Dear Freshmen,
As you begin to move into dorm rooms all over the country, I have a few words of advice. Admittedly, I’m probably not qualified to give anyone advice, but I’ll give it to you anyway.
Everyone knows that beginning college is a huge and exciting step in one’s life. In addition to it being joyous and freeing, it can also be incredibly scary. If you take just one thing away from this letter, it should be that it is okay to be scared. It is okay to be homesick, it is okay to feel lost, and it is okay to be terrified out of your mind your first day of class. Because, and here’s the secret—you are surrounded by people who either went through or are currently going through the same things. No one expects you to know how to be a college student yet— heck, there are juniors and seniors who haven’t really grasped it.
Just try to take things one day at a time. You will be more relaxed, and the more flexible and easy-going you are, the easier your life will be, both socially and academically. Plan ahead somewhat, of course. I can’t express how valuable using a planner and sticking to it is in college. But if you have a lot of homework to do in a day, for example, don’t think about how much homework you have to do. You’ll freak yourself out and not be able to get anything done. Just do the first thing. And then the next thing. Take short breaks to walk around your dorm building or get a snack, but work diligently and it will get done. College is going to throw a lot of challenges at you, but nothing that you can’t handle if you approach it in the right way.
I know everyone will tell you this, but it’s popular advice for good reason— join a club or two! Joining a club or organization that is filled with people whom you have at least one thing in common with is like walking into a room of ready-made potential friends. You don’t have to be BFFs or anything, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get along with everyone. But just having someone to say hello to in the hallways or during meetings goes a long way in feeling a little less alone and a little more "settled in."
Finally, and most importantly, remember that life is a balance. Yes, you are here to learn. You and/or your family are paying a lot of money to get an education, and that just can’t be brushed off. Do your homework, and try to retain something from each class even after the final exam. But, you also want to have fun. The happier and more relaxed you are, the better your class work will be, so don’t overwork yourself. It’s okay to take a day off once in a while, just to prevent yourself from burning out. Just try your best to strike a balance and you’ll do okay.
I hope you all have a wonderful year, and good luck!
