To The Incoming College Freshman,
This is for you.
As you are getting ready for graduation and getting into the "real world" there are probably a lot of things that you are excited for. Whether it be the new job that you have so you can just get into the workforce instead of going to school, your first days of military training, or the university that you have been accepted to, there is so much that is taking up all the little nooks of your mind. Graduating from high school is the first step of what some people call "the rest of your life".
Going to college can be, for like of other terms, quite terrifying. For most people, it is their first time being away from home for any extended period of time, and there is a vast amount of things that you are preparing yourself for. There are classes to register for, roommates to find, housing contracts to sign, books to buy, tours to schedule if you have not already visited the school you are attending, and making sure that you are prepared mentally and monetarily for the next semester (or year if you are staying close enough to your home that you are commuting). There is also the fact that you need to think about what kind of extracurricular activities you are going to do. Granted, there is always the activities fair (or whatever the name of it is where you are going to school) to explore about the second week in. Are you going to join a sorority or fraternity? Do you want to dance? What about singing? Maybe you really want to write or spend your time-saving animals. Normally there is something there for everyone. And on the off chance that you cannot find something for you, most of the time people are open to you starting a club or organization of your own.
As you are finishing your senior year, you are probably more excited and relieved than nervous. You may think that there is nothing to be nervous about--that you will not ever be nervous. You will be nervous. Whether it be because you are going to be away from home, trying to make new friends, or because of the new classes.
A lot of what happens to you while you are in school all depends on the people that you surround yourself with. Who are your friends? What kind of choices are you making? It is said that you are a mixture of the five people you hang out with most--and it is more than likely true. Now, there is not anything wrong with a party every so often, or going out with people, but it is extremely important to keep yourself in check. Make sure you have friends who understand that school is very important. If you are going to a really expensive university, or if you saved up your entire life to make sure you could go to school, you are not there to waste too much of your time.
As a college freshman you are going to have a lot of choices. You are going to have the room to decide what kind of person, student, and friend you want to be. Sometimes it may seem like you think you have it all figured out, but the next time you open your eyes you will not.
So, incoming college freshman, make sure you are preparing yourself. Your freshman year of college is going to be great, it will, but there will also be a lot of tests that you may not be ready for. While you cannot be prepared for everything that is thrown at you, make sure you at least know your limits.
Sincerely,
A Rising College Sophomore
