Dear Incoming Freshmen,

Welcome to Fredonia! This will be your first (and hopefully not last) semester at Fredonia. Are you excited? I hope so. I know I definitely was. I was very ready for this next chapter of my life and you might feel the same way. As I’m nearing my second to last semester and won’t be on campus due to student teaching, I’m here to offer you some advice I wish I had when I had first gotten to Fredonia.

First and foremost, don’t be afraid to make friends. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the person across the hall from you. They might be from the same area as you or have a similar interest. See someone who’s wearing a Harry Potter shirt and you also like Harry Potter? Say you like their shirt and ask if they wanna talk HP over some coffee. If you’re someone who’s ridden with anxiety and this isn’t really something you’re comfortable with, start with your roommate. Ask if they want to grab a dinner at Willy C or Timmy Ho’s with you or watch a movie with you. When you have your friend group established, hang out with them as much as you can. Plan dinners, plan to go out, plan movie nights, whatever it is, you won't regret spending time with them.

This is the original "Fred Family," the friends I made my first year at Fredonia. We've all drifted - either to different schools or to other friends - but I still cherish the memories they've given me.

Second, it's totally okay if you don't have things figured out yet. Don't know what you want to major in? That's okay, just get your CCCs out of the way first. Don't know if your major is right for you? Change it to something you really want to do. Don't think that you really belong here? Wait it out a semester or two, see how you feel and make your move. I came to Fredonia unsure of if I really wanted to be a music education major, but as I went through the courses, then semesters, then years, I realized that it was truly meant to be. You will find your niche, I promise, so don't freak out if you don't know what you want to do yet.

Third, join a club. We are so extremely lucky to have a multitude of organizations at Fredonia. We have an anime club, a wide variety of sports, a number of dance groups, Greek life, acapella groups, a Writers’ Ring, improv groups and many more. If you have a certain interest in something, there will be a club for you. The community at Fredonia is extremely open and welcoming and you will definitely find a group that’s just for you.

The wonderful brothers of Phi Mu Alpha and the beautiful sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota, Fredonia's music fraternities.

Fourth, take part in campus activities. If campus is having a community service event, sign up. One of those events is the Fall Sweep, where you go around and rake people's yards who might not be able to. My friends and I did this my freshman year, and we had a blast. If there's a 5k run and you don't run, sign up anyways. There are more events on campus - like acapella shows, plays, improv. shows, dance group performances, concerts, art shows, movie showings, and RA programs. If you can go, do it. You'll be richer for it.

Fifth, be prepared for the weather. The weather is crazy in Fredonia. One hour it will be sunny and 80 degrees, then next it will be raining and 60 degrees. I learned after a few weeks to put my umbrella in my backpack so I would always have it. I would also bring a sweater, because you never know which classrooms will be super hot or freezing cold.

My friends and I participated in the Fall Sweep in 2013. Notice how bundled up they are...

Sixth, if you have a car, use it. Take your friends to Walmart. Take them to Point Gratiot. Take them on a late night trip for McDonald's. Take them up to Buffalo for a mall trip. If you live near them, give them a ride home. You'll have memories in that car that will last a life time. And if you don't have a car, bring a bike. Having a bike on campus is so much fun and is another easy way to get around.

Seventh and most importantly, do your schoolwork. I know that a lot of people might ignore this, but doing your schoolwork is extremely important. Between all of your activities, it might seem impossible, and a lot of people struggle with this during their first semester. Don’t get distracted by the fact that you don’t have to go to class if you don’t want to. Don’t get distracted by the fact that your friends want to have lunch at 1 and you have class. Don't get distracted by the fact that you went out last night and feel like crap. Go to class! Put your schedule in your calendar and write down what homework you have. This will save you a lot of time and energy, and will save your GPA in the end.

Lastly, have fun. If you find that the party life is for you, go out and party. If you know that you like to stay in with your friends and bake cookies, stay in with your friends and bake cookies. Take stupid pictures with your friends and make spontaneous decisions. Go to your friend's concerts, poetry readings, shows, whatever they're in. Do things you haven't done before. Ultimately, no matter what you do with your time at Fredonia, make sure that you spend all of it making the best of it and having fun.

Don't be afraid to make your friends take stupid pictures with you. From after SAI's initiation this past semester.

They say that high school is the best four years of your life, but that’s a lie. College is definitely where it’s at. Be ready for something that's very different, but so rewarding. I hope your first semester is the best and that Fredonia becomes your home, just like it did for me.

Sincerely,

A Senior (who will be student teaching and already misses Fredonia like crazy)