Here’s the truth about college. When you move in to Martin Hall, room 223, your life will change in ways that you had not expected. You will get all settled in after a hectic day of sweating, because the south is comparable to the temperature of hell during the months of May-October. All of the girls on the floor will have a secret competition of which room is decorated the best. Of course, if the room is not coordinated, you automatically lose. If it took a U-Haul to move in, bonus points. The criteria for the rooms are as follows: how high the beds are, how many decorative pillows you have on your beds, how many photo frames and décor you have on the walls, if you have a rug or not, if your desks are pushed together to leave room for a sofa, if you have a coffee table or not, does the sofa have pillows, do you have a flat screen, do you have a desk organizer thingy on top so you can store a bunch of crap that you will never touch, is your door decorated, do you have curtains, a microwave, fridge, side tables, lamps, at least one decoration that says “hotty toddy,” a monogram of some sort, bed skirts — the list goes on and on. If you are wondering, my room got second place overall in the hall for best decorated room. I’m not even joking. I spent several hundreds of dollars on that room — it was always first place in my heart.

So, while the girls are saying, “Hi, I’m so and so from *insert southern state here*, where are y’all from?” “Hi! I’m Hannah, from Illinois.” The girls proceed with a fake smile, kind of looking like they smelled dog shit, and then they leave. Yes, you will never see them again. But, two girls will come along, and one of those will be one of your best friends. At first, it may not seem like it, but just wait. You two will laugh together, cry together, do homework together, spend late nights at the library together, and the best part is you two will go to the C-Store at 2 a.m. and get ice cream sandwiches.

First semester will be hard at times; it is okay to admit to having homesickness. Mom, dad, Caroline, & Carter all miss you as much as you miss them. Don’t get upset when you go home for the first time. It will feel weird, and feel not like home — but when you come back for breaks, it will feel somewhat normal. At school, you will start referring to Martin Hall as “home,” but it is okay. When it comes to second semester, it will be tough — but you will get through it. School is going to suck; chemistry is the absolute worst — but just push through it. Don’t worry — you will pass. Just wait until next year — anatomy is worse. You will come across a sorority — it’s a different type of sorority, and I know you will be hesitant — but go to recruitment. This is the best group of girls, and you will make more friends than you could have ever imagine. You will be able to be yourself, and finally be around a group of girls that fully embrace your personality, and instead of degrading you, they empower you. They make you feel like you have a home away from home. This is the group of girls you can randomly grab lunch with, or fro yo. You will have the best big, and when you get a little..she is awesome. This year will flow by, and you will blink and you are already a junior.

At the end of second semester you will meet your future roommate through a used-to-be friend. You and her go together like mac 'n' cheese, it’s really weird. She is the blonde version of you. By the time this year is over, you are going to be a completely different person, and it is for the better. And after sophomore year, you will change even more. The second year of college goes by faster than the first year did. It is harder at times — you are more homesick this year. But having an apartment is wonderful. You don't have to wear shower shoes at all! You will have your own bedroom, your own bathroom, and kitchen. You will lose a friend who you thought you knew, and you will gain friends that you did not know. Just trust me with this choice, because you won’t regret it.

Xo- Han