Dear Incoming Freshmen,

I kind of wish I was in your place right now. On the other hand, I am happy where I’m at, but I’ll get to that later.

You’re about to embark on one of the most exciting times in your life. You’re going to meet so many amazing, unique, and new people. You’re going to be in an environment filled with energy, dedication, and motivation. The people you will meet, the professors you will learn from, and the opportunities you will have are all extreme blessings that I hope you take care of.

To me and most people, August and May seem like a month apart. The saying “time flies” could not be truer. Even though a day or week may feel like an eternity, when you look back, you realize how quickly the year really does fly by. I encourage you to take every moment in and to not take anything for granted. Enjoy every breath of fresh air, every friendly smile, every “boring” lecture, every fun event, and more.

Freshman year carries an energy that stems from nerves but also from excitement. It is a year of the unknown. It is normal to feel scared or nervous. Will you make friends? Will you like your friends? Will you do well in your classes? Are you going to change your major? Will living in a dorm be okay? The limit of possible questions does not exist. I encourage you, however, to try and take the nervous energy that you may have and transform it into positive energy, energy that is filled with excitement for the future.

I hope you know that everything will be okay. You just have to be yourself. Once you can be yourself, you will find other people who enjoy you for you. There is no point in trying to be someone you’re not, just to end up secretly unfulfilled and with people who don’t know the real you. You deserve to meet people who love the real you because the real you is awesome.

I’m not saying it’s all going to be easy. It is likely you will encounter many challenges throughout your freshman year because that’s life. You might have trouble finding your people, or simply adjusting to college life in general. But if you are able to acknowledge the circumstances, find a way to overcome the challenges, and maintain your strength and poise while doing so, you will come out on the other end even stronger.

You will grow a lot this coming year. You will become more mature, confident, and independent. You can easily achieve these goals by relaxing, staying strong, and most importantly, being you.

At the beginning of this letter I mentioned that, while I am a little jealous you get an amazing 4 years ahead of you, I am also happy to be moving on to sophomore year. I am excited to have put one foot through the door but to know there is still so much more to discover and accomplish. Sophomore year will bring me even more confidence, independence, excitement, and friendships.

No matter where you go to school or what age you are, in college you are given the unparalleled opportunity to grow and find yourself. Take advantage of it.

Sincerely,

An Almost Sophomore