Dear college freshmen,

You probably think you have heard all the advice there is to give. You have already heard the typical "good luck's" or the "study hard" from friends and family. You are settled on the highest meal plan so mom is convinced you will not be starving away from home. The latest dorm necessities have been purchased (half of which, you will not even touch). Your entire closet is already in the car, or stuffed in every crevice of your tiny, new, half of a room. Hey, that shirt you have not worn in years might come in handy for some random themed party! No, I will not send you off with a "do your best!" or predict that you will be left with way too many meals at the end of the semester. I am not going to sit here and write about the best packing strategies. I am not going to explain how to fit all the stuff into your tiny box of a room. There are more important things I would rather discuss.

1. Keep It Open

I am actually talking about a few things here, like, your door, your books, most importantly, your mind.

Keep your door open sometimes. Don't worry, this does not make you a try-hard and it does not make you seem eager. Obviously, be safe about it. But when you and your roommate are just hanging out, don't always remove yourself from what's going on outside of your room. An open door let's people know you're open to meeting new people. The thing about freshmen year is that everyone is looking for a friend, so don't be afraid to be one.

Do not forget to open your books sometimes. They are not all boring, and, after all, it is the reason for college in the first place.

An open mind on a college campus is an amazing and valuable treasure. Be open to the different kinds of people you will meet. You never know what they can teach you. Be open to new opinions, what is happening in your new environment, and be open to new ways of learning. This may be your first time surrounded by people you did not grow up with. This may be your first time without your parent's constant input... in a place that is new to you. Take advantage of the possibilities.

2. Learn

There will be classes you do not like. There will be times you do not feel like going. There will be professors that will piss you off. Go to class anyway. Be present. Chances are, you will be able to take away at least one meaningful resource from it. Not every subject is interesting, but there are usually important concepts about each subject. Remember, your professors are smart people, but they are not the only ones who you will learn from. Every aspect of college is a learning experience.

3. Nap Later

This is an important one.

Finish your work early so you can do the things you want to do. If you miss out on some valuable sleep time experiencing fun memorable college stuff, it's fine. Just remember you can always nap later.

4. Be Yourself

Now, I know you probably think this is crappy and cliche advice, but trust me, it actually works in college. Get involved in the things you enjoy. This is the best time to discover new hobbies or interests. Maybe you are even still discovering yourself. Participate. Create change. There is a club for every kind of person. There is a place for everyone. College is the place where you will find people who love the things you love, who believe the same things you do, and whose minds work the way yours does. It is awesome how college has a way of revealing the exactly the people you need. It can also be equally has awesome to find people who think in a totally different way, who have different dreams than you, different goals. You can benefit in both cases.

5. Call Your Mom

Seriously. This is my form of therapy. Stressed? Call mom. Excited? Call mom. Homesick? Call mom. *Insert any possible human emotion here*? Call your mom! She will want to hear about your first day. She wants to know about your friends. Even if it's just on the way to class, it'll probably make her day to hear from you, and if you are like me, hearing her voice will probably improve yours too.

6. Be Grateful

There are millions of people who do not have access to higher level education... or an education in general. There are so many people who will not have the opportunities you will be given just by being here. Not everyone gets to focus on what they love and major in it. Many people never get to live with their best friends. Some people would kill for the resources you have available to you on a college campus. Utilize them. Lots of people will never experience the agony of finals week, and when you do, you might think they are lucky for that. When that week in December or May rolls around, you will probably be wishing you were anywhere else doing anything else... But even then — be grateful. Especially then, be grateful. Take time to realize how much you appreciate the opportunity you have been given. Do not forget to thank those who made it possible for you.

I hope you love your dorm room and it feels like home to you. I also hope you love the person you share it with. I hope you do not hate the food too much. I hope you do well. Lastly, I hope you take my advice as you begin the first year of the rest of your life.

Sincerely,

A two-year college survivor