Congratulations! You're about to go to the best university (I may be biased, but you definitely made a good choice). As an alumna, I have some words of advice on how to make the most of your time at Longwood.

1. Get involved.

Longwood is a school with so many opportunities for you as a student. There are so many fraternities and sororities, a handful of which were founded at Longwood. If you do not want to go Greek, there are also lots of faith-based groups, intramural sports and common-interest groups. Either way, Farmville is boring without friends and getting involved is the best way to meet people.

2. Don't let school get so stressful it isn't fun.

Your core classes will leave you boring and snoring. But if your major classes ever reach a point where you dread going, it may be wise to re-think your major. It’s no longer mandatory to be there. So if you’re not happy, nobody will know but you unless you tell someone. Not to mention, you're paying an exorbitant amount of money to be there, so if you are unsatisfied, do something to change it! You're a student, but you are also a customer paying for a service. You get to call the shots here.

3. Do fun things.

As we have already discussed, school can get stressful. You'll have good times and bad times. But now you know to get involved and not let school get to be bad, remember to also have fun! One of my favorite memories from Longwood was going sledding down the hill behind ARC (which is where I lived freshman year) at midnight. Hence, the picture above. It was so much fun!

4. Be mindful of the "Freshman 15."

It's a real thing. D-hall is full of all kinds of tempting food and there's no parent there to say you need to eat three bites of peas before you can have ice cream. Luckily, Longwood has a beautiful gym with all kinds of top-of-the-line equipment and even a rock-climbing wall. You're paying to use it, and will be paying for it for many years after (trust me), so check it out and see what you like.

5. Go to the traditional events.

Longwood is a school with such neat history. Every year, many events take place for you to see. These traditions keep the spirit of Longwood alive and well, so take part in that!

6. Don't step on the rotundas. Do step on the crowns.

You'll learn this quickly, but I'll give you some heads up. If you step on the rotundas around campus, you will have blue babies. BUT, do step on the crowns - they give you good luck on exams.

7. Get a job on campus.

Freshman year, I worked in the dining hall. It's certainly not a glamorous job, but it provided some extra income throughout the school year. Every year after that, I worked for Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) and loved it. I learned so much through those jobs and made lasting friendships with both students and staff. I highly recommend it.

8. Cherish this time.

College really is what you make it. They say it is the best four years of your life. Those four years of mine certainly rank at or near the top. Longwood is a school you can wear proudly. You are privileged to attend such a beautiful university and become part of a legacy of Citizen Leaders. I am so excited for you to experience this place. Enjoy it, and good luck!