Dear incoming college freshmen,

As your summers begin to draw to a close and you begin to warily wade through your various college registrations, orientations, fees, deadlines, the daunting date of your first day of college inevitable looms nearer and nearer. I can imagine and sympathize with (as I was there just one year ago) the mixture of emotions you are probably beginning to feel right about now: excitement, anxiety, anticipation, and apprehension; above all, I know you are feeling overwhelmed. I want to let you know that’s okay, I and millions of others that have been in your shoes felt that way too. But I want to let you know that you made the right decision in going to college, and assure you that you’re in for a hell of a ride.

College is stressful, I’ll give you that. Many people have told you that high school was the best years of your life. And true, college is a big transition from the high school days spent with people you’ve probably known since kindergarten, Cornell style notes and being held to the highest penalties of the law for wearing short shorts or chewing gum. And, you’ve probably heard a million and one horror stories about getting lost during the first few weeks of college, the freshmen fifteen, late nights spent in the library with shot after shot of espresso, abhorrent roommates, dorm hall mishaps, and the five stages of emotion that directly follow a surprise in-class pop-quiz (they closely resemble the five stages of grief including denial and bargaining, to give you a hint).

However, what no one might have told you is how at the end of the day, all of the late nights, community bathroom savagery, ten-page essays, and frozen microwaveable meals will be worth it. College is a place to find lifelong friends and find yourself. It’s a place with limitless opportunities to create and recreate yourself, to try new things (I’ve already changed my major three times), and discover new hobbies and talents. There will be challenges and mistakes along the way, I won’t lie to you, and sometimes you’ll feel like giving up. My advice to you is this: don’t. You will find classes and professors you end up adoring, people you always want to be around, small ways to make a difference in your campus and communities, and make memories you will never forget.

Whether you’re going to a four-year university or community college doesn’t matter; if you made the choice to go to college in the fall, for whatever reason, you’re already on the path to a bright future. I want to congratulate you on your first steps into individuality, freedom, and this long and sometimes crazy adventure ahead of you, and remind you that nothing in life worth doing is ever easy. I hope you love college as much as I have grown to. I know it sounds cliché, but get involved. Branch out. Try something new. I promise you, it will be worth it.

Sincerely,

A sophomore that wishes you the best and good luck :-)