Dear freshman year me,

Wow. You're about to experience some awesome things and some not so awesome things. I want you to know that no matter how hard it gets, you're gonna be okay and it gets so much better. That 8 a.m. class you dread every morning, you won't even remember it in a few years. That boy you think is your whole world, he doesn't matter. That friendship drama you’re so wrapped up in, it’s insignificant. You are more than your college, you are more than your relationship status, you are more than what you thought you were in high school. Stop holding yourself back, you can do so much more.

Don’t stick to the same friend cycles you had in high school. It was all drama and “he said, she said” in high school, but this is college. Stop gossiping and start seeing the good in people. Your relationships are gonna be so much stronger for it.

It’s time to actually care about school. Freshman year me, I know you just got out of the house and you want to have fun and school isn’t that hard anyway, right? Wrong. Listen, have fun, but make sure you build up a good GPA now so when you get to the really hard stuff you have a foundation of good grades.

Talk to your professors. I know you don’t want to. I know it’s awkward. I know you don’t want to seem like a teacher’s pet, but they will appreciate you making the effort and it’s gonna be really helpful if they actually know you when you need references.

Talk to people you wouldn’t normally be friends with. In high school, it’s easy to stick to “your type of people” and never reach out to those outside your comfort zone. You are in this awesome environment with a diverse group of people you probably wouldn’t get to know otherwise. Reach out to all sorts of different people and you’ll be surprised what you learn about the world and yourself.

Most importantly, don’t stick to what you know. That plan you have, oh honey it’s gonna change so much. You’re going to change so much. I promise, that's a good thing. You have to try new things, go on adventures, meet new people, join new groups and don’t be afraid to fail them. You’re not always going to succeed; accept that and try the things that scare you whether that be intramurals or becoming a part of a committee you would never expect to be a part of. You’re gonna do great and I promise this is all gonna be worth it. No matter what happens, it gets better and you are loved so much more than you know.

Love,

sophomore year me