Dear college freshman,
Prepare yourself for some highs, lows, and (hopefully) the best four years of your life. Being a junior, I know all too well how fast freshman (and sophomore) year flies by. My advice to you is to cherish it.
Know that you will make mistakes. I sure did, but I let them go and moved on. Be prepared to grow a lot as a person and realize that the mistakes you make have helped make you the person you are today. You'll continue to learn and succeed, so don't fear failure, but rather thrive from it. Each time you fall, get back up and try again.
Be involved, you won't regret it. Not only will this keep you busy, but you will make many new friends and connections. Go to the involvement fairs, introduce yourself to strangers, and be open to new opportunities. It might be easier said than done, but you'll benefit in the long run, whether that's because you know someone when applying for a job or you will make a best friend who will always be by your side and support you.
Make the memories you'll remember years from now. These are the times to be young and have fun. If you're debating on going out, go out. If you want to have a movie night with your friends, do that because that's fun too. You will be making memories and that's all that matters. You will look back on these times wishing you could go back because I sure do every now and then.
Don't forget to study hard. While it's the time to have fun, remember why you're here and what you're paying for. Once you learn to balance your time between having fun and studying, you're set. Freshman year can sometimes be overwhelming with everything being new and exciting. Realize you might not get the hang of everything right away. To be honest, I'm still working on balancing everything.
In the end, it will fly by because every good thing does. Cherish freshman year while you can.
