Dear Freshmen,
I wish someone told me this in the beginning. Now that your summer is coming to an end, either you are preparing to move or already have. You are going to be moving out or commuting to school, but you have a whole new responsibility. That new responsibility is you. It's time for change. Are you ready for it? Probably not and you're scared.
It's scary because at first you are going to be ALONE. You will not know anyone and you're going to want to jump back in your car and go home. You'll meet your roommate, a.k.a your first friend. Before classes start, you both will be attached at the hip. You either may become the best of friends or drift apart, but always be nice to each other because you have to live with this person for eight months.
Missing home will happen. You'll be very homesick. You're going to want to go back home and leave right away, but don't -- you're just in the first couple of weeks. You'll make friends and get into a routine and the homesickness will subside.
Call your parents. Call your grandparents. They miss you more than you think.
Stay in contact with your friends from home as best as you can. Either you'll remain close or drift apart. If you're meant to stay friends, it will happen.
Go out. Experience the night life. If it sucks, oh well. If it's great, that's great. If you don't experience those nights, what memories other than classes will you have? You may have none because of drunkenness, but that happens. Keep the taxi on speed dial to get home safely. Be responsible and be smart.
Classes may seem easy at first, but before you know it, you're going to feel swamped. You'll be spending a lot of time in the library -- maybe more than you'd like to. Just stay organized and remember to look at your syllabuses every day. They are and will be your life.
With your classes come books, and lots of them. Rent them. Save money because, if you buy them, you may as well buy a Maserati as well.
Procrastination is your worst enemy. Stay on top of you studies and turn in assignments on time. Regular studying and good management habits are the key to success.
Join clubs and attended every school event. Get yourself out there. This is how you'll make friends, to your surprise.
Take advantage of food on campus because you'll be hungry a lot. The freshman 15 is real, so also take advantage of the free athletic and fitness facilities. All in all, food costs a lot and gyms cost a lot, so take advantage of the ones on campus.
The whole point of telling you all this is because I wish someone told me this before my freshman year. It is a whole different world than you think and you need to be prepared for it. It's exciting and scary at the same time. Most of all, enjoy your time and make the most of your freshman year, because you only get one.
Sincerely,
A Former College Freshman
