Dear Incoming Freshmen,

The beginning of the next chapter of your life is approaching. You might feel excited, anxious, scared, or maybe a little of all of these. It's OK, to feel this way. When I was starting my freshman year I was excited to meet new people, anxious about being the first in my family to attend college and scared about failing. Since I know I am not the only one who has felt this way about college, here are some words to help you incoming freshmen.

Remember why you attended college. There will be times where you want to quit which is why you need to remember your reasons for going. Keep in mind the career you want to have so you are not stuck with a job you hate. Maybe you want to be a role model to a sibling or someone close to you? Push through it so you can get closer to the career of your dreams and possibly be a role model. Do not let one bad test score or a stressful 15 page paper get the best of you. Remember you attended college for your education and it's fine to attend a party or two and a lot of events! Just make sure to keep those grades up!

Do not be afraid to take risks. Join a random club. Do a sport. Talk to random people around campus. Attend as many events as possible. Do not be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. Taking risks can lead you to finding your passions and you will meet great people. Also, do not be afraid to ask for help! Go in to a professor's office hours or use a tutor if you need to. It's okay to ask for help!

Take care of yourself. In college you will experience stress and you need to learn how to manage it! Go for a run or visit the gym a few times a week. Schedule a few power naps throughout the week because sleep is important and college students tend to not get enough of it! Try eating healthy too! If you do not take care of yourself you will experience the "freshmen 15."

College is the next chapter in your life. College is very different than high school. You will have to adjust to the new environment but once you adjust you will love college. College is what you make out of it. The power is in your hands. Whether you leave home or stay home for college, you can make it the best or not. Have fun, meet new people and study hard. Your freshman year will go by so fast which means that the rest of your college career will go by fast too. Enjoy every moment. Be proud to be a college student!