You went with great sadness and great trepidation. And sure, starting college can be a scary thing. You are leaving almost everything and everyone you know and starting new in a much bigger pond. But you will be great.

You will meet so many new people. Some great, some strange, and some who will be your people as you navigate the unfamiliar terrain you have just entered.

There are perks to being in a much bigger pond. You will find more people who have similar interests and similar goals in their lives. Some of these people will be great friends and connections throughout school and your following professional career. But be friends with people outside your major too. Make friends in freshman classes, on your hall, and with your friends' friends. Having a variety of friends will keep you from getting bored as they will offer a wider range of views, experiences, and interests that you can learn from.

Don't worry about what others think of you. College is already significantly less judgy than high school was. Some people still judge others – maybe it's fun for them; I don't know. Be yourself and do what you want, but follow the rules too. The only people that are fairly universally judged are the ones who make too much noise in study areas, stop in the middle of busy sidewalks, and constantly talk in classes. Just be respectful of others' time and space, and you will be fine.

Remember, you are at college to learn, but fun is also a good thing and really does help you to learn better. Balance is hard but not impossible. The key is don't do anything you don't want to do (which does not apply to homework and other responsibilities). If someone is going somewhere and you don't want to go, and you haven't already said yes, then don't go. Even if friends are going, or people are pressuring you to go, you are in no way obligated to go. You don't have time for everything. You have to choose what you will do.

Eat your fruits and vegetables, drink water, exercise, and get enough sleep. Sleep is a commodity in short supply at college; do your best to get as much as you need. If you run on too little for too long, you will crash, and that will end up making it 10x worse than it would have otherwise been. Trust me; I speak from experience. Sleep even if you didn't get all your reading done; at some point each day, you will completely stop being productive. Don't force it – sleep, take a break, and come back to it after you have rested. You will do much better in less time, I promise.

I love you, and you will be great, even if it is hard at times. And don't forget, I am one phone call away.