This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CU Boulder chapter.
This year marks the beginning of your college career. I know you’ve waited a long time for this, and you’ve worked so hard already. You, my friend, have a lot to be proud of. Now, I’m not going to sugarcoat anything for you, but I know you can handle it. This year won’t be easy. Moving away from home is hard for even the most extroverted people. You are meeting new people. Some will leave as soon as they enter your life, but there will be those special souls that stick with you. Keep those friends with you. Believe me, they are there for a reason, and you will need to lean on each other through all of this.
Original Illustration by Sketchify in Canva
There will be moments that you have waited for your whole life. Those coming-of-age, heavy eyes and warm heart sort of nights when your cheeks hurt from smiling. Hold on to those memories. Take a breath and take note of everything you see around you – who you’re with, where you are, how you feel. Keep that close to your chest and refer back to it on the days when the linoleum floors of your dorm room feel as icy and unfamiliar as the snow outside that can’t seem to stop falling. Remember, these days will pass too.
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
I want to take this time and congratulate you. It takes a lot of courage to do what you’re doing. It might not feel like it at times, but you are destined to do great things here. You’re going to have hard days, but you are strong and you will get through it. I’m going to give you some tough love. You cannot sit and wait for opportunities to come to you. In college, you make your own opportunities. If you want friends, you have to push through that fear of the unknown. It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone, but when you get past that initial rush of anxiety when meeting new people, what happens after is so much more rewarding than staying put. College is a place to find out who you are, meet people you will keep by your side, and figure out what you want to do, but you are the only one in control of how and when that happens.
Molly Peach / Her Campus
Again, this year might be tough, but so are you! Now go out there, and make something happen. You are already making so many people proud.
Emma is a junior at CU Boulder studying Communications, and the Director of Chapter Branding for Her Campus CU Boulder. Outside of school, you can find her at a local coffee shop, the farmers market, or writing her latest article!
