Let me start this letter off by asking how you are. Are you tired? Stressed? Maybe a little sleep-deprived after having to write five college applications, on top of sports practice and, of course, homework? I now want to tell you to breathe. Take a minute to stop whatever you're doing, and to focus on the words I'm about to say. It's all going to be OK. I know that might sound crazy right now, as you sit in a pile of books, your phone non-stop buzzing from friends texting you about this or that, but it's true. In just a year, your life is going to be completely different, and in two years you probably won't even recognize yourself. But that's OK. Life is about change. It's about becoming who you are meant to be, and leaving behind the past. It may sound scary in theory, but change is something you can't fight. Now that you have accepted that fact, let's go into the positive parts of my letter (because believe me, this is mainly a positive letter). Let's go into detail about what is going to change.
1. You're going to be faced with classes that are a lot more laid-back, but also a lot harder than you've ever taken before. Teacher's may not care as much whether you show up, but it's not exactly easily to learn an entire 50-page chapter the night before a test.
2. Having said that, though, it's OK to miss class sometimes. I'm not saying don't show up every day, but what I'm saying is that if there is ever a day when you're overwhelmed, or you just need time to sleep or go to brunch or whatever it is that calms you down, then take that time. A class here and there won't kill your grade.
3. You might get a C. And that's OK. I got my first ever C in college, and even though the overachiever inside of me was a little sad, I know that I tried my best, and here I am a semester later doing absolutely fine.
4. You're going to be busy. Don't think that the busyness and stress of high school are going to go away the minute you step into your freshman dorm. It's actually going to get worse. You're going to have class, then three hours of work, followed by meetings for your sorority, or the debate club, or the water polo team, or whatever clubs or activities you're involved in. You're going to come home at night exhausted and needing to read half a book for your literature class, and that's just one of the five school days of the week.
5. However, you're going to want to be busy. With the amount of freedom that college offers, you're not going to be happy if you're spending all your day watching Netflix in bed. Too much free time is a bad thing, especially when you're young, so get out there and get as involved as you can.
6. You're going to study more than you ever have in your life. You're going to spend hours in the library, or at Starbucks, studying your butt off for each midterm and each final. And even though you might be running on an hour of sleep and five cups of coffee, that is completely normal.
7. You're going to make decisions that you regret. Whether it's in the form of a terrible hangover, a broken heart, or just simply not studying for a test, regret comes in many forms in college.
8. You're going to meet people who will change your life. Whether it be your future fiancé, the friends who will be by your side forever, or a professor who will completely change your opinions on the world, college is where your future starts.
9. You're going to lose some friends. Even the people who you promised you would stay in touch with forever. You will grow apart from high school friends. No matter how sad it is, it's a part of life.
10. And finally, you're going to become an adult. You're going to deal with adult problems and adult situations. You're going to have to take care of yourself in an environment that doesn't allow you to be a child anymore. You are forced to grow up quickly, but efficiently. You might fall down along the way, but those missteps are what bring you to the other side, where you are a completely different person than you were just a few months before.
I hope you enjoy your last year of high school, your last true years of childhood. I hope you don't let others dictate where you go to college or what you study. I hope you wake up every day, excited for the future and the incredible years that lie ahead. In just a few months, your life is going to turn upside down, and it's going to be one of the most magnificent and life-changing events that you will ever experience. I hope you're ready, and I hope if anything, you keep this one thing in mind. It's all going to be OK.
