I know that graduation is scary. You don’t want to leave behind all of the friends you have made in the last four years. You are going away to college, to a place where no one knows your name, and that thought terrifies you. But I’m here to tell you what it’s going to look like three years from now; when you are about to enter your senior year of college.
Look around you at all of the people you see around you. Most of them your will never see or speak to again, and that’s OK. Some of them you will stay in touch with for a while, and then never see or speak to again. Some you will see from time to time when you are home, and feel a connection with them straight on through. And then there will be those select few, only one or two of them really, who you will stay in touch with, and who will be there for you every time you need them. They were an amazing part of your journey, but people grow apart; and that is OK too.
College is going to be the greatest adventure you have been on yet. You are going to meet some absolutely incredible people, who you can see yourself being friends with for the rest of your life. You are going to want to spend every waking moment with those people, but homework is going to have to come first. You will learn very quickly how to manage your time between school and fun though, so don’t worry too much about the work load. It is a little overwhelming at times, but the good times totally outweigh the bad. You will meet your people in college though; people who are just like you, who share the same interests as you do!
You will learn how to be independent. I know this sounds incredibly intimidating right now, but it’s actually wonderful. Right now, you depend on your parents for everything, but the day will come when you will love being independent. It will feel strange living away from home at first, and you will feel homesick (very homesick) for a little while. But the time will come when living at home will feel strange, and it will even feel strange calling your parents’ house “home”. You will find your home elsewhere in the world, and you will miss that place when you have a break from school.
Yes, graduation is scary. But you are heading out for a wonderful adventure. Get to know your professors, because they are some of the greatest people in the world. Join clubs and get involved with offices on campus as soon as you can. Learn your way around your school and its surrounding areas. It makes you feel less alone that way when it is your first week and all you want to do is cry. Try new things, especially those that you could never see yourself doing, because it is through those activities that you will find your niche. And most importantly, soak in every single thing the next four years have to offer you, because by year three, you will completely understand why they call college the BEST years of your life.
