To the freshman afraid to take chances,

I was you, just two years ago. I was highly introverted, sheltered my entire life by my parents, and unaware of how daunting and terrifying the real world really was. The only glimpse I got of college was in movies and television, most of which were vastly exaggerated and flawed recreations of football games, sleepless nights, and wild parties. The minute I stepped foot onto campus for the first time, I had no idea what I was going to do with my life.

Just like most people, I couldn't wait to graduate high school. I didn't have a particularly memorable four years in high school…I was quiet, and I had a small group of very close friends, and I spent most of my weekends working or spending quality time with my family. I never had a sip of alcohol, never went to a wild house party, never got in trouble. I was a (mostly) straight-A student, my only vision was the future and what I could do with it. Since I was a young girl, all I dreamed of was to go to a big school with a ton of spirit and Saturdays spent cheering on the football team.

And then reality hit me like a truck. There I was, wearing my cap and gown, walking across the stage to receive my diploma. And in just 2 short months, I would have to say the hardest goodbyes of my life and move 6 hours away from home. Saying goodbye to my family was the worst part of it all. As we stood in my compact, brightly decorated dorm room, I fought back tears as I squeezed onto my mom for dear life. When my parents finally detached themselves from me and left me all alone for the first time in my life, I had no idea what to do. How was I going to make friends? How was I going to fit in? How was I going to make a life for myself at this ginormous school?

I'll admit, it took a few tries to really get myself going. Naturally, being in college was a huge adjustment from what had grown so accustomed to back home. On top of having to do my own laundry, make my own meals, and find my way around a campus bigger than my hometown, I also had to manage to keep on top of my schoolwork, make new friends, and find a way to get involved.

Speaking of getting involved, don't even get me started on the involvement fair. I think that was the most overwhelming and stressful 2 hours spent of my life. I had to put my email down on at least 40 list-serves before leaving, although in reality we all know I was probably going to only actually go to two or three of these actual clubs' meetings. But I was putting myself out there, and that's what everyone tells you to do, right?!

Of the 40 clubs I put my name down for that day, I only am actually involved in one to this day. But that's where things get crazy. After two awfully depressing weeks of missing my family and going to a million different meetings I ended up having no interest in, my RA gave me a suggestion to try out a meeting for a certain philanthropic group on campus. She told me she thought I'd love it, and that I'd make a ton of new friends from it. But how was I supposed to just walk into this meeting with nobody else I know and just go with the flow?! My entire life I was this terrified, quiet girl, afraid to put one foot in front of the other and explore the world, so how exactly was I supposed to accomplish this?

Well I did it. I summoned up all my courage and went to the meeting all by myself. That meeting turned out to be one of the most fun and interesting hours I spent all freshman year. By the end of the hour, I had 10 new contacts in my phone and I was walking back to my dorm building with a new friend. It turned out that attending this one meeting is what opened the door to the most amazing freshman experience I could've possibly asked for. By just taking one simple step and taking my RA's suggestion, millions of new opportunities opened up for me at school. I took suggestions from my new friends in the organization, and started attending other meetings, where I only added on to my ever-growing group of friends and experiences. Instead of sheltering myself in my dorm room all night, I knocked on the door next to me and met the girls who would become my best friends. Just from knocking on that door, I meet eight other incredible girls on my floor who have since become my sisters—the girls I know will be standing in the aisles at my wedding and going on road trips ten years from now with.

Two years have passed since I considered dropping out of school and coming back home. Two years have passed since I sat on my Twin XL bed, facetiming with my mom with tears streaming down my face as she tried to convince me that one failed audition for a team wasn't the end of my life. Two years have passed since I wildly shook my pom pom in the air as I watched our football team score the first touchdown of the season.

There's no sugarcoating college. It has its ups and downs without a doubt. You'll spend days with your nose in your textbooks, chugging coffee and praying that you'll at least get a C on your next exam. There'll be days where you just say "screw it all" and call your friends over and split a pizza pie as you binge-watch Netflix. And there'll be days where you call your mom at 9 o'clock at night just to hear her say "I love you" one more time. But if I can give you one piece of advice from it all, it's to give it all a shot. If you're hesitant to try something new or take a shot at something that may seem difficult or out of your comfort zone, just try it for fun and if it doesn't work out…that's okay! Because in the end, you're going to come out of every experience learning so much more than you have before, and you're going to realize that college will be the best four years of your life.

Sincerely,

The junior who took a chance.