An Open Letter to my Spring Semester Self:

Dear Spring Semester Self,

This upcoming semester, try to stop “wearing less and going out more.” Seriously, your Facebook pictures are starting to worry your family.

Oh, and this might be a really good time to break up with your habitual Chipotle habit and spend some quality time with the elliptical. The extra 15 isn’t just limited to freshmen, after all.

I hope you finally quenched your thirst for thirsty Thursday so you can be remotely alert for your 9 A.M. Friday.

Try to do your laundry before you only have one more outfit to wear. Oh, and try to wear jeans sometimes. Like, once a month maybe.

Call your parents when you don’t need something. A little bit of small-talk might just make their day.

Remember that this is the one and only time all your friends will be just a couple doors down, or a phone call away; take advantage of that. They’re the most important asset to this entire experience and the ones you’ll most likely keep in touch with for the rest of your life.

Try surround yourself with good people. The people you interact with in your everyday life have more of an impact on your overall happiness than you may think.

If you don’t understand something, ask every question that comes to mind. There are so many knowledgeable individuals at your disposal; pick their brains every chance you get. Besides, you’re paying your professors like, a million dollars. Get as much out of them as you can.

Don’t get caught in the whole “Cs get degrees” mindset. That may be true, but you are not mediocre, so don’t strive to be.

I hope you keep pushing yourself, but don’t forget to congratulate yourself from time-to-time. You deserve to let a little piece of your youth roam freely and recklessly. Just be smart enough to recognize when it’s time to guide it back.

Stop worrying about relationships so much next semester. “The One” probably won’t be found on Tinder, or in a frat basement. This journey is for self-exploration. Remember that, and I’m willing to bet you’ll learn things about yourself that will startle you. In a good way. Besides, let’s be honest, Ben and Jerry are the only boyfriends you need.

Live in the moment. And by live in the moment, I mean try not to put everything on your snapchat story. No one really cares what you got at Starbucks, or what song you and your friends are singing into the camera.

Try to challenge yourself a little more. Don’t be confined by your comfort zone. Read two chapters ahead. Take the professor everyone said sucked. Take 18 credits. You never know how much you’re capable of until you try to stretch yourself beyond your perceived potential.

Don’t skip class.

If you’re going to skip class, make it worth it. Being lazy or hungover is so not an excuse. Watching "One Tree Hill" isn’t either.

Realize you’re one semester closer to the end of your college experience. If you think about it that way, you’ll take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. You’ll also go out of your way to seek the ones that don’t.

I hope you make a real effort to fix the mistakes you made last semester, but if you don’t,

Have just as much fun making them this time around.

Cheers.

Sincerely, your burnt-out, over-worked Fall Semester Self.