Dear Freshman Self,
Hey, it's me. Well actually, it's you, only four years in the future. You are a freshman in college now, and you are having the time of your life. I know that college seems like a lifetime away right now, but believe me, the next few years are going to be over in the blink of an eye. I know that you hear that all the time (you hear it in college, too), but the time really does fly by.
You don't know this now, but high school will turn your world upside down. I look back on the life you are now living as a new high school freshman, and so many memories come rushing back. There are so many times that I would like to relive just once, or times that I'd like to rewind to and have a second chance at. But as we both know, I can't do that. Instead, let me give you just a little taste of what is to come.
First of all, freshman year is basically a fresh start. You may be in the same town with the same people as with all of the other years, but you have so much more freedom and so many more opportunities than before. Take advantage of all of these open doors, because they might only come around once.
High school is going to challenge you in many different ways. When you take your first AP class sophomore year, it is going to be difficult. You are going to question why you thought it was a good idea many, many times. There are going to be many late nights of studying, and you are going to go through a lot of flashcards. The first test you get back isn't going to be the best grade you've ever earned, but that doesn't discourage you. Instead, you study even more, you make more flashcards, and you learn what it feels like when all of that hard work pays off. I promise, you're going to get through it, and when you do, it's going to feel so good.
What you will also find is that your years in high school will not just challenge you academically. I dare you to take a good look at yourself in the mirror and think about the person you are in this moment, because by the time you graduate high school, you are going to be someone very different. I know exactly what you are feeling right now. You're insecure. You're confused, maybe even a little lost. You don't know exactly where you are supposed to fit in. This is going to be something you are going to struggle with, but I promise you that you can, and will, get through it. You will learn a lot of valuable lessons, and each one of these experiences, although they might sting, are going to make you stronger in the end. You are going to learn to step way outside of your comfort zone, how to be confident in who you are, and how to speak up for yourself (so important). Just remember that it gets better, that each moment is only temporary, and within minutes will be just a part of your past.
Believe me when I say that you have so much to look forward to over the next few years. Take in every moment. Cherish your time with your teammates on the soccer field. Dance your heart away at prom (and please remember to pack those extra bobby pins!). When that sophomore tries to talk to you in orchestra, be open, because she ends up becoming your best friend. When you're up late at night writing essays for English and practicing vocab for the Spanish exam, just know that the hard work is really going to pay off. When your crush ends up breaking your heart, realize that it is so minor, and that you're way better off without him. Appreciate all of the little things along the way, because they might just end up being big things after all.
I wish you the best of luck over the next few years. You have so much to look forward to. Walking across the stage at graduation is going to feel amazing, but don't forget to just live in the moment and enjoy today. Have fun, work hard, and the rest will follow.
Sincerely,
Your College Freshman Self
