At the end of my freshman year of college, I wrote an article very similar to this one titled, A Letter To A Rising College Freshman. In it, I talked about the discrepancies between social media and real-life in relation to the college experience. How hard it was to find myself fully immersed in the college experience when half the time I was comparing myself to my friends and the highlight reels that are social media. Now I get to reflect on my time at UMass as a graduating senior and I can safely say I did not expect this to be as hard to write as it has been.
If I could tell my freshman self or any incoming college freshman one thing, it would be to live college to the fullest. This is such a magical time and we often only see the magic on our way out when the rest of reality finally sets in. Four years go by faster than you can imagine, so please say yes to everything, meet new people, go to the party, have a movie night, join all the clubs, take on leadership positions, live with your best friends, but most importantly make memories. Create a life worth remembering, create moments of happiness, and every now and then take a moment to pause and appreciate the times that could never be replaced.
I believe that people come into your life for a purpose. Certain people might be docked by your side for life, like a sturdy ship you can always rely on. Others, swing in and out like a wave meant to bring you unknown lessons and happiness. In the last four years, I have collected so many ships and been met with endless waves, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Nothing at UMass compares to the people I have met, for it is because of them that I feel so anchored to this place.
A couple of weeks ago I was at a bar celebrating my friend’s birthday, when another girl in our group turned to the table and said, “we are so lucky we get to do this.” Say that to yourself again, we are so lucky we get to do this. To be able to celebrate our friends and ourselves and to do so while also creating core memories is such a beautiful experience. Years down the line, when I talk about those core memories many of them will be filled with my time at UMass. It has been the coffee runs, the dining halls, the study sessions, the weekend debriefs with my roommates, the wine nights, the bar nights, and every tiny human interaction in between that has made it all worth it. The version of me at this point in time is only a reality because of the serendipitous timing of having this version of my friends in my life at this time. The scared freshman is nowhere to be seen because that fear was swallowed by so much love, generosity, and kindness.
To my friends, you know I love you all so much. You have made me who I am, you have taught me, you have supported me, and you have loved me and for that, I am so thankful. To my bosses, mentors, professors, and everything in between, thank you for pushing me. Thank you for believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself, and pushing me to always do more and be more. UMass, I owe you the biggest thank you of all. You have given me more than I could have ever asked for in such a brief period of time. You have made closing this chapter one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and I am so honored to have been a part of it all.
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