To the Class of 2016:

You did it! I’m so proud of each and every one of you for finishing strong and earning that high school diploma. You should be so proud of yourself and all of your accomplishments so far and know that lots of other people are too. I’m now a sophomore in college, and I wanted to pass along a few pieces of valuable advice that I learned before coming into college.

Plan ahead.

I think that this is so important to anyone just recently out of high school. You are now in a place where the world is your oyster, as trite or cheesy as it may sound, but it is true. The ball is in your court, and now, you get to call the shots on your life for the first time in eighteen or so years. Knowing this, go ahead and know at least something that you want to do in your freshman year of college. If you haven’t chosen a major or are entering college undeclared, schedule classes that will give you some idea of what you might want to pursue. If you have chosen your major, use your time off to do some research on your degree, what you may want to do with it, and the amount of time it will take you to get there.

The worst thing you can do as a freshman is to find yourself floundering, academically or socially. Coming into college with a plan for at least one thing that you want to do in your freshman year will keep you grounded in at least one thing. If you naturally are not an organized person, use this opportunity to start because college gets hectic without a solid system of organization.

Set realistic goals.

Over the summer, I took some time to reflect on where I was, what I wanted to do, and the steps I would take to get there. I say “realistic goals” for a reason. You can’t expect to go through your entire first semester without staying up past your “bedtime,” whether that’s out at a party or pulling an all-nighter writing a paper or speech that is due the next day. However, you can set a goal for yourself to only stay up incredibly late once a week if you have a difficult course load.

Another unrealistic goal for most people is the “get a 4.0 all year.” Most people will have one difficult class in their freshman year, and while some manage to squeeze out an A through hard work and all-nighters, many people take their B or C in that class and accept that they tried their best. I find that when people set the 4.0 goal, they limit themselves socially due to the impending pressure to make all As. Someone as socially involved as I am set a goal for a 3.5 all year, and I came very close my first semester, but I did actually achieve that this semester. If you set achievable goals for yourself, then you will feel more proud of the work you have done.

Learn to let go.

College and high school are two completely different entities, and no one cares if you were considered the biggest nerd or the snobbiest girl in high school. The great thing about college is that you will walk into a world where no one fetters you by your high school identity, so if you want to change yourself from the person you were in high school, now’s your chance. College is a clean slate, and living by the past is a dangerous mindset when you are trying to make your own decisions and become your own person in college.

Now, don’t let go of everything from your past, like the cute prom picture of you and your high school best friends that you want on your desk or the strong morals you had to stand up for yourself and remove yourself from negative situations. The best parts of you are some that you never want to change and shouldn’t let others change for you, but the “high school” mindset of childish cliques and trash-talking teenagers needs to stop. Admittedly, not everyone in college has learned to let go of that yet, but letting go of it will save you a lot of heartache and pain in college.

Embrace life as you know it.

Soon enough, you won’t be seeing your parents every day, and you’ll be doing your own laundry and cooking your own food for the first time. These are huge milestones of your college experience, but don’t get set on experiencing these too early. You’re about to leave the nest, so cherish each moment you have in it. Hang out with your dad one day and go to a movie, go out to eat with just your mom, take your sibling on an impromptu road trip. Whatever it is you want to do, just embrace the time you have with the people who love you most. If you have friends going to different schools, see them as much as possible, and make so many memories over the summer that it will feel like yesterday when they left. Get used to life the way it was because it’s all about to change.

Now, I don’t say these things to scare you, but I say them speaking from experience. People don’t realize how important the summer before you start college is because it basically sets you up for the start of your freshman year, and people don’t see that their habits now will remain habits in the future. So, if I can say anything to you, don’t get discouraged now. You have already come this far and graduated high school, some of the hardest years of your life, so don’t give up on yourself when it may seem like college is too hard for you to handle. As Christopher Robin said once, “You are braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” I have so much faith that each of you recent high school graduates will grow up to be twice the person you hope to be, and I know you all have bright futures ahead of you. College may seem daunting, but it’s so much scarier on your side, I promise. Have faith in yourself, and trust that college will be a wonderful experience full of adventure, love, confusion, and memories.

High school is not the end of the road; don’t think that this is where you peak. You have so much untapped potential that you will discover faster than you ever could have imagined. I can’t wait to see where you all go and what you all do with the beautiful brains and hearts you have. Stay curious in mind, stay young at heart, and welcome to your future.

With Love and Blessings,

A High School Graduate of 2015