Dear Freshman Year,

I remember the beginning so clearly. I was terrified to be eight hours from home, not knowing one single person. This was the first time I was completely on my own; I still didn't even know how to do laundry without shrinking everything. I was so excited to go off on my own, but trust me when I say that not everyone feels like that. College is pretty scary at first.

The first two weeks were so nerve-wracking that I didn't know how to handle them. I didn't have friends yet, and my classes were scaring me into thinking I could never do well. It was a bigger transition than I predicted and I second-guessed myself many times. "Can I do this?" "Do I need to transfer?" Then, I reassured myself that it was only the first month, and I am stronger than giving up.

As I went forward with a positive attitude, college life started to fall into place. My roommate and I became closer than ever, sharing crazy stories and causing chaos. The girls on my floor became my best friends. We ate every meal together, went out every weekend, and bonded over not having anyone else but each other. When they say you will meet your best friends for life in college, it is 100 percent true. These are the friends who may not have known you for your whole life, but they will be there for you through everything. If you're having a bad day, they will know, because you are around each other 24/7. As the first semester goes by, the bond between the friends you've made becomes stronger than ever. You've all witnessed each other's mental breakdowns and heard each other's secrets, but never left each other's sides.

Freshman year has personally been one of the best experiences of my life. The idea of it all being over in just four weeks makes my heart ache. I am going to be leaving my freshman dorm with my roommate and all of the friends in my hall, and I'm never going to come back to the exact moment I am in now. Freshman year has brought me to my sorority, my best friends, and helped me discover myself in ways I didn't know was possible. I have never felt so sure of my future, confident, and independent, even if these feelings have been tested more than once.

The idea of never coming back to my freshman dorm next year excites me because I am moving on to great things, but saddens me because this place is fun. This is the place where everyone is awake at 2 a.m., ready to be silly and crazy because we can. Your friends are down the hall or just a floor above you. Your freshman dorm will always be a weird and wonderful place, and boy, I am going to miss it (even if the bathrooms get pretty gross).

To any future college students reading this, get ready for freshman year to turn you into the person you always wished you could be. There is so much to thank freshman year for, and if I could redo it all, I would do it over and over again. Thank you, freshman year, for giving me some of the most unforgettable memories. Thank you, freshman year, for teaching me that everything will be okay. Thank you, freshman year, for leading me to the best people in my life. Thank you, freshman year, for teaching me how to live and love my life, even if there are some stressful days. I will never forget you, freshman year, and all of the amazing things that happened to me during this time.

Love,

The Almost Sophomore In College