You’re a strong, independent Latina, you got this.

Dear Me,

Stop second guessing yourself. How many times did you know that answer on the exam and second guessed yourself and ended up getting it wrong? Stop doing that. Believe in yourself for once! You already know the college drill, so don’t let anything catch you by surprise. Always be ready to fight back anything that comes your way. Even though fall semester was rough, this is a brand new start. So forget about the grades you had during the fall, because you have room to learn from your mistakes. Let it be the reason why you push harder this time around.

Take school seriously, but also worry about your mental health. Professors won’t know how tired you are or how many mental breakdowns you’ve had this week, but you do. So even though school is important, take care of yourself. Take the nap that you need or cry if you have to, but don’t let it become an excuse for what you do. Instead, let it make you a stronger more focused person.

When you feel like giving up, think about why you’ve gotten this far. Think about how you did this without anyone’s help and no one can take that away from you. Think about the difference that you’re going to make in the lives of your family, friends, and people who look up to you. Even if people do not tell you straight up, you have so many people cheering for you in the background.

You’re nearly halfway done with college! Oh my goodness, I know it may not feel like much, but it is so important! So pat yourself on the back and be proud of yourself. Time goes by fast, so just enjoy this time with your friends. It will be a good semester if you make it one.

Good luck and keep up the good work!