Nine months ago I embarked on a new chapter of my life: college. This was my first adult experience. I was leaving behind the comfort of my home, my family and my friends. I was anything but prepared. In fact, I was terrified. I didn’t know what to expect. Nervous thoughts swirled around in my head: Would I like my roommate? Would I make friends? Would I love the school? Could I survive on my own? Most importantly, would I make it through the year? I expected to be homesick all of the time. I thought I would need to force myself not to go home on the weekends. I was wrong about it all.

All of my fears disappeared by the second day. Leaving my family was sad and scary, but as soon as they left I was OK. My roommate and I immediately hit it off and we quickly made friends in and outside of our building. I did my first load of laundry ever and I didn’t mess it up! I nervously walked into my first classes and quickly realized that this was nothing to be afraid of. I could do this; I could survive on my own. I would make it through college.

I wasn’t homesick at all during my first semester. In fact, I did not want to go home. I was constantly surrounded by my friends, and I loved being on my own and being independent. Whenever my parents called me, they always told me how they knew I was happy because of how different my voice sounded. By the time my first semester ended, I was in love with college and I never wanted to leave. Sure, this was a major life change and my classes were different than those in high school, but I got through it with no problems.

Before my second semester began, I was counting down the minutes until I could be back on campus. Who would have thought that I would have missed Northeastern Pennsylvania so much? (Definitely not me!) When I returned, I was so happy. I expected the same experience as my first semester, but it wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I still had a great second semester, but my first semester had changed me a bit and I went into my second semester with a different mindset. I was no longer the nervous little girl who hid behind her bangs for weeks. I knew the ropes; I didn’t go in blind or nervous.

My second semester was far from perfect, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. My first and second semesters differed greatly. I was more adventurous during the spring than I was in the fall. I learned a lot about myself. I learned how to stand up for others and myself. I made new friends and I didn’t keep all of the old ones. I went out more and had fun. But during all of that, I missed my family a lot. I missed New York a lot. By the end of the semester, I was ready to go home and not look back. But now, as I sit here writing and thinking about these last nine months, I know I’m not ready to leave or become a sophomore. As a matter of fact, I am once again that terrified little girl who does not know what to expect. The difference between now and last August is that unlike that girl, I know for a fact I will be able to do it.

My advice to future freshmen is simply this: do not be afraid. College is an amazing experience. You will have your highs and lows, but it will all be worth it. Make sure you go outside of your comfort zone. Get your nose pierced, cut your hair, make friends with the people you normally maybe wouldn’t speak to. Cherish your memories because they will be some of the best. To all of those I have met my freshman year: thank you for an amazing nine months. I could not have had the experience I had without any of you and for that, I am extremely grateful.