When the acceptance letter comes in the mail,

You cry, and scream, and laugh, and hug

On move-in day

You cry

And scream, and laugh, and hug

On the first day of classes

You put on your backpack

Turn your music up

And walk through an unfamiliar campus

You inhale, and exhale, and continue on your way

Studying for your first test is a challenge

You cry

And scream

No laughs or hugs.

As the days go on, you make more friends, come across more opportunities

You struggle

You thrive

Sometimes you do both in the same day

What guidance counselors don't tell you about college,

Is that

It is okay to cry

And scream

And laugh

And hug

And love

Yourself, your friends, everyone

College will be the best and worst years of your life.

You will lose yourself

You will find yourself

You will love the wrong people

And isolate yourself from the right ones

You will make bad decisions

You will make good decisions

College is a roller coater

Some days you are on top of the world

And

Some days the world is on top of you

That's just the way it goes

The guidance counselors don't mention these things

They mention your GPA, SAT scores, volunteer work

But not the important things

Like

Crying

Screaming

Laughing

Hugging

Loving

Don't be afraid of college

Whether you are a senior in high school

Or a senior in college

Remember to give your best to college,

And never let college get the best of you

Cry, and scream, and laugh, and hug

Until you get through it

Because you will.

I believe in you.