Sophomore Year,

You were a big change from last year. You gave me a reality check that college is more than just going out every weekend and hanging out with people I don't have enough common interests with. You showed me who my real friends are. This year really flew by in the blink of an eye. Some really amazing people came into my life this year and I want to thank you for that. School got a lot harder, but it forced me to get my priorities straight. There are so many memories from this year that passed by too quickly. It's weird that time flies by so fast. I want to thank you for all of the wonderful things you brought to me. This year couldn't have been better.

Now I want to give you some advice for next year.

FOMO is real, but you really have to prioritize schoolwork above going out. There will always be another party, but raising your GPA isn't the easiest thing to do. Your classes are going to get much harder so it's important to manage your time. The library is your new sanctuary.

I know this year you skipped the gym on nights you were lazy after work, but this time around you have to get serious. Take advantage of the free gym membership while you still have it. Your body and mind will thank you later.

Start listening more and talking less. It's hard not to talk about yourself and want to be the center of attention. It's in human interest to be selfish, so really try to turn away from that and be more open to the opinions of others.

Eat healthily and cook real meals. Now that you are off of the meal plan and have access to a kitchen, you have no excuses. Mac and cheese, pizza, and cereal will not cut it and will cause you to gain a lot of weight.

Learn to budget. Takes some tips from your accounting class so that you don't blow a ton of money on food and alcohol. Save, save, save. It'll be nice to have in the future.

Enjoy your time. You're halfway through college. You and your friends will all go your separate ways in a couple years, so it's important to spend time together. Keep the drama to a minimum and just enjoy the company.

Sophomore year, you've been really good to me, but I'm quite excited for what next year has to bring. Please be good to me through finals week!

Peace and love,

Siobhan