I can still remember the extreme mix of emotions taking over the pit of my stomach this time last year. I was about to enter my freshmen year of college, and of course, I was excited. This entirely new world brought with it a lot of really great possibilities which I looked forward to experiencing. I was nervous, too - with those great possibilities came an entirely new world and that terrified me. On my first night of school, I opened up a letter written to me by one of my best friends. She left advice in the letter that really helped me through my first couple months of school; I am hoping this letter can do the same for some incoming freshman.

• It’s okay to be scared. I can guarantee you you’re not the only one feeling this way. Remember, the other freshmen are going through the same thing you are. Being scared is a natural part of entering college, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
• You’re going to get homesick. Don’t panic. It’s easy to freak out the second you start missing home. “Oh my gosh, should I even be here right now? Maybe I should transfer. Or maybe drop out of college altogether. Yeah, dropping out seems like a good option. I’ll try that.” When you get homesick, take a deep breath. Recognize that starting somewhere new will always be difficult. Give your family a call, then put your phone away and find something to keep you busy. Getting involved and meeting new people is probably the best distraction from being homesick. Which brings me to my next point…
• Get involved. Join a club you’re interested in, play an intramural sport, or audition for the upcoming play. This is a great way to meet people outside of classes, and, since you like the same things, you’ll already have something in common.
• Be yourself. It is so easy to think that you need to be a certain way to make new friends, but honestly, you don’t need to be friends with anyone who doesn’t like you for who you are. Cliché? Yes. True anyway? Yes. College is filled with so many unique people, and I can promise you will find some new friends you mesh with.
• Go to class. There is no one telling you to go to class, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Remember, you are paying for each class, and depending on your school’s tuition, that class could be hundreds of dollars. Besides that? You are at college to-are you ready for this? Get an education. These classes are teaching you things that could be relevant to your future career.
• You will have more homework. Make time for it. If you’re like me and took four AP classes your senior year, you’re probably thinking you’re already prepared for your workload. Unfortunately, you’re probably going to have more homework than you’re expecting, and it’s going to take longer. So don’t put that 5 page paper off until the night before if you can avoid it; it’s just going to stress you out.
• Make time for your friends. At the same time, there’s no reason not to hang out with your new friends. Go to class and get your work done, but leave time to socialize. Make time for movie nights, late night talks, and ice cream trips. In addition, there are easy ways to work this into your regular schedule, such as getting dinner with a friend or working out together. Take advantage of opportunities like that.
• Get to know your RA. Don’t be afraid to ask your RA for help when you need it. He or she wants you to have a good year and, chances are, will be happy to assist you with any questions or problems you have. I had some of the best RAs I could ask for this year, and they made my year about 250 times better. So, I promise that it will not hurt you to get to know your RA.
• Make new friends. This past year, I found myself becoming friends with people I barely would have talked to in high school. Be open to new friendships. You might surprise yourself.
• You’re going to change. Living away from home for the first time means doing a lot of growing. Your opinions, thoughts, and overall personality might be completely different by winter break. I’m going to let you in on a secret though: that’s not a bad thing. As long as you like the person you’re becoming, it’s okay. Embrace the changes.
• Enjoy this. This year is going to be an adventure. I can guarantee that it’s not going to be what you expect, and it is going to be completely crazy. The year is going to be full of ups and downs, failures and successes. But most importantly, it’s going to be wonderful.