Dear upcoming freshmen,

It is finally here, the moment you have been waiting for since you were little. Didn't it fly by? Suddenly the statement "I start college in a year" has now turned to "I graduate high school in just a few short weeks and start college in the fall." This is such a scary yet exciting time of your life. Leaving for college is such a bittersweet feeling. Saying "see you soon" to your friends and family can be rough especially if you begin to sway away from some old friends.

Additionally leaving your comfort zone, everything you are used to, and familiar with is never easy. I wish I could say that the transition from high school to college is easy, but that would be a lie. However, I promise you that your future will be better than what lies behind.

If I could turn back time to August 25 I would tell you that I was an absolute mess. I felt as if I was an inexperienced bike rider and was put on a bike with no training wheels then was told to ride it. I remember moving in on Friday and then turning around and coming right back home on Saturday. I did not want to admit it at the time but I was horrified. I could not believe that it was time for me to survive by myself.

In all honesty, the first few weeks are rough but luckily I had friends that helped me push through. I felt overwhelmed, lost, and confused but just remember that every other freshman is in the same boat-you are never alone. With that being said, it is very important to consult the people on campus available to you whether that is your RA, Professor, local church pastor, staff, etc.

College can be as great as you make it. Yes, you will get lost on campus and if you are anything like me then you will have a campus map of some sort walking around in utter confusion the first few days. You might not know where to put your tray in the dining hall, where the washers are, but after a week, you will have it down pat. Do not be afraid to reach outside of your comfort zone, do not stay in your bubble. Join a club or an intramural. If you are considering a fraternity or sorority? Just do it. Go to the games. Take a class you never thought you would take. Meet as many people as you can. Get involved on campus, I wish I would have been more involved my freshman year. College is about learning who you are, you have to step outside of your comfort zone and begin to feel comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Do not forget to take breaks while cramming for your midterms or finals, go grab some ice cream with friends. Borrow a tray from the dining hall to go sledding in the winter. Take advantage of every college opportunity because a lot will be thrown at you. Aside from that, college classes are not as bad as everyone thinks they are. You will make a ton of friends in your classes and this is the perfect time to meet people. Attendance is key but no one is going to care if you do not show up to class, no one is going to email your parents. The professors truly do not care so seriously, just show up. If you are late to class, just take the L. Do not run to class because everyone will laugh at you hysterically. If you have an online test or quiz, study for it. That might sound crazy but not all of the answers are online and you will fail, especially if it is a final.

The best advice I can give you is to take advantage of your freshman year, soak it all in. Definitely get involved because the days are long. However, the year is short and it will go by in the blink of an eye. Go to class, do your laundry, eat good food, lots of candy, sleep, take naps, and do your homework. Do not forget to live every day to its fullest and work towards your goal.

Sincerely,

your former freshman