Dear Incoming College Freshman…
Welcome to the college community! Here, you will learn many new things; not simply academically, but also socially, physically and spiritually. Each and every day is a new learning opportunity. So many things will be thrown your way; so many choices will be left up to you. Remember to not only make wise decisions, but also step out of your comfort zone. It may feel like a tough balance, but you are smart. You couldn’t have gotten to this new place if you weren’t smart.
I know you are so scared. You go to bed every night wondering if you will make friends and what the first day, week, month and year will look like. You shop for the right clothes, the right room décor, the right notebooks and the right backpack. Every day you get one step closer to college, and you don’t know whether to be excited or nervous. Choose excitement!
You need to be warned: This is a place where you will have your worst moments. You will struggle to be away from home. You will miss your old friends. You will struggle to fit in. You will eat cafeteria food and miss home cooked meals. You will not feel prepared. You will not do well on a test. You will feel completely alone.
Additionally, you need to be prepared: This is a place where you will have your favorite moments of all time. You will embrace the independence of college life. You will meet people who will encourage you and make you feel loved. You will find out where you belong. You will prepare meals for yourself and feel accomplished. You will be more prepared than you think you are. You will do much better on the next test. You will understand God meets you in your loneliness.
You won’t feel prepared, but you are. You can do this! Life is going to be tough, but remember to take things day by day. Surround yourself with people who will point you closer to your goals and closer to God. These people will come, just remember to be patient.
Embrace the awkwardness that is college. Appreciate the small things, because sometimes they turn out to be big things. You never know how an awkward conversation beginning with, “Hi, my name is…” can turn into a lifetime of awkward conversations, about everything from tough classes, to new foods, to marriage advice.
Believe in yourself. You are worth being surrounded with loving friends. You are worth an A. You are worth the time you spend on yourself. If anyone makes you feel any less, then don’t listen to them. Friend, you are so loved.
Take time to embrace the moment. Spend a day sightseeing. Go for a walk with friends. Eat ice cream. Watch Netflix. Go to floor events. Cheer on a sports game. Stay up late. Go for midnight burgers. Talk until you run out of things to say. Make new friends. Make new memories. Make it difficult to say goodbye.
Remember: “be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). You can do this! I believe in you. Don’t worry about what is to come. It will be so much better than you can ever imagine.
Hugs!
- Someone Who Understands
