You are about to embark on the most unique, interesting portion of your life so far. If you are anything like I was, you are so sick of hearing that from what seems like everybody. Believe me, when I say that at this time next year, you will be saying the exact same thing.
It is probably hard right now to imagine leaving the only life you knew. When I graduated, I couldn't even imagine leaving home and living on my own. I would try to my picture myself not stepping back into my high school the next fall, and I couldn't even imagine it.
But now, I couldn't even picture myself going back. If you are leaving your home town, you will soon find comfort in your new town and it will feel just as much like as your old one did.
During this next year, you are going to learn who your real friends are. And I don't mean that in a bad way, you aren't going to have a huge falling out with everyone you once knew. When you and your friends all go off in your separate ways, it is so easy to lose touch with them.
The ones that really mean the most to you will make the effort to stay in touch with you. Those will be the people that stick with you forever.
I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but college requires much more effort than high school ever did. It isn't impossible, but it will require many late nights at your computer, and I don't mean watching Netflix. Don't go so crazy with your new found freedom that you forget why you're really there.
This is the most opportune time to get involved in anything you've ever had an interest in before. If you want to join a club, do it. In college, nobody cares what anyone else is doing... so take full advantage of it. Say yes to new experiences, because you never know what those new experiences will turn into. You could find your passion or even a new career path.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep an open mind. Going into college, I was dead set on my major and planned to follow it out to the end. 6 weeks into my first semester, I hated my major and decided to switch it to something new and completely unrelated. I still consider that the greatest decision that I've made my first year.
The biggest piece of advice that I can offer to you is that you don't have to do everything your friends do. Peer pressure still exists, but giving into it doesn't determine your social status like it did in high school. If something makes you uncomfortable, doesn't feel right, or you just don't want to do it, don't. Trust me, it really is that simple.
And I promise that nobody will be talking about it the next day.
The last thing that I can tell you is everybody's college experience is different. Don't compare what you are doing at your school to what someone else is doing, just learn to enjoy the experience. Be prepared for this new chapter of your life, because it is going to be amazing.
