I guess I should start with the traditional congratulations, you made it this far, stuff like that. I remember the incredible emotions I felt as I walked across the stage and turned my tassel and threw my cap into the air. Summer couldn’t go fast enough – all I wanted was to move on to the next step of my life.

So here’s the thing they never tell you about college: yes, you’re going to have some of the best times of your life, but you’re also going to be pushed to your limits in more ways than one. There are going to be days, and nights, and weeks, where you question why you ever chose to continue your education. There are going to be days where you feel so overwhelmed by all the schoolwork you need to do and all the meetings you need to go to. There are days when you’re going to feel alone and out of touch with your new friends. But, on the other hand, you’re going to meet some incredible people that are going to take you out to McDonald’s at one in the morning because you finally finished working on your 12-page report, or bring you ice cream and listen to you cry when your significant other breaks up with you. You’re going to meet professors that will stay in their office with you until 10 at night to make sure that you understand what is going on in class, and those that still remember your name senior year even though you only had one class with them during the first semester of freshman year.

I’m not going tell you not to go out on the weekends, because that’s a part of the process of meeting people and making hilarious memories. But I am going to tell you to take care of yourself. If you haven’t gone to bed before three in the morning every day that week, it’s okay to tell your friends to go without you so you can get those 12 (or maybe closer to 14) hours of glorious sleep that your body’s been craving. Listen to your body, because it’s going through an adjustment period too. You’re immune system is all out-of-whack from being surrounded by so many new sets of germs every day, and if you’re anything like me, it’s hard to convince yourself to eat vegetables to stay healthy when the salad bar is right next to the pizza station.

Being a college student isn’t easy. You’re learning how to take care of yourself without the protective shell of your parents. You’re learning how to prioritize your time so that you can finish all your work and still have time to watch an episode or two of “Grey’s Anatomy.” And, while all that’s taking place, you’re learning information that’s going to help you be successful in your future career. Yeah, that’s a lot going on in just four years. The good thing is, everyone’s in the same boat. I can guarantee that you’re not the only one that’s going to be homesick the first couple of weeks. You’re also not the only one that’s going to feel completely lost at some point in a semester. Hey, here’s another thing you learn – it is okay, and even encouraged, to ask for help. If you’re struggling to analyze a piece of literature, but you really understand cellular biology, you’re probably going to find someone who understands the former and struggles with the latter. Many of my friendships have come from asking people for help and working on assignments together.

Don’t be discouraged if you feel out of place the first semester. It will get better. You chose this school for a reason. When you visited as a high school student, something stood out about this place that made you feel like you belonged. If your expectations aren’t met in the first semester, give the second one a try. Ask anyone who is in college or has graduated college and they will all tell you the same thing: give it at least a year before you decide that you’re not in the right place. Chances are, you’re finally going to meet those friends for life, and, believe it or not, eventually you’re going to figure out this whole college thing.

I can’t wait to see where you all go. There is so much talent present in every single one of you, that it’s impossible for you not to reach your dreams, and even exceed them. The world is a wonderful place, so take advantage of every moment that you have to experience it. In the end, you’ll realize that every high and every low was just part of the journey to realize your true potential.