To My Freshman Self,
Congratulations on surviving your first two semesters of college! You've learned a great deal in your first year, like how to adjust to your new lifestyle and manage the stress of a college workload.
Looking back on the summer of 2015, I remember the anxiety and nerves you felt as each day of your old life passed by. You weren't ready to leave your hometown, your family and your friends. You tried to mentally prepare yourself to eat alone in the dining hall during the first few days of the semester. Even the thought of sitting in your first college class alone, not knowing a single soul, made you nauseous. And forget about the roommate thing -- you were terrified that you would be crammed into a small dorm room with a complete stranger. College was a new, uncharted territory for you to navigate on your own.
After a tear-filled goodbye to your family on move in day, you were just about ready to call your mom to come back and pick you up. But somehow on the very first night, all of your fears washed away. You realized that you were blessed with the very best roommate on the face of the Earth, who would soon become a best friend and sister. You stayed up all night talking that very first night and instantly connected. After that, you ate every meal, went to the gym and went out every weekend together. She made the transition so easy for you, so make sure you thank her for the rest of your life.
Once it came time for Winter Break, it was harder than you'd ever expect saying goodbye to your new friends. You couldn't stand the though of being apart for a whole month. However, you embraced it, knowing you needed a break after the first semester of classes and grueling finals. Being back home again was a weird experience, as it felt like it wasn't exactly your home anymore. You lived out of suitcases and duffel bags for those four weeks and were even a bit depressed when you noticed that your mom made subtle interior design changes while you were away.
Soon enough, you were back "home" on campus with your best friends ready to take on part two of your freshman year adventure. Second semester presented its challenges with difficult classes and major life changes that took an emotional toll on you. But though all of this, you met even more amazing friends that you never knew would become such an important part in your life. You took the rest of the year by storm, laughing hysterically and making the best memories. Everything was as perfect as it could be and you truly felt comfortable at the school that was once so terrifying on move in day.
The hardest part of your freshman experience was definitely the last few weeks of school. You were drowning in about thirty assignments that were all due on the same day. You spent hours upon hours locked in the library during finals week. During study breaks, you reluctantly began dismantling your cozy dorm room and packing up your life to move back home. But those nights when you were overtired and delirious during finals were some of the best memories you made all year. There were many tears, but even more laughs that helped you cope with the stress. But like all good things in life, freshman year came to its end. When it came time to leave your dorm room and your best friends, you were a mess to say the least. You couldn't imagine being hundreds of miles apart for four months. Each tearful hug was bittersweet, proving you had met the most amazing people who made saying goodbye so hard.
As you drove away from campus for the last time as a freshman on that sunny spring day, you reminisced on the memories you made. The year was over, but college was just beginning. In this short time, you learned to get involved, be open minded and live in the moment. Enjoy your summer back in your hometown, but don't forget to take road trips to see your college friends once in a while. Tell them you miss them every day, even if you think they know it already. And start counting down the days until you tackle the next adventure: sophomore year!
