Dear Class of 2020,
Welcome to college! You probably have some mixed emotions. You might be experiencing happiness, anxiety, fear, or all of the above. As you go into your new chapter of life, completely unaware of what you are about to experience, there are a few things you should know.
1. Your friend group will most likely change. A lot.
And that is OK! I found myself in your shoes four years ago. Extremely excited to make new friends and to just see new, fresh faces. But over the course of the semester, my friends transferred to other schools, we became distant, and of course, there was some drama (because what school doesn’t have drama?). It’s normal to change your social pattern, because at this time in your life, you are also changing as a person.
2. Get involved!
As tempting as it may sound to sleep in your room all day, let me be perfectly clear: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. Getting involved makes your whole college experience worthwhile. You never know what you’re missing if you don’t join the drama society or the sailing team. Who knows what kind of hidden talent you have? Plus, most colleges give you the opportunity to start your own club. So get out there, talk to people, and go to campus events. College is your opportunity to be creative and find your path in life, so take advantage!
3. Be healthy (The freshman 15 EXISTS).
Yes, it’s true. The alleged “freshman 15” is a real thing that I have experienced. When you first get to college, you will notice that you are surrounded by new, mostly cheap and unhealthy food options. Some campuses even have multiple fast food chains directly on their campus. When you realize that you are allowed to have pizza three times a day every day, it might seem awesome but when you start to feel the extra poundage, it is pretty terrible. When you get to college, look towards the healthier options and most importantly, exercise! Your body is the most valuable thing that you have and it is important to take care of it, but it is also okay to splurge every once and a while on Dunkin' Donuts!
4. Your grades are important!
You will occasionally get not so great ones but that’s when you use your resources. Remember, this is a time when you are turning into a responsible adult. You must make the decision between when to party and when to do homework. Also, utilizing tutoring centers and extra help is a great way of showing your professors that you care about your major and the work that you are doing.
5. It is OK if you do not know what you want to do!
Finding a passion is difficult, especially as a freshman. As a 21 year old who is about to graduate, I am still not entirely confident about what I want to do but your peers are in the same boat as you are and this is why it is important to get involved, talk to people, and make connections for the future. Put in an effort to make the next four years the best, most beneficial four years you have ever had.
Remember,
