Dear Freshman Me,
Coming into college will be one of the most exciting and nerve racking moments in your life, and I know you are coming in with an idea of how exactly your life in college is going to be. But first semester might be more difficult than you imagined it would be, and that's okay. As a junior, I realize there were a few things I wish I knew, freshman move in weekend.
Don't waste your first semester being afraid.
You can't be afraid to put yourself out there and meet new friends. Don't waste your first semester locked in your dorm watching "One Tree Hill" on Netflix. The only way to meet new people is to say hello. Everyone is much nicer than you think. So go out and be brave because you'll regret wasting those first few months because of fear.
Homesickness will not last forever.Those first few weeks are going to be a big change and that can be hard. It's a big transition being away from your parents and your pets, your friends and especially your bed. But that feeling does go away, or at least gets less intense. College will eventually become a home to you and something you will love just as much as your real home. It just takes time to get there. So, take a deep breath and keep pushing through, because soon enough, you will feel college is where you belong.
Your friends from home are not going to forget about you.
Your friends from home will always hold a special place in your heart and sometimes when everyone is at school you feel like you are losing touch. It is never as bad as it seems. Everyone is off exploring the world in their own way in their own colleges and that's exactly as it should be. But being away from your friends at home does not mean that they will forget about you and vice versa. The friends you met in high school will always be important, and the friends that really matter will be able to pick up right where they left off. So don't worry about losing that connection. If you make the effort, the friendships will survive.
It's okay to fail.
College is a time to explore different subjects and classes and to really find yourself. And chances are, you are not going to ace every class, and that's okay. College classes will be different from high school classes. Take the chance and take the class because it could end up becoming your new major, or it could end up being a class you have to withdraw from or even fail. Whatever the outcome, at least you tried your best and tried something new. Failing is not the end of the world, even if it seems like it.
You are not alone.
Being scared to make new friends, missing home, and struggling to adjust is not uncommon. There are so many other freshman who are going through the same thing you are. Don't be embarrassed or feel like a loser. It's a normal process that won't happen overnight. So, if your having a bad day, go knock on someone's door to hang out, because they are most likely in the same boat you are and could use a friend. So, keep your chin up, because sooner than you realize, college will become some of the favorite years of your life.
-E
