I write this as I sit in my bed, for the last time. The car is packed, my room is looking bare, and my nerves are at an all-time high. I probably won’t be getting very much sleep tonight, even though my family apparently sets off on this collegiate adventure at five am tomorrow. I’ve said my goodbyes to my friends and boyfriend, there’s not much left for me here in my tiny hometown, I know I am on to bigger and better things. But I can’t help but wonder. I wonder about a lot of things- mostly my roommate. I haven’t been able to get in touch with her, I have no idea who she is or where she’s from or if she is even definitely my roommate. I am wondering how I am going to survive off dining hall food for the next year. I’m wondering when it’s going to be socially acceptable to introduce my large unicorn stuffed animal to my dorm room and when it’s technically okay to come back home for the first time. I have questions about the logistics- how do I sign up for classes at the gym, when do I use bucks versus the flex pass on my meal plan card. I feel wildly unprepared for my actual college classes. I have not yet purchased books or read any syllabi or contacted any professors. I am very nervous that I will not make any friends besides the handful I am taking with me. Will me dog miss me? Will my parents? When will I start to feel homesick? I am reflecting on my fantastic and satisfying senior year, hoping I won’t miss high school too much. And I think these are all normal emotions and thoughts running through every college freshmen’s head, or at least I’m saying that to make myself feel better.

I know it’s supposed to be the greatest four years of my life. Over the past few days I have received excellent advice. A man at a barbecue restaurant told me it takes work, but that I am going to keep my high school friends, while at the same time integrating my new college friends into my social circle. My best friend’s mom told me to be myself, to never change, and to keep in touch. My sister told me I was "on the precipice." That’s a nice thought, being on the precipice. Horrifying, but nice. She didn’t necessarily define which precipice, but I know she just meant of my future, in general. It was her way of telling me she had faith in me, that I would do great things. I hope college is a precipice with a view, and that I enjoy it and don’t take it for granted. I also hope I don’t cry so much that I dehydrate myself tomorrow and that moving in is a breeze (it won’t be, I’m in denial about these two things). A wise Mr. Feeny once said, “Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good.” I take those words to heart every day, especially on this the brink of college, of my future, and I hope that someone else will find them helpful, as well. And with that, I would like to wish every incoming freshmen, myself included, good luck as we embark on our new, exciting, terrifying, and beautiful journeys.