If you're reading this and you know me, you know how much I love school.
If you're reading this and you don't know me, I'm telling you now, I love school.
Actually, I wouldn't even say love; it is home to me. I found a place where I can be myself and do everything I love alongside some of the best people I've ever met. As I enter my senior year I have so many mixed emotions about my college experience. For all of you who are going into your first, second, or even third year of college, do not, and I mean this with every ounce of my being, do not wish this time of your life away.
To start, I would do absolutely anything to be a freshman again.
The exciting and nervous feeling before move-in day. Who is my roommate? Are they normal? Will we be friends? Are they neat? Smart? Do they have normal-smelling laundry detergent so the room will smell decent? Those are the most exciting questions. So much mystery and so much adventure awaits you. I know you're probably so extremely nervous and do not know what to expect but that is good, so so good. Do not take a second for granted because in the blink of an eye you will be arriving at school for your senior year. Enjoy the unknown. Leave your room and knock on the one next door and introduce yourself. Leave your door open and let people come say hi to you. Living in a dorm will seem like torture, and I'm not saying it's not, but the dorm life is a life like no other. No parents, yes RAs, but if you're lucky, you'll get a cool one or one that is really only there for the free housing and doesn't care about anything.
Also, everything, and I mean every single thing you own is in one room. You don't have to go downstairs to a kitchen for food! You literally have food under your bed (gross-sounding but don't worry, only packaged foods). It is your own space—but make sure to get a super comfy mattress pad so it's your own COMFY space—but other than the dorm life, get out and socialize!!!! Now is your time to shine. You have a new beginning, and you can start fresh. Explore everything the campus has to offer; trust me, do it. When you're a senior you do not want to wish you had done something your freshman year. I don't know the feeling, but I don't want to know the feeling. Explore, experience, enjoy. Wow, I think that should be my motto.
Sophomores: You have one year under your belt and you're feeling on top of the world. Don't get ahead of yourself, though. And I don't mean that in an "I'm a senior, you're a sophomore" kind of way. I mean don't wish you were older and could go to the bars or have a car on campus. Enjoy your time being adjusted to school and enjoy all the new and exciting experiences to come. Now that you've explored the campus, explore the town you're in! Go out for dinner, go shopping (always a must), take a walk through the park (okay now I just sound like a granny but I felt like it went with the sentence). In my opinion, this is your year to sit back and relax—if you're reading this and are taking my advice. You're not brand new, sorry, but you don't have to worry about the real world just yet. I just read something that Jojo Fletcher (hay to all my "Bachelorette" fans) posted and it was "live loud". Dooooo it!!!!
Juniors: Not long ago I was in your position—ah, finally an upperclassman—or is it oh crap, I'm an upperclassman? Both will suffice. Should I go abroad? All my friends are going abroad and I'm not sure what I want to do. Lucky for you, I have the answers! Not all of them, but an answer to this one, yes! Look into it. If you're dead set on going abroad, unsure, on the fence, or just have absolutely no interest, I strongly advise you to look into it. I, myself, some may have to hold their ears, but had no interest in it. When I heard my two best friends were going I automatically went into panic mode; Should I go? Do I even want to go? A mixture of emotions. I ended up looking into it and it still didn't appeal to me and that was okay! My two best friends went to Florence and Rome and had the time of their lives. I couldn't be more proud of them for sticking with their decision and going. Meanwhile, back in the states, I had a decent semester! I do not regret my decision and I am glad I looked into it.
It is so important to keep an open mind during this year in college. You're growing up, learning more, classes are getting harder, and your time in college is becoming shorter (SORRY I had to say it). Do all the things you wished you did your sophomore year. Stay up and order Domino's on a Tuesday. I promise you'll hate yourself on Wednesday morning, but you will not hate yourself in twenty years for that delicious thin crust pizza with cinna sticks on the side. Some may be turning twenty-one and some may not, but enjoy whatever birthday you were given and enjoy whatever party you're at because you can't get these years back. As weird as that is to say, it really is so true.
Senior year is so bittersweet. Enjoy your college years. They are the best four years of your life and you won't understand that until you've experienced them for yourself.
