Dear Incoming Freshman,
College is everyone's dream. If you ask any high school student what their post-graduate plans are, they will say some college they plan on applying to/attending whether it is a 4-year college, community college, or a technical institute.
Every incoming freshman's biggest fear is going in and not knowing what to expect. Am I going to like my roommate? How am I going to make friends? Where are my classes? What do I do if this happens? And so forth. Even though it is inevitable to not let these questions overpower you, don't think about it too much.
Living in the pod setting at Saint Vincent forced me to come out of my room and interact with the 21 other girls I was going to live with for the rest of the year. I would have to say that the bond that I have created with these ladies will never fall apart; they are basically family. We have learned how to live together and believe it or not, gained some independence from it. From pod dinners to sports, we are always there to support one another and never leave anyone feeling unwanted.
Saint Vincent also has an Orientation week that is chalked full of activities so you can get to know the rest of your class. Some of them may seem cliché or "childish", but don't look at it like that. Enjoy the moment and be thankful for what this school is doing for you. Most of the activities include your "Big". This is an upperclassmen that has been assigned to you in order to guide you through your college experience smoothly. They show you where your classes are the day after move-in so you are sure you know where you are going. This takes away some of the uncertainty and scariness of the big move-in day and first day of classes.
Once you get into the swing of things, freshman year is a breeze. You get a set routine and follow it. Class, lunch, nap, class, practice, shower, study, sleep, and repeat. It is just the idea of getting past the new and unfamiliar setting that you are being thrown into and then realizing it wasn't all too bad a couple weeks in. College isn't too scary. Leaving your parents/guardians is hard after 18 years of living with them, but the freedom you now have is teaching you valuable lessons without you even realizing it.
Don't harp too much on the uncertainty and unfamiliarity of not knowing the future, but rather live in the moment. Enjoy the now and the future will be even better. Life is always scary, but once you take the bull by the horns, you are then just enjoying the ride.
Yours Truly,
Kelly
