Dear Freshmen,

Can you believe it? It’s already August and you’ve just finished your last high school summer vacation – probably one of the best ones you’ve had in a while considering you didn’t have much going on in terms of school, well until the last few weeks of August came around that is. Because as the last few weeks of August come to a close, it’s official; you're going to go from being a senior, right back to where you started -- as a freshman. Guess they don’t call it the “circle of life” for no reason, huh? But don’t get me wrong, you aren’t any ordinary freshman this time around... Starting now, you’re considered a college freshman.

I’m sure you’ve heard it all, from dreading 8:30 a.m. classes to avoiding 8:00 p.m. lecture classes, as well as making sure you keep track of when dining hall closes to avoid living up to the name of the stereotypical college student with no choice but to eat Ramen three days in a row for dinner. There's a lot to think of going into your first year of college, but there’s a part that is easily forgotten when trying to make sure you do everything else correctly. It’s easy to forget that being a college freshman is one of the biggest turning points in your life and that there is a significant amount of changes you are about to go through. Yeah, you were a freshman not too long ago, but the difference is that there aren’t social pressures weighing you down anymore or social norms that dictate the type of person you should be. It’s safe to say that the person you were in high school is not the type of person you always saw yourself becoming, and if it is, kudos to you because not many people can combat peer pressure like that. It may have been difficult to find out who you truly were in high school due to all the factors a teenager in a society like today has to overcome, such as parental control, peer pressure, creating relationships, not that many freedoms, and of course, the life changing dilemma of choosing between Dunkin’ and Starbucks to come back to class with after your senior lunch breaks.

If you ever find yourself reflecting on your high school self wondering why you did that or what was I thinking? I’m telling you, it’s probably because it’s what everyone was doing, which at the time may have seemed “cool,” but looking back, all you can think of is how embarrassing it was to feel the way you did. I mean, you didn’t have to join in on it, but hey, it is high school and it’s almost inevitable to wanting to fit in. But guess what? Let me tell you a secret that not all freshman realize -- now that you’re a college freshman, you are granted an opportunity that many people long to experience, especially during their embarrassing preteen ages that their friends still won’t let them live down, you get something that SO many people wish to be able to have… you get a fresh start.

You can finally feel free to be who you are and not who people want you to be. College isn’t like high school; there aren’t popular groups, cliques, the “we’re too cool for you” crowd, and the “you can’t sit here” group. College is a place in which you can be YOU and not have someone tell you otherwise. And if they do, it’s more than likely there’s a deeper insecurity there which is a problem they’ll have to take upon themselves. People really don’t care what you’re wearing, what you’re doing, and who you are talking to (unless it’s a cheating boyfriend/girlfriend – then it matters). But aside from that, it doesn’t matter and it won’t as long as you don’t let it. Of course, there will always be the pressure of wanting to “fit in” but there’s a difference now, because “fitting in” no longer means losing yourself to social standards. There’s no more “following the crowd” because there is no crowd. Fitting in just means finding people that have similar interests as you which allow you to create relationships that have a far deeper meaning than words alone can describe.

There will be stressful times, heart breaks and moments you wish you could just run away from everything but along with those times will also be exciting adventures, good memories to look back on and amazing lifelong friendships. You won’t realize it now, but these are the experiences that will help shape who you are as a person. Given these experiences will allow you to learn A LOT more about yourself such as, your likes, dislikes, traits that matter to you in a friendship, qualities you look for in a partner, as well as careers you can see yourself doing.

Good luck to you as you go on to find your true identity -- it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Just make sure to keep in mind that as a new chapter in your life, college serves as your notepad, and as the author, it's up to you as to how you'd like to write your own story -- not anyone else's.