Dear Freshmen,
For a myriad of reasons, you are quite distinctive. We can hear your laughter, feel your angst, and smell your communal bathrooms. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, you haven't wilted yet.
Generally, upperclassmen are the unenthused and jaded. Settled into a comfortable familiarity, we hold steady expectations.
The dichotomy of our shared existence on any university campus is most tangible on the first day of classes.
In the freshman camp, there are several approaches. One sect slept late and wore their pajamas to lecture because hey, start how you plan to finish. Meanwhile, others beat the sun, anxious for what's to come; picking then discarding outfits and feeling nauseous. Girls rushing sororities stumble into their seats; armed with Starbucks, devoid of contour and nursing blisters. From the back-row, sweaty, gym junkies reek. Showers before class are pointless, since they have a pick-up game after.
Stark against these newly minted freshmen, the upperclassmen sit. Dressing-up for class is wholly unnecessary. Calm and nonchalant, the upperclassmen face the lecture hall and wordy syllabus without trepidation. We are old hats!
Our eyes may no longer twinkle as we walk across the green. Our hearts may no longer skip a beat when we have a cute TA. Our feet may no longer venture from the usual. Yet, we relish the routine.
Freshman breathe new life into a campus. Chock full of curiosity, freshman are akin to toddlers; stretching their legs and making discoveries. College is an unexplored jungle, every turn holds the unexpected.
The freshies are walking/talking question marks- undetermined. Unfettered possibility colors the first few years of one's collegiate experience.
Who will I meet? Where will I go? What will I do? Who will I be?
Largely, upperclassmen are expected to have found answers. Pressure from various entities suffocate those still pondering. Answers provide purpose, direction and stability.
'Look ahead' replaces 'live in the moment.'
Admittedly, we make fun of the doe-eyed freshmen. However, maybe we are simply jealous of their freshness.
As upperclassmen, we cannot regress to such innocence. Reality saps our wonder. Habit supersedes adventure. Tomorrow directs today.
Freshman stand at the beginning. We stand at the end's precipice; hesitating before the plunge.
Ultimately, a campus needs both the fresh and the stale. Our insight is sobering and their marvel is invigorating.
So sweet freshman, we are happy to have you, even if you make us feel old and boring!
P.S. Enjoy syllabus week.
