless, of course, it’s finals week because I can’t help you there).
Roommates
I’m going to tell you something that someone once told me: everyone will suffer through at least one bad roommate experience in their lifetime. It’s just part of life. So yes, you’re going to endure your fair share of awkward and uncomfortable living situations, BUT life goes on! Push through it and know that it’s all temporary. The best part? The next year, you’ll be blessed with roommates who make everyday a slumber party and treat you like family. Also, it makes you appreciate them so much more just in general.
Boys
Just because your parents met in college doesn’t mean it’s where you’re going to find your husband. Not every guy who takes you on a date is going to be a winner, especially if you met him in the basement at a frat party. Don’t think every guy who shows interest in you is worth the time of day, especially ones that you have nothing in common with. There’s going to be a guy who comes your way who literally doesn’t check off any of your must-haves. Just remember, you don’t actually like him, you like his attention whenever he’s willing to give it to you. Don’t stress about people who don’t stress over you. One last thing: STAY AWAY FROM TINDER. I know, everyone’s doing it and it sounds like fun. Trust me, though, you’ll thank me in the long run. Overall, have fun with dating and don’t stress so much! It’s what being a young adult is all about.
Friends & Family
First of all, stop wondering what your high school friends are up to. You can text them whenever, but you’re in college now and so are they. They’re off socializing and that’s what you should be doing, too! You will meet some of the greatest people here, people who you know will stay in your life forever. Don’t stress about missing stuff back at home because you can always catch up with them over break and during the summer. Be present. Secondly, there will be friends who come and go, and that’s okay. You’re not always meant to stay close with everyone you meet, and even if it’s a fleeting friendship, appreciate it for what it was. You know who you ARE always supposed to stay close to, though? Your family. Pick up the phone and give your dad a call. FaceTime your sister. You’re not the only one who had to transition when you left home.
Final Note
If none of this is resonating yet, please let this one thing stick with you: leave your comfort zone. There is so much to experience in your four years of college and you could miss out on so many great things and relationships if you don’t. Don’t be afraid to start conversations or invite people to hang out. Try new things and gain a bigger a perspective of the world—you’ll learn so much about yourself along the way. Lastly, don’t be fooled by your first impressions of people, and give everyone you know a second chance. If you learn to forgive every once in a while, you might just end up with the love of your life and another best friend to boot…
I know how stubborn you can be, but please take this advice into consideration for the rest of your college career. Remember, you only get these opportunities once in life so make the most out of every moment. Someday soon, you’ll be getting ready to graduate and thinking about how your days at Kent flew by. You’ll wish everything would slow down and that you could relive certain moments from your time here, but unfortunately, you’ll have to start focusing on life after college: moving to another new city and beginning your adult career. While you’ll be happy that cramming for finals and pulling all-nighters will be a thing of the past, you’ll long for those nights that solidified friendships and turned into great stories to tell your kids later on. So, stop and take a second to appreciate the moments as the come and don’t take any experience for granted.Love,
Your Senior Self
P.S. The hippie with the beard and the accent is NOT who you end up with. Walk away.