My sister and I are only 17 months apart. Growing up, people always thought we were twins and although I pretended like I hated it, I was flattered. We were two peas in a pod, with coordinating outfits and a shared bedroom. When I left for college, things got a little different. Being separate from my sister was definitely something we weren't used to. I remember how nervous and excited for college I was a year ago at this time, so I thought I might give her some friendly advice.
I'm only a phone call away.
Remember that even if you feel alone, you definitely aren't. I'll always be here to vent to, yell at or even to get distracted from your school work. Even though I'm not as close to you as I was at home, it doesn't mean that I won't be there for you.
Try not to come home every weekend.
This is something I truly regret from my freshman year. You're even closer to home than I was! Please trust me when I tell you that going home is only going to make it worse. When you get home, none of your friends will be here and all you will see are snapchats of people having fun at school. You'll get major FOMO. Even though your own bed and home cooked meals seem great when you're at school, sometimes all you need is some FaceTime action with mom and dad to calm you down.
Don't forget that everyone is as scared as you are.
A lot of the time people pretend like they're having the time of their life even though they are feeling terribly awkward inside. It might feel like you're the only one feeling homesick, but trust me, you aren't. It's okay to feel homesick for the first couple weeks, but after that, just try to enjoy it. You only have one first semester, so don't mope around the whole time!
Don't eat after dinner.
The freshman 15 is real. Too real. And I know you, and I know how much you love french fries and chicken nuggets. Please just do yourself and your body a favor and stick to a small snack instead. It's going to be fall soon! Just have an apple and call it a night, no matter how tempted you are to get some nugs. Oh, and a bagel every morning for breakfast will only do bad things to your body. I had one every morning first semester, and it definitely didn't have good after affects.
Soak in every moment.
You'll only have your freshman year once. It went by too fast for me, but maybe you can be different. Say yes to new opportunities, get involved on campus, take pictures, go to the job fairs, go to lunch with people you don't know too well and try not to get too stressed out. You'll thank me when you're packing up in May thinking, "How did it go by so fast?"
Stay cool, calm and collected.
I know how you can be when you're a little hangry -- and it's kind of scary. I can joke about this because you're my sister, but please don't let your crazy out in front of your friends at school.
Don't forget to be yourself.
I really don't want you to come home as a different person, because I love the way you are. But I know you will change, for better or for worse. Just make sure you don't forget who you are deep down, because it will break my heart if you do.
Don't ever forget where you came from.
I love you too much for you to leave and never come back. Just promise me you won't meet a guy who lives across the country and move there. We had plans to raise our kids together, remember?
Don't forget about me.
I'm your sister, so I'm going to be a little emotional to see you move away from home. Please promise me you'll never forget our childhood, late-night trips to Wendy's and our pink and blue color coordination. You're a part of me that could never be replaced. Good luck at college sister, I know you'll only do good things.
