As a junior in college, I feel as though my time here has flashed by without me even realizing it. I am not a senior yet, so no tears are allowed to be shed. Lately, I have been reminiscing on my time here at Penn State and how much I have changed since my freshman year. College is a learning experience, and I already realize that in so many ways. One thing that I have learned and taken away from my college experience is that “everything happens for a reason.”
I want to take this piece of advice that I have given myself and work that into my future. It is important to appreciate the past and the current memories you are making, then learn to be a better version of yourself in the future. I will be writing a letter manifesting my future life five years from now, so I have something to read once I am at that point in my life.
Dear Future Ashley,
I hope that you are currently happy with the life you are living. If I could describe where you were five years ago, I would say it was one of the best times of your life. Being a junior in college may have been upsetting, but the memories you were making at this point in your life were like no other time before.
As a freshman, you were not happy, but you still felt something pulling you to stay at Penn State. I am so glad that you decided to stay because you eventually found your family at Penn State. These people you met will be in your lives for a long time after college because they made Penn State feel like home.
The transition from freshman year to sophomore year was not easy. As a sophomore, a lot of things were changing. Quarantine and COVID-19 made this transition very difficult for everyone. But this transition is why you became so close with your friends, and that is something you should always be grateful for, no matter if we technically lost a year of college. Again, as I always say, “everything happens for a reason.”
Now that we are done reminiscing on your first two years of college, we should discuss the future. You have always been the type of person to plan out your entire life and stick to your goals. This is very important to you, but it can sometimes be a burden to follow.
Your goals at this moment are to graduate college and obtain a position working at a Public Relations agency in New York City, specifically related to real estate and travel. It is also one of your goals to get your real estate license. By now, I am hoping that you are living in New York City and have amazing boyfriends. I know that could be a bit of a stretch for five years from now, but this is something you want.
I hope that if you are not living in your own apartment, you are saving your money to move out from home. Remember, there is no rush to do so, and there is a timeline for everything. Appreciate the life you live at home and transition slowly into adulthood. These goals are all nothing but goals. If you don’t reach them, do not worry; I will not be upset with you.
I hope that you do accomplish all your goals in the next few years. When you are reading this letter one day, take a second to appreciate the time you spent at college, and even if you may feel stressed or uncertain at times, everything will work out in your favor.
Sincerely,
Ashley Quinones