Dear Me,

I'm coming from the future to briefly prepare you for your time in college. I know, I know, you don't get to school until the end of August and your classes do not start until September. But I must tell you that it's going to be a surprise how the days, weeks, months, and years are going to go by. Soon, you'll be here where I am. That is why I am writing to you. I wish to give you some advice that would hopefully make things easier.

You've decided to go to college. Getting a bachelor's degree is not mandatory, rather it is a choice and, as with every choice in life, there come responsibilities. It is up to you to find out what these responsibilities are and then try living up to them. To give you a head start, realize that college trains you to become a productive citizen in your community. Keeping this in mind, your duty the next four years is to cultivate the habits, values and skills that would help you achieve this.

Over the course of your time in college, you shall evolve. The people you will meet, ideas you will discover and classes you will take shall change you. Remain open to the process. Resist the temptation to resist. Let your values be challenged so that you see the world through your own critical lenses. Question what you have ever known before and find reasons to support or refute your beliefs.

Connect with different people in college - and this is not limited to your fellow students. Very soon you will be exposed to individuals from a variety of regions, ages and cultures. Take advantage of this. It is only through diverse connections that you will thrive. Through your interactions with others different from you, you will understand the meaning of empathy. You will also learn how to communicate effectively.

Get out of your comfort zone because it is there that you will truly grow. Walk on paths that you never imagined yourself taking, whether it is in your academics or leisure activities. Pick up a new interest that would allow you the pleasures and vulnerabilities of a newbie. View any failure as an opportunity for improvement, not evidence of your shortcomings.

The first week of classes is going to be tough. So brace yourself. It's going to shock you how fast you will have to transition from the cozy orientation schedule into brain-frying academics. Every professor has high expectations and demand 100 percent effort. To the best of your ability, attempt fulfilling these requirements.

Beneath piles of assignments and between social engagements remember to practice self-care. Ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle, not only in the physical sense, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

As you finish up your packing and saying goodbye to your loved ones, remind yourself that your impending college life is not one to dread, but one to wholly embrace.

Best Wishes,

Senior Year You.