Dear First Semester Freshman Me,

First things first, anything you think you know — scratch that.I know being 18, you feel like you just "get it" and are an adult, but you still have so much to learn (apart from wearing bodycon out on Tuesday nights, but that's a different story). I know it can be really hard not having your core group of friends from high school around all the time, but I promise if you put yourself out there you're going to meet such amazing people. Honestly, you won't even know how tight a group of girls can be until you rush. Learning what sisterhood is will change your life, you'll care more about Tri Delta than you thought you could care about anything.These next few years are going to be the best of your life (or at least up until this point). You'll blink and before you know it you'll be right where I am today, about to become a senior and wishing you had the chance to do it all over again today. However, as wonderful as these next few years will be they will not be free of pain, rejection and heartacheYou'll learn no matter how good of a person you are there are just some people who need to knock you or others down in order to build themselves up. You will learn the difference between a bad guy and a guy who is bad for you. You'll learn how to use humor to make the rough patches bearable, some people won't get it, but you'll also learn that pleasing everyone is impossible.

You're going to meet your best friends and they're going to be awesome. You guys will even drive to Louisiana for an Eric Church concert, just because. Although you make killer friends, never lose sight of who you are. Some of your best times will come from going out on a limb and doing something you love regardless of what anybody else thinks. Remember to thank your parents, you're going to realize they have your back no matter what and that is something you should never take for granted.

Mainly, what I want to tell you is to never let life or anybody else get you down. College is too short and many wonderful things are happening every day, so you shouldn't waste a single second of it doubting yourself. Every letdown leads to something better. Even though it sucks in the moment, just put your trust in the fact everything will turn out okay. Never count yourself out either; there are opportunities and people who won't come into your life until junior year that you couldn't even imagine as a first semester freshman. Also, and this is a big one, never discount a great opportunity because it seems like bad timing.

Continue to be a good person and have integrity. Sometimes it will be exhausting and downright confusing when you see people with less backbone getting what they want while you struggle but it will really catch up with them in the long run. There are really great things ahead, every once in awhile just stop what you're doing and think about how lucky you are — it will make it that much sweeter. Time flies when you're having fun.Love,

Second Semester Junior Me