I vividly remember moving into college. It’s probably no surprise that I was the typical wide-eyed Freshman who was ready to love every second of the four years that were yet to come. Saying that all of that enthusiasm and optimism was soon crushed sounds too harsh, but in reality I don’t know a better way to describe it. To me, college was a magical land that surpassed high school in every way. Dull moments were nonexistent, everyone buddied up on the first day without drifting apart and all of my college dreams would fall into place. College is not this magical land.

Before you begin to accuse me of the pessimist that I actually am, hear me out. Right now in college, I am the happiest I have ever been. Never did I think I would be able to reach this point in my life where I’m fully confident in the choices I’m making and where my current path is leading me. However, this happiness came at a cost. What everyone forgets to tell you about college is that it’s hard. When I say hard, I don’t just mean the classes. Sure, you’ll get a few easy A’s here and there, but you’ll find yourself in classes that consume your free time and completely drain you. No one tells you that you’ll fall behind on your sleep schedule; well, they do tell you that, but they say it’s because of parties when in reality you’ll be studying. Then there is the entire process of making friends.

If you’re like me, you’ve had a friend group for elementary, junior high, and high school. Before I came to college, the last time I had to actively try and make a friend was in the first grade. I had no idea what I was doing. For anyone reading this who just started his or her Freshman year, GET INVOLVED. I cannot stress this enough. Not only will getting involved in different organizations look great on a resume, it is the fastest way to meet new people and make new friends.

Yesterday, I helped out with Freshman move in for the building that I’m an RA in. In most of their smiling, unknowing faces, I saw myself. Looking at all of them, now with two full years of college under my belt, I want to be worried for them. I want to be scared and I want to tell them to stay on top of their classes and make friends as fast as they can. I want to explain what took my first year of college to learn, but I know I can’t. The reason I can’t is because they have to learn on their own. That is the best part of college. Freshman year changes who you are as a person. For me, I changed for the better. Had I not struggled through the entire trial and error process that is Freshman year, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. So for all of you Freshman, welcome to college. Even though it might not always love you, I can promise that you’re going to love it.