Dear Freshmen,
You’re taking one of the biggest steps you have taken so far in your life – so be proud of that! The next four years are going to be memorable, hard at times, but overall an amazing experience that is going to help you grow into the person you are meant to be.
I can promise you that the person you are right now will not be the person you are when you throw that silly square hat into the air in four years (or maybe five – and that’s okay). You may feel like such an adult right now with everything all figured out, but when you look back on this year you’ll realize you were practically a five-year-old heading to kindergarten for the first time. And that’s a good thing! We all look back sometimes and wish things were as easy as they were when you were a kid. Enjoy being the baby of the college students, you only get to do it once. And yes, you may try to hide the fact that you are a freshman, but I promise everyone can tell by the way you bump into people in the dining hall and wear your lanyard around your neck. We all went through it, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
In regards to your academics, whatever you think you’re majoring in and whatever you think you’re going to do for the rest of your life is probably going to change about four times. It happens to the best of us – we’re young, indecisive, and how the heck could anyone know what they want to do for the rest of their life? I certainly don’t, and neither do most of my senior friends, so don’t worry about having a plan; it’ll just stress you out more. Just so you know, college classes are harder than high school. You really do have to study when you have an exam coming up, preferably before the day of. Start studying a few days out, do your assigned readings, try not to go out every night, and your grades should be just fine.
Clubs are plentiful at college, make sure you join a ton of them. Not all of them will be for you, but just trying and being brave enough to show up to a meeting will help you grow as a person and help you meet friends. Trying random clubs can help you determine your interests just as much as taking a variety of classes will. Just put yourself out there and try new things!
This next piece of advice is important. Say yes to as many plans with friends as you can; meet people for lunch, go for a drive, hit up the football game. These memories will last for years and you won’t regret going. That being said, take time for yourself when you need to. There will be times when you just don’t feel like you can socialize, or you need a break to reset your mind. College is a lot of fun, but the lifestyle can also take its toll and you need to make sure your mental health comes first. Also, it’s okay to miss home and your family. Call your parents whenever you need to, they will be happy to hear from you and you will feel better afterwards.
Take the next four years as they come, and remember that everyone has hard times where they feel lonely and stressed. People’s college experiences aren’t as perfect as Instagram makes them out to be, there will be ups and downs. Keep pushing through the hard stuff and you’ll come out the other side with a college degree, best friends and special memories you’ll never forget. To quote my favorite show Greys Anatomy, the carousel keeps on turning. So enjoy the ride!
Sincerely,
A Senior