I wish I would’ve known that time really does fly by when you’re having fun. I wish I would’ve known that my parents are the only ones that always have my best interest at heart. I wish I would’ve known that stereotypes were almost never true. I wish I would’ve known to not live up to these stereotypes and to just be myself.

I think that most of us can admit that freshman year is a little scary. Between the big campus, trying to figure out where all your class are, and just fitting in, life can begin to get a little hectic. Even though you’re at the bottom of the totem pole, embrace being a freshman. Embrace being naïve and embrace being able to make mistakes and say, “well I’m freshman: I didn’t know any better.” Life can get stressful and times can get hard, but you need to always put these problems into perspective. You have been given an opportunity to learn and to better yourself as a human being. Learn from every choice or mistake you make. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun during all of this chaos. It’s important to go to class and get good grades, but it’s also important to build relationships and create happiness outside of your schoolwork. There were a few times I can remember where I wish I wouldn’t have put so much pressure on myself to be so perfect and to just be a kid a little longer and enjoy life a little more. I wish I would’ve known that your time as a freshman will fly by so hold on tight to the memories and enjoy every minute of the madness.

As you work your way through these lessons you will learn in college, I think the most important one of all is to appreciate your parents. There isn’t a day that goes by where I do not call mine. They are my support system. As you get busy and tied down to school and a social life, do not forget the ones that love you. Your parents have your best interest. You cannot forget about your friends or family back home that have been there for you through most of your lifetime. It’s important to make new lifelong friends, but it’s also important to keep in touch with the people who got you to where you stand today. I wish I would’ve known that my parents are the ones who always have my best interest so listen to them, but most importantly, never stop loving them.

As you continue to go through freshman year, you may start to see how stereotypes can be plastered onto people. The majority of those stereotypes are almost never true. Sure, there are going to be some wild child’s you meet here and there, but that doesn't indicate that they’re bad people. There are going to be some nerds you meet as well, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to have some fun as well. I could go on forever about different “titles” that are given to people, but I’ll spare us both the time. What you need to know is that you determine whether or not a person is someone you would like to have a friendship or relationship with. If I had gone by the stereotypes that communities place on people, then I would have never met some of my best friends. Do not believe everything you hear or else you will be the most uninformed and unfortunate person on campus. There are truly are some pretty great people you can meet if you just give them a chance to show you who they truly are. I wish I would’ve known earlier that stereotypes are almost never true because then I would’ve had more time to meet even more great people.

A lot of times people get to college and think that they have to live up to some expectations that have been presented to them. I can tell you right now that you will make a lot more friends and have a lot more fun if you can just learn to be yourself. It can be terrifying to be your full self because we are all so bothered as to what others perceive of us. However, it is more terrifying to know that people like you for the person that is not really you. Do not waste your time searching for approvals because you will almost never get a guarantee from everyone. I promise you that if you choose to be yourself you will radiate the most positive and genuine energy and people will want to be your friend for all the right reasons. I wish I would’ve known earlier to be myself.

And lastly, I wish you all the best of luck with these next best four years of your life. I think we all secretly wish we were a freshman again.