Dear Freshies,
Welcome to college. You've spent 13 years (14, counting Pre-K) preparing for this adventure. In about a month, you will be loading up a car or maybe even two and then you'll be arriving on your college campus and unpacking your belongings. While it may come as a shock, it won't be as easy as you're probably thinking it is going to be, and I'm going to tell you why.
Before you even pack up everything, if you have parents or guardians like mine, they'll encourage you to wash all of your clothes before you pack them. It is not uncommon for parents to cry as they fold up your clothes for you. If you have pets, you're probably going to shed a few tears before you even leave your homestead. It is truly heartbreaking to say your farewells to your furry friends, and there isn't really any way to lessen the heartache except for time and becoming accustomed to being away from them. Next, if you're traveling to campus in the same vehicle as your parents or guardians, get ready for your parents to cry for basically the entire drive.
Once you arrive on campus, you'll have to hop in line to fill out paperwork and sign your name for what seems like an eternity before you're finally approved to unload the car and enter your room. After the sweaty process of getting everything inside, your parents will stick around to help you unpack and organize your belongings. Be aware it will be highly unlikely for you to recreate all of the picture-perfect Pinterest posts within your small space, but don't worry about it. You will surely come to love the room you'll make countless memories in, so don't try to simply recreate. Instead you should take a shot at making it your own. Stuffed animals and favorite blankets are common among college students of all ages, so don't stress about bringing things that will lessen the seemingly inevitable homesickness.
When the time comes for your parents to depart, don't worry. While it seems like the tears will never stop, I can promise you they will. If your roommate has already arrived, you can cry together. If not, they will eventually, and it's perfectly normal! Once you're settled, go see a movie with your roommate or grab a meal. As crazy as it sounds, bonding with the person you're going to spend the year with is a smart move! You'll probably interact with this person for the remainder of your college years, if not the rest of your life. Don't stress too much about the new scene. If you are worried about anything, talk to your resident adviser because they're there to help you! You can do this, and you're going to be so successful!
Good luck and have a great year!
An Experienced Junior
