Dear incoming TCU freshman,

You are about to embark on the most wonderful journey of your life. For the next three, four or five years, you will find TCU to be your second home. You will create memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. You will be part of a big, yet extremely tight-knit, family who cares about you deeply. You will experience all the ups and downs of college: the all-nighters during finals week, the late-night runs to local restaurants or to Kroger, watching movie marathons with friends and, unfortunately, getting really sick at least once. You will laugh and you will cry. You might even want to drop out or transfer. The blood, sweat, tears and sacrifices you have made for the past four years of high school have been worth it. Your hard work has been noticed by TCU admissions. Out of the 20,000 students who applied, the TCU administration saw you as one of the best and brightest.

In the middle of August, you will arrive on campus with 1,800 of your fellow class of 2020 Horned Frogs. You might arrive earlier if you are rushing a sorority or participating in the TCU Marching Band. It might be the very first time you have ever seen your campus. Or maybe you have already visited campus dozens of times - especially if you live in the North Texas area. You will be nervous and confused, and you might be exhausted (especially if you flew in from another country or from another state). Your parents will be stressed out and sad to see you go. It might be the first time you (their son or daughter) have left the nest for an extended period of time. It will be over 100 degrees outside as you unpack all of your belongings. You will be sweaty and thirsty, so make sure you are wearing the appropriate clothing and drinking plenty of water.

You will wait in a line to take the elevator if your room is not on the first floor. Once you get to your room, you will be greeted (maybe not immediately) by a stranger who will (hopefully) be your roommate for the entirety of your freshman year. Your roommate might become your best friend for life, a person you might have to settle for coexisting with or you/they might move out halfway through the school year.

After (or before) you meet your roommate, you will be introduced to your resident assistant. Your resident assistant is there to make sure that you are safe as well as being your biggest cheerleader, mentor and helper. He or she might even become your closest friend.

You will find that you will need to learn how to manage your time and study effectively in order to succeed academically. You will always have to remember that you came to TCU in order to get a degree. However, you will find that college is not all about studying. You will probably join a sorority or a fraternity. You will probably want to play intramural or club sports. You might be interested in joining band or choir. You will learn that if you join an extracurricular activity at TCU, it will give you a break from studying and keep you sane.

You will learn how to live independently. Whether you choose to live on campus (which most of you will) or not, you will learn how to do your own laundry, wake up without the assistance of your parents and do what needs to be done. You will learn to make your own decisions. You will have to decide whether it is worth it to go to that fraternity party on Wednesday night or study for the exam you have at 8 a.m. on Thursday. You will have to decide whether it is worth it to drink now or wait until you are 21. You are the driver here at TCU. I can only give you suggestions on what to do, but eventually it is up to you to make the choice.

Your freshman year at TCU is going to be the greatest year of your life. You will learn and experience more than you ever have during your first 17, 18 or 19 years of your lives. I cannot wait to see all of your new faces this fall. As a senior, I am so exited to share this experience with you.

Sincerely,

Miku Stone