First of all, congratulations on graduating high school and finishing a giant part of your life! I know some days you wake up with excitement and some days it's more fear or nostalgia, but trust me, there are amazing days ahead. Coming back home from my own first year of college really showed me all of the things that I learned while I was gone.
So here's to the next four girls that will move into my old dorm. Here's to the group of friends that will take over my favorite table in the dining hall. To the ones who are about to pack up their car and try really hard not to look back too much, this is for you. To the next freshmen.
1. Make friends with the person you never thought you'd speak to.
They will be different than you thought they were, and they'll probably turn into one of your closest friends.
2. Whatever it is, join it.
You can always leave later, but you probably won't want to after you figure out how much you love being a part of something bigger than yourself. Be the only Greek life member in your residence hall association. Try out the honors program. Go to the meeting for that club you've never even heard of. You don't have to like it, but trying it is half the fun.
3. Don't let your dorm room become the place you frequent the most.
Appreciate your dorm. It will see you fall apart and come back together, and it will be there for all of your "firsts." It's your first little slice of the world. But it will still be there when you get back home after exploring your campus, your community, and yourself. So get out of it as much as you can.
4. It's OK to change your mind.
If you suddenly don't want to go to that party, you don't have to. If you start to think it's too stressful to be involved in eight organizations, you don't have to. If you start developing new views about the world and how you think it should be, don't be surprised. If you don't want to be a doctor anymore, find something you love and go after that just as diligently. You're at a very fluid time in your life. It's OK to make changes.
5. Make God more of a priority now than ever before.
It's way too easy to lose sight of the one that gave you all of these opportunities when life gets busy. I promise that if you just try to give him your time, he will make your life decisions so much easier.
6. Call your mom.
She's about to be the best friend you've ever had, and you're about to wonder how you took that for granted the first 18 years of your life.
7. Stay kind to everyone.
College life exposes you to every type of person imaginable. You're going to figure out that your home town felt pretty diverse until you got out of it. That is OK, and it's actually an amazing opportunity to be involved in a diverse community. Make sure it doesn't turn you bitter or selfish.
8. Go to class.
OK, it seems simple, but you'll see that it actually is pretty hard to do. Don't take the opportunity for higher education for granted. Also, it's not like you have anything better to do with your day.
9. Visit home, but don't pretend you still live there.
Sometimes you'll just want to spend a weekend back at home where everything feels more familiar. That's completely OK, just don't let yourself start to think that's how you should spend every weekend. Home will always be home, but you won't be in college for forever. Focus on becoming content with this new chapter of life. You'll end up happier.
10. Make every single day memorable.
Before you know it, May will arrive and you'll be walking out of your last final wondering where your freshman year of college just went. Being a freshman is a fun, new, and special experience. Make it count before it's over.
I know your emotions are at an all-time high and suddenly everything is moving too fast, but just know that while time won't get any slower, life will keep bringing new and exciting opportunities. Look forward to what's ahead, don't forget where you came from, and start making a life that you'll be proud of when you're 100. It's your time to be brave and do amazing things.
