Dear 18-year-old, ready to take on the world, Cody,

College has truly been an experience. You are finally in your senior year, and believe it or not, it is only going to take one extra semester to graduate. You have made it through the bulk of engineering school and have had minimal break downs. You are doing something that you will be proud of one day. College has truly been just like you were told. I am pretty sure that you “found yourself” and you are becoming the man you were meant to be.

Unfortunately, you kind of forgot your priorities for a while and you were not the person that you should have been. Don’t worry, you didn’t kill anyone or anything like that, but for a while there you really tried to take things into your hands. Things got rough there personally for a bit, but you made it through it. You came to your senses and got back into the place you should be physically, emotionally, and most of all, spiritually. You started going to church more and doing the things that you were raised to do. It all worked out because you remembered what was most important.

People told you that you make your life time friends in college. This is partially true for you. Your freshman year, you will make friends that will be some that you will keep forever. You actually just went to see them a few days ago. You transferred and made some of your closest friends that you have ever had. You all study together, play games, and make jokes about spaghetti. It is truly friend goals. You also were lucky enough to keep a few friends from high school. I know the squad is about 15 strong during freshman year, but life happens and people have moved on. Luckily, you have about 5 that you still get to see pretty often, so be thankful they are still in your life.

You are about to fall hard for a girl. I know, I know, the cliché hallmark movie plot. You will spend about two and a half years together. It’s crazy to believe, I know, but it’s true. After a while though, you both grow a lot and God puts you on different paths. It is ok though. You won’t regret a thing because you were happy. It doesn’t end bad, so don’t worry. You are happy, she is happy, so it’s cool. You move on and get to experience many new things.

Be prepared because this is a tough one. You will lose both papaws and pa within about 8 weeks. It is a tough time, but you will find out that you have a great blood family and a phenomenal church family. You will get more fried chicken in a week’s time than you can handle. God truly has blessed you. Be thankful for the ones around you.

You will also have a really good summer during this time. I know you wouldn’t think it, but you will. You applied for over 30 internships that year but didn’t get one. Don’t be mad to long though; it was definitely meant for you to be home that summer. You get to see people you hadn’t in a while. You get to help mom and dad, and you get to go and preach more than you have in years. I must say that you will probably grow more in that summer at one time than ever before.

I guess to finish I would say that you are doing okay. You have grown so much from when you were that 18 year old kid out of Claiborne County. I am being honest when I say that you will experience love, loss, gain, stress, freedom, joy, sadness, and everything in between. Make sure you don’t get caught up in the small things in life, keep your focus on the big picture. Take a nap when you can (I promise that you will miss them when you can’t). Take it easy on the unlimited meal plan, you are still paying for it. Study hard. Love unconditionally. Be open to challenging yourself on a new level. Learn from your mistakes. Do not give up. Most of all, I repeat, most of all, please listen to mom and dad. They have a 100 percent success rate when it comes to giving you advice. Go home and see them more. Call them more. Out of everyone you have ever known, they are the only ones who have always been there for you. Talk to Kiely more. She is growing up so fast. She literally has her permit now, and while her driving is eh, she is driving. She will be out of high school in 2 more years. Don’t miss it.

You are doing fine. Just keep on getting it and you will be here before you know it.

Love,

21 year old, sleep deprived, Cody

C.Long