Dear incoming Freshman,

I know you are probably feeling a million things right now. Excited, happy, scared, and unsure of your next step. But don't worry I was in your shoes not too long ago. Almost a year ago I was right where you were.

I felt the excitement.

When I graduated High School I was so relieved to be done and could not wait to start college. First I felt the excitement to get away from my small town in Connecticut and away from what was my high school career. I did not have a fun time in high school so as you may know that I could not wait to leave.

I felt happy.

Although I didn't really like high school, I was still a very talkative person. I wasn't afraid to message people in the Endicott College Class of 2020 Facebook group. I really wanted to meet new people. I started messaging a bunch of girls which then turned into a group chat of about 9 girls and we all became very close, even though we had never met. One of these girls introduced me to a GroupMe chat where I got to meet guys and we all soon planned to meet at Orientation.

When summer orientation came around, some of us realized we were staying in the same hotel so we planned to meet up. A bunch of us sat in the hotel lobby one night and talked for hours as we got to know each other. There was a guy who kept walking in and out of the dining room with an Endicott shirt, so I thought I would introduce myself. Soon after we became very close friends and hung out at orientation ever chance we would get. Through him, I met people who would become my best friends my freshman year of college.

I felt scared and unsure of my choice.

As school started to approach I began to feel scared of what was going to happen once I left home. I had never been away from home for more than 2 weeks, so being away for months would be a very different territory for me. I did not want to go to college, I did not feel the same way as I did when I graduated from high school. I honestly felt about deferring for a year. But I knew it was my time.

I felt I made the right choice.

This is your time. You will love college, all of the moments and memories that you will make with people who you met at orientation who will become your best friends.

You will go through all of these feelings, but remember to not doubt yourself because you are ready for your next chapter.

Hope your freshman year is as amazing and fun as mine!

Sincerely,

Halle Naomi