Temple looks a lot different than it did three years ago. Morgan Hall stands tall on North Broad Street. Barton Hall is being knocked down and life as a senior is much different than life as a freshman. A lot changed since you arrived on the scene of Temple University brimming with excitement and optimism for your next four years. I know you feel prepared for this next phase of your life, but I have some news for you- you’re not.
College isn’t only about getting a degree for you; it represents freedom, independence and discovering who you are. You’re right because it is about all those things, but growing up can be hard and you will learn some tough lessons. You will also experience a lot. Some will be fun and some will be heartbreaking. The feeling of landing your first internship will be a high and the feeling of fear after being groped at a party will be a low. But you’ll learn that no what the experience is there is something you can learn from it.
I know that parties scare you, alcohol scares you and well… college boys scare you. That’s okay because I promise while the nightlife scene at Temple may seem dangerously intimidating on the outside, it is (fairly) safe on the inside. Just know this: the parties aren’t going anywhere and a night spent exploring the city with your girlfriends can be just as fun (if not more) than a night party hopping throughout North Philly. With that said, sometimes the irresponsible choice really is the best choice. Go to that frat party on a Thursday night and then stuff your face with Maxi’s after because it’ll be worth it.
Your friends will confront you and call you out on your crap. That guy you kissed at a party will never text you. The dream internship you applied for won’t contact you for an interview. You will gain weight and it won’t be the end of the world (even though it might feel like it). You’ll make lifelong friends. You’ll have nights where everything makes sense and you’ll wish you could hit pause and live in those moments forever- so appreciate them. You’ll make mistakes and then you’ll make some more and then maybe you’ll learn from them.
I guess if I could give you one piece of advice it would be that you don’t have to go to every party, you don’t have to sleep with a guy for him to like you, you don’t have to get A’s in every class and you don’t have to stay the same person you were on your first day of college. The college experience will look different for everyone. Thankfully for you, your experience will be full of laughter, friendship, fun, challenges and incredible growth.
So please do us both a favor and quit worrying so much, take a breath and enjoy the ride because senior year will be here before you know it. Oh… and #GoOwls