Freshman year is one for the books. Our friends, family and teachers told us that college is "the best years of your life" and we were ready for it. We were nervous and excited for this new chapter in our lives to begin and the end of the beginning is near. With only a few weeks left of freshman year to go, we all need to slow down.
Remember a year ago? We were getting ready for senior prom and graduation. We rocked our college merch at least once a week. Reminisced on our high school experiences as we walked the halls for last time. We cried with our friends about missing them when we would leave for college and promised each other that we would stay friends forever. It's like a time machine came and took us into a different realm.
Then move-in day came and what a crazy day that was. You woke up early, moved all your boxes in, your mom cried a river... it was just like the movies. When your family left, you felt different... a good different. It felt right. You were where you needed to be and wanted to be and you were so excited. Move-in day is a great memory because you jumped into this new lifestyle and realized that nobody else knew what they were in for either. The girl down the hall came around begging for help with her plastic drawers she needed to build. Little did you know you would have late night heart to hearts with each other only days later. That boy on the second floor? He would become one of your best friends.
We all struggled in the beginning together, struggled in the middle together, and we're still struggling, but we did it together. We wouldn't be the people we are if we didn't have one another to lean on. We became friends, made different friends, ditched friends, fought, laughed, cried, hearts were broken and repaired and it was for sure the best mess we've ever been in. We've seen each other at our best, worst, and everywhere in between. It's hard to think that our freshman year is almost over.
With only a few more weeks left, we have so much to do. Exams are approaching and our professors are trying to fit the last half of the curriculum into a span of two weeks. We have papers to write, projects to finish, tests to study for, meetings to attend, paperwork to fill out, jobs to go to –– it's all just happening so fast and we need to hit pause. Just for a moment. So we can look back on the last eight months of our lives and appreciate the next few weeks that we have together.
Sure, we have another three years ahead of us, but things will change. You'll become distant with some of the people you met and you'll make other friends. You won't see the same faces everyday and you'll have to put in more effort to see your friends who won't be living in your building next year. What is to come can't be predicted, so appreciate where you're at right now at this moment: in your dorm room, having a two-person dance party with your roommate or at the student rec center, laughing the day away with your friends.
The memories we have made this year truly will last us a lifetime. We've all changed (some for the better and some for the worst) and we needed each other in the process. We are individuals who have been trying to find ourselves, but we're missing our family and friends from home. It was hard at times, filling the void of our home friends and trying not to step over boundaries. We had to learn to live together and get to know each other. It all happened so fast and at full force. We did it though and it was worth every insane moment.
So, here's to you, my hall-mates, classmates, my friends of freshman year: thank you. I love you all so much. This year wouldn't have been what it was without every single one of you. I can't wait to see what the future holds, but until then I appreciate the time we have together immensely.
