Dear Freshman me,

Hey man, fun year huh? Yeah it’s been a pretty momentous year and you’ve learned a lot. Now I know you are in a hurry to grow up and eager to learn and that’s great! But you need to take it down a notch. You’re like Leslie Knope on steroids about to compete in the Olympics. Now I know you don’t know who Leslie Knope is at this point but trust me, and you will love her and "Parks and Rec."

I know you are sad to go home for the summer and that there’s so much you wish you could’ve done but don’t worry about it. I made it through and I am doing just fine. We have so much going for us and a bright future to look forward to. You will be so proud of yourself in three years so just tone it down a bit, ok? The world isn’t ending anytime soon and you’re only 19 but you mind is older. You don’t get that reference either but Hamilton will change your life.

Now you are going to face some tough times during college. Some of the toughest things you will ever have to deal with. You don’t know it yet but life isn’t fair. There will be periods of college that will be melancholy and tough and impossible. You’ll feel like there’s no end in sight or the apocalypse is coming every week. Like I said before the world won’t end for a while and anything that’s a burden you will make it through. These problems seem like the most important thing right now but in a week or maybe even a day these problems won’t even matter. They definitely don’t matter to me anymore.

Times will be hard but there will also be some of the best times of your life. These years are really important for you. This is the time to become the real you. You finally have the chance to make your life the way you want it to be and don’t let anyone else try to sway. I know you won’t but you know the people that can seep into your head and spread bad things. Saying you aren’t good enough or you’ll never make it. Know that you will and you will go so far in you college life. Maybe not the exact way you hoped but whatever happens it will be for the best.

So it’s time to take in the good and the bad. It’ll go fast and you will miss it when you’re gone. Slow down, take a breath, and have a cookie. One won’t hurt you I promise. Now get out there and knock ‘em dead!

Love,

Senior (and slightly more jaded) Maggie