College is a big step in life. You are moving away from your childhood home, your parents are not going to be within five hundred feet of you, and you are going to become an independent adult. You are going to meet some of the best people to have ever existed and wonder how you functioned without them a few months before. You are going to experience the college night life and see some things that you did not know were socially acceptable… and they probably are not. But seriously, college is the best thing that will happen to you.

It’s okay to be hesitant about where you want to go for the next four years. It’s a huge investment financially and emotionally. Distance is the biggest factor for a lot of people, but just know that you will be happy wherever you end up. Whether you got into your dream school or ended up attending a school because it was the only one you were accepted into, it will become your home and you will be sad to leave it.

The biggest relief is knowing where you are going to be spending the best four years of your life. Next thing you know, your closet is filled with every article of clothing from the University bookstore and your parents put a sticker on the back of the family SUV. Senior year is bittersweet, but moving into your dorm is a wonderful feeling.

Your first few weeks of school are going to be confusing. You are not going to know where everything is. It’s okay to ask someone where the building is, and it’s also okay when you find out that you were walking in the opposite direction the entire time. You might feel as if you made the wrong decision because you don’t feel a connection with the school. I can assure you that that is an extremely common feeling but you will fall in love with your new home away from home.

Don’t feel pressured to do anything. There is something for everyone at college whether it’s Greek life, club sports, or a small bible study group. Your future wedding party is out there, so don’t panic. It may take a couple months to find your college family, but that’s normal. Your new friends will not replace your ones from home. FaceTime and video-chatting were invented for high school friend groups to stay in touch. Okay, not really, but basically.

Moral of the story, don’t wish this time away. There will be times during your freshman year where you will want to drop everything on a Tuesday afternoon and go home so you can go back in your bed at home. You will wonder why you chose this school and why time is dragging on. I can tell you two things. You chose whatever school because you belong there. Time is flying by. Don’t blink because before you know it, you will be studying for your spring semester finals and wishing you could go back to move in day. College is what you make it, so make the most of it.

Sincerely,

A Rising Sophomore