As I am approaching opening weekend for Eastern, and my third year working it, I always try to remember what it felt like to be a Freshman. Making that early drive, going to Walmart multiple times, and saying goodbye to my family. It is truly one of the best experiences I have ever had, and as I work for the office that makes opening weekend possible, I strive to make it the best experiences for every incoming student as well not just for opening weekend but for the whole school year.

So to the incoming class,

Rather you are a freshman or a transfer, wherever you are going I hope you enjoy your opening weekend. I hope you go to everything and anything, meet new people, test your waters, and intake your new environment with all you have. I hope you start at your new institution on the right foot by starting with a bang.

I hope that if you bring family, you let those memories be filled to the fullest. That when your parents start to cry, or want one more picture, you remember that this a change for them too. You may be excited, as they are for you but it may also be a sad moment for them to watch you go.

When opening weekend ends and the school year starts in full swing, go to class eager to learn. Even if it is just going through a syllabus, sit, listen, ask questions, and begin to know your professors and classmates. Though we think that those silly get to know you games are below us, you may never know. You might just meet your new best friend.

As I approach my senior year and look back, if I could have done it all over again, I would have said no more. The institution is new, and everything is exciting, and you just want to do it all! Remember to balance it out. Try new things, but remember your academics always comes first. Give yourself free time to have fun, relax, and for self care. You cannot pour from an empty cup, you have to take time to refuel and rebuild.

Be prepared for heart break. If that is even possible. Rather it be a relationship, something happens from home, you work hard for something and it doesn't work out, you fall into an academic slump. It is part of the process. Something I have learned and learned early was that I had to say goodbye to a lot of friends from my high school days. We went all separate ways because that's what happens in life, so inherently it meant saying goodbye. Though it was a hurtful experience, my life filled with other people that felt like they should have been there the whole time.

On that note, be prepared to meet new people that will turn your world upside down in all the right ways, and in all the bad ways. With saying goodbye to people, it means saying hello to other people. You very well might find that special person. College is the prime time that many people, myself included find their future spouse. For some, it may be the first time they enter a relationship at all. Remember who you are, and what you want in a person, and though things will be exciting, remember that there will be times that they will be less than. Remember that even in college drama, friendships, & relationships begin and end all the time. Pick your battles.

You probably will change during your time at your institution. You might change a little, but more often that not, you'll change a lot. And that is okay. You might go home and your high school friends will say that you're different and they may not mean it in the best way. But sometimes that is the best thing about change within ourselves, change is inevitable and it will happen rather you are ready or not. You get to be whoever you want to be, a fresh start, a new page in your book. Sometimes that is a hell of a lot different than who we were in high school. You should change to better yourself, better another person, better your world.

You may have come into school with a plan, a major, a dream. That can change too, chances are, it probably will. Again, that is perfectly okay. When we are in high school, we are told to pick something, pick something that we want to do for the rest of our lives, but we still have to ask to go to the bathroom. You are allowed to not know, explore, and change your original plan. Though scary, it is worth it. No one wants to graduate with a degree that they hate. I went from wanting to be a teacher, to a psychiatrist, to now wanting to be a Student Affairs Professional. There is something for you, just go out there and find it. I was told when I was a freshman, that it was okay to not know. I didn't believe her at the time. She told me that I had time, and to take my time figuring out what I love. If I was just trying to be something for someone else, I was going to be miserable. She was right, I guess that's why she's the professional! Talk to someone at your Career Services center, whatever that may be named at your institution. Find someone who is going to walk you through to the dream career even if the dream career is different from what you originally planned. Start early it will pay off.

Now that you're in college, you get to make your own decisions. You don't have to tell your parents everything, you don't have to do the degree they want, you don't have to be who they always dreamed you would be. It is your life, your degree. No one gets to tell you who you are going to be in the next 4, 5, 6 years. Yes, mom and dad may be paying for it, but I can assure you, they would rather pay for something that will make you happy and financially successful than just something that will make you financially stable. Something I learned is that I didn't have to tell my parents anything, and I don't tell my parents everything, but I do keep them up to date on things in my life. My grades, my classes, work. Again, it is a change for them too. Don't cut them off completely, intertwine them into your new life. You'll both appreciate learning the balance.

Rather you drink or not, party or not. Be smart. Be safe. It's college. No one is blind enough to think that drinking and partying doesn't happen. Just be smart. Make the memories that you want to make, don't make the memories you will regret or the memories that may end up hurting you in the long run. Use your instincts, your gut. And whenever you need help, academically, mentally, socially- Find it. College is not a one person job. Look for that support to help you keep going.

To the incoming class, I hope your college experience is something you can look back at and smile. I hope you take advantage of everything that is given to you. I hope you excel in your classes with having fun along the way. I hope your university becomes your second home. Here's to the class of 2020! (or near there).