Dear College Freshman,

There are so many things I could say. After all, your first year of college is a whole new world. You're out of the house, spreading your wings, and taking in a low dose of freedom. I could tell you to study hard, make friends and be yourself; however, while these things are important, there is one piece of advice that may help more than all these concepts combined and can guarantee a more positive outlook on your first year.

You are entering into a crazy, confusing, and challenging first year unlike anything you have ever known. You will make new friends, and those friends may or may not be the same from semester to semester. You will learn that college is a whole new ballpark from high school and the work will be of a much higher caliber. You may be too busy to breathe, or you may have strange free periods with which you know not what to do. Likely both will happen at the same time. You will have a lot of questions and not all of them will be answered, but this is okay. College is about many different kinds of learning, and learning through experience is one of them.

Through all the ups and downs college will bring you, one thing is essential to success. It is the key to finding peace in the chaos and the drive to persevere when the going gets tough. This one thing can make the difference between having a fantastic time in school or being completely miserable, and it's incredibly simple.

Know your true worth, and believe in it.

It's not as easy as it sounds. When that friend you were so close to in high school isn't talking to you as much, or that person who you were tight with in August turns on you in January it's easy to wonder if you're really that important. When you get a low grade on an important test, or fumble on something that's supposed to be your special skill or talent it's easy to wonder if you'll really be successful. College throws curveballs which can cause you to question your entire life plan, which in turn can cause you to question your own identity.

Dear college freshman, I want to share with you your true identity so you can find it whenever you get lost in the storms of life. You are priceless. You are precious. Your life has purpose. You are carefully and wonderfully made, and you are loved beyond measure. You are your own brand of brilliant, and have your own unique style. Never compromise or settle for less because you deserve only the best. You are awesome. Don't let any person or circumstance tell you otherwise.

Most importantly, you never walk alone. You have people back home, people on campus, and a good father in heaven who go with and support you always. Joshua 1:9 says "be strong and courageous, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Psalm 139:13 claims God knit together in our mothers' wombs. Your uniqueness, your talents, your brilliance, your worth, it all comes from Him. He made you and He loves you and He will always be with you. Whenever life gets you down and you wonder what your worth or purpose could be look back on the many beautiful words written in scripture about how much you mean to God.

Dear college freshman, know your true worth and believe in it. No matter how tough things get, you will come through to the other side. The God who made you is the same God through whom all things are possible. Your first year will be strange and new. There will be both great excitement and great sorrow, painful anxiety and glorious relief. Through it all its ok if you don't know who you are or where you're headed. It's ok to be confused. It's ok to feel overwhelmed. It's even ok to make mistakes and forget things from time to time. Just never forget that you are special and loved very much. No matter what happens, you are important. Nobody could ever take your place. Know your true worth and believe in it.

Good luck and have an awesome first year.

Sincerely,

A Former Freshman