When the time came to return back to campus from Christmas break, my brain was confused on what to feel. I wanted to get back to school, back to my friends and the routine I had neglected while home. I missed my second home. However, I wanted to put off class as much as possible. I couldn’t stand to have my last first day of my undergraduate career.
Then I began to think. I have come so far since my first steps onto Hawk Hill four years ago. I wouldn’t even recognize the person I was back then. I’ve had my trials, my battles, and my victories. There were times I thought my world was ending, and times I felt like life couldn’t get better. I’ve learned a lot in my time at school, lessons I wish I could go back and let my younger, naïve, immature self know. If I could peel back the layers of time and space, these are the philosophies I would impart on my freshman self.
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I know it’s hard right now. I know you want to transfer and leave and just get out. I know you feel like you’ve made the biggest mistake in the world. Take a deep breath. You’re going to find your own little group. You’re going to figure it out.
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Ignorant people will always be ignorant. Their obliviousness does not cast a reflection on who you are.
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Call your mom. Just do it.
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How many clothes did you really think were going to fit in that tiny dorm room wardrobe?
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Your Keurig and ramen are great, but please eat a vegetable. Take advantage of your meal plan as much as possible. In a few years, you’ll wish you still had it.
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No boy is worth a dip in your grades or mental state. There are thousands of men out there that you will meet when you become a fancy executive. Does it seem like that now? Nope, it feels like he is the be all and end all. But just trust me on this one.
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You want to know what really gets best friends to fight at a seconds notice? Our dear pal A-L-C-O-H-O-L! Apologize for the things you said while sauced. It’s not worth it.
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Spoiler alert: adulthood is just sending a bunch of emails and napping responsibly. You have plenty of time to decide what you want to do when you “grow up”. (None of us know what we’re doing anyway.)
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Please see #6 again. Particularly if they wear a sports uniform.
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Join a club, would ya? Complain about being left out and alone all you want, but you’re not doing anything to fix it. Get out there!
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Get. Over. Yourself. You are not the only one in the world with problems. What really makes or breaks who you are is how you solve these issues, not complain about them.
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Cherish it. Every last second of it. Every stressful paper, every finals week, every cram session for that test you should have started studying for days ago. It seems silly, but there is a certain freedom to being able to sleep in the library and eat pizza for five days straight.
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Professors are your friends. Seek their guidance sooner.
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That’s right girl, back up to #6. I don’t believe you looked the first time.
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You’re complete on your own. You’re awesome, and you don’t need anyone to validate that but yourself.
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I hate to ruin the ending, but it’s all going to turn out just fine. You’ll see. I believe in you.
HCxo,Cristiana