To the College Freshman Class of 2020,
First things first, this isn't going to be another one of those cookie cutter stereotypical "off to college," "don't rush through it," "these next four years will go by so fast" lectures that I'm pretty sure everybody gives to you once they find out you're going into your freshman year of college. Sure, some of it might sound similar to some of the stuff they might say, but I'm not just going to sit here and tell you what you've already heard.
Would I be lying to you if I said the next four years of your life will not fly by? Yes, I would be, and I know that because my first year of college was over in what seemed like the blink of an eye. You really do have to cherish every single moment you are on that college campus because once it's all over, you're going to want it back more than anything.
Going into your freshman year you probably have a million questions running through your head along with just as many ideas. I'm sure these are some of the questions going through your head right about now: "Will I like my roommate?" "Am I going to make new friends?" "Will I find my group of people I'll know and trust for the rest of my life?" "What if I don't like the school as much as I thought I would?" "How will I design my dorm room?" Like I said, I'm sure these are just some of the questions that are going through your head. Trust me, though, you will have much more throughout this first year.
When you get there, whether it's a big school, a small school in your hometown, or 10-plus hours away, be sure to tell your family how much you love them and are going to miss them. You may not think so at that moment with all of the excitement going on around you, but I promise you will miss them more than you will believe just from me telling you.
Tell your parents you love them and thank them for giving you the opportunity to go to the school you are attending. Let your dad be that typical embarrassing dad and try to make friends with everyone in your hall while your mom helps you unpack and starts to make your bed for you. Be sure to let her help unpack and don't question why they're trying to take pictures of everything you do this weekend while you move in.
Let them be your parents; don't put up a fight when they want to embarrass you or act crazy. It may not seem like it, but while you're starting this new chapter in your life, they're starting a new chapter in theirs too. You may not realize it now, but this is likely harder for them at the moment than it is for you, so let them treat you like their "baby" one last time.
I promise that a month from now when you're having a bad day where every possible thing could be going wrong, you'll end up calling your mom 11 times in that one day telling her every problem you're having and asking her to bring you 20 different things when she comes to see you that next weekend.
Don't get me wrong; you're about to find people here that will become your family by the end of the first semester. Soon you'll be living with them, eating with them, studying together, and going on food dates at 3 a.m., and sometimes this person won't even be your roommate.
No matter what, you will find where you belong at your school and you will find people who care about you more than you even know, but don't forget where you came from and be sure to always go back to your roots. I hope this helped you a little bit in preparing you for the next four years of your life because they're not going to be easy, but you will get through them. Good luck to you, my friend; you're going to need it.
Sincerely,
A Girl from the Class of 2019
