To Fordham's Class of 2021,

Congratulations, you're here! It's May 1st, which is simultaneously the most amazing (& scary) day of your high school life. You've chosen the institution where you will be spending your next four years, pursuing your passions and making new friends while getting an education in whatever field you desire. It's a big step for you, and today you and all of your friends have made that final commitment to whichever school has the most of your heart. And for you, it's Fordham!

You have your own reasons for coming here, the same way I had mine. But regardless of what made you choose this school, the fact of the matter is that you were drawn here by something. For some reason, Fordham mattered to you more than the others, and you felt that this was the best place and situation for you to be in.

I know exactly how you're feeling right now. You're feeling super excited for the next chapter in your life, a little scared to let go of everything that's been familiar to you up until now, and super sad that some of your closest friends may not be following you to the Bronx or Lincoln Center. But I'm here to tell you that once you step on this campus in a few months, it will be totally worth it.

You are about to have so many opportunities that many other schools don't have. You have an absolutely amazing alumni network willing to help you out when you graduate, and tons of amazing professors and staff waiting here to accommodate you and help you adjust to your new surroundings. Everywhere you go, people will recognize your school name. You're about to carry on your shoulders a sense of pride like never before -- because Fordham is going to help take you places that you only ever dreamed of going. You are going to take amazing, creative classes (such as Cultural Anthropology), alongside some of the pretty standard, not-so-exciting ones (such as Chemistry). And best yet, you have the greatest city in the world at your disposal, and trust me when I tell you that you will find yourself utilizing every second of it. Whether it's your professor sending you to the Met for a paper or your friends just wanting to go thrift shopping on a sunny day, your life is about to become chock-full of new adventures, information, and experiences.

When I chose to become a Fordham Ram, I knew that there was nowhere else I wanted to be. Despite being accepted to 13 schools, not a single one stood out to me as much as Fordham did. This time last year, I made the decision to come here because I saw Fordham as a place where I could learn and prosper both with my intellectual education and also my personal education, through tons of city adventures, new friends, and new experiences that I may not have experienced back in my hometown. I was biting at the bit to come to this school, and I never stopped being glad that I did. And lucky for you, you're about to experience this feeling too.

So I'll see you in August, when campus is once again swarmed with nervous, eager freshman all trying to play it cool while they're hopelessly lost on their way to dinner. (To which I advise you to ask for directions, because we've all done it before and I wouldn't rely on Fordham's maps too much.) The night before you come here for your fall semester, you may feel a little nervous, scared, and even sad. But I promise you that once you step on this campus on move-in day, you will be shocked at the noise and the balloons and the happiness and the excitement that is so palpable that you feel like you can reach out and grab it. All of those scary feelings will dissipate, your family will hug you goodbye, and then you will be in this amazing city filled with light and noise and experiences and so many interesting, incredible people (& campus cats).

Trust me. You've made the right decision, and you won't ever regret it.

And if you're looking for a new activity to start up this upcoming fall, I think I have a good writing platform to recommend...

Sincerely,

Someone Who Was In Your Shoes Last Year & Knows Exactly How You're Feeling.