Eighteen-year-old me. I was about to attend Penn State Berks. I was nervous. I did not know much about myself. Coming in as a freshman, I was planning on transferring my sophomore year to University Park. I will be honest with you — I was pretty jealous of the people attending their dream colleges. I really wanted to live in a dorm. It seemed grown up, cool and fun to me. I really wanted to live somewhere foreign — where I knew nobody and little of the culture. Little did I know, I would actually transfer to West Chester University.
Incoming freshmen: This letter is for you. You are about the leave the life you were accustomed to and make a new one. You are about to become an adult. This transition to adulthood won't happen overnight, I pinky swear, so do not freak out quite yet. You may not realize the changes until you register the last time for classes... until you order your cap and gown... until you walk across the stadium... until you get your diploma in the mail. Although you may not see it, the little things, moving away from home for the first time, getting a car (finally) on campus, moving out of a dorm into an apartment... That will make you a grown up. Little by little. Enjoy every second of it.
I truly believe the time you spend in college can be one of the best times of your life. You are bound to make unforgettable memories, lifetime friendships, find your passions, and learn hard but rewarding lessons. If you want to be successful, I will not sugarcoat it. College is hard. There will be times where you experience uncomfortable amounts of stress. There will be times you hate your professors. There will be classes you have to work your butt off to pass. There will be days you just need to cry. There will also be days of happiness — days of pure adventure. Days your belly hurts from laughing. Bonding experiences with your roommates. Take it in. Take all of it in. The weeks will turn into semesters and the semesters will turn into years faster than you think, I promise you. College is a special opportunity for us to grow, change, and experiment. Take advantage of this.
Here is a simple list of 13 things all freshmen should experience their first semester at WCU:
1. Learn how to identify Church, High, and Gay street. These are the three main streets all West Chester students should be familiar with. If you can navigate these three streets, you will be able to get pretty much everywhere important to "Dub ' C" students. Also learn the names of the buildings on campus and how to get there by street. I guarantee you - at least once while you are a student at West Chester - somebody WILL stop you on the sidewalk and ask for directions. The university hosts lots of events for outside school districts and organizations.
2. Take a picture with the ram statue if you have not already. In four years, when it is time to leave, you will want a cap and gown picture with the famous guy. Just seeing how you changed over the past four years will amaze you. Maybe your hair is different, you got a tattoo, you changed your clothing style... You will look different in some way, and remember all the building blocks that got you to where you are right now - a graduating senior.
3. You will reminisce on the late nights you spent at the Ram diner. Maybe you had class after Lawrence closes. Maybe you went to the gym... AND wanted fried food right after (guilty).
4. When you turn 21, you will remember counting down the days. You will remember thinking "20 something's" were really old. You will probably go to Kildare's and get a t-shirt... visit Gay Street and see what all the "bar scene" hype is about. You will probably feel pretty cool. You are FINALLY legal.
5. Freshmen - find "your place" on campus. Visit the Old Library. Study in the outdoor classroom. Hike the Gordan Trail. Lay on the quad on campus. Study in Starbucks - if you can handle the crowd. Spend some time in the art gallery located in the Swope Music Building. Find "your place" on campus! This is a space you can go to relax and unwind. Somewhere you can think and process your thoughts. A place you find comforting.
6. Take advantage of the cheap movies Sykes plays over the weekends. Can't get a ride to the movies? Walk to Sykes with your roommate and venture to the bottom floor of Sykes - across from the gift shop. At night recent movies are played every week.
7. Go to a music concert in Swope at least one time. West Chester University is home to a school of very talented musicians! Take advantage. Go get some culture! Need a break from studying or a stressful life situation? Clear your mind and go to an evening concert. There is pretty much at least one concert every day - or close to it. Take in the sounds... what is going on around you. Observe the atmosphere. You may learn something.
8. Visit the therapy dogs at Sykes. Yes.. we have THERAPY DOGS. They are SO CUTE. I promise especially if you are having a rough day - the therapy dogs will make your day at least a little better. This is also a great way to meet new friends.
9. Go to Dia Dolce in town. Did you know Dia Dolce won Cupcake Wars? They also have REALLY good cupcakes. They even have gluten free AND vegan cupcakes. They have a super cute store in town. Go there!
10. When it snows, go sledding on south campus. South Campus is a part of campus people often forget about. It is really pretty and home to beautiful trails. It also has the BEST sledding hills prett much ever. So.. if school gets called off be prepared for some icy fun.
11. Attend the restaurant festival. Every fall, West Chester has a restaurant festival. Basically, the town of West Chester has amazing and delicious restaurants. During the festival, all these restaurants set up tents sampling their best dishes on the street. There are also other "non-food" vendors. If you are not hungry, you at least have the opportunity to go home with a souvenir.
12. Share a secret in Asplundh. Yup you heard me. The "Harry Potter" building? The building where all the performances are held? Yup, that's Asplundh. Believe it or not, if you stand on one end of the archway and whisper to someone on the other end - they will hear you.
13. The Christmas parade will make you feel like you are in a Hallmark movie. West Chester has a Christmas parade every year. Lots of organizations from Chester County have floats, there are dancers, and people dressed up in costume. High street is shut down and set up with tents. In these tents, you can get things like hot tea and coffee. No worries, it's free!
Cherish your last week as a college senior. Things are going to be different after this week. You will start to drift from friends you used to see and talk to everyday. Going home the first time in a few weeks will feel weird. Slowly, a huge chunk of your life will be at West Chester. Like it was for me, it will be the place where you grow up... where you learn all kinds of things about yourself. Embrace change and new experiences with an open mind. It is the best way to learn about yourself. To learn and grow from the life West Chester will prepare you to conquer.
