Tearing up and hugging my dad and grandpa goodbye in the Sargent Hall garage seems like not so long ago. I admit I did cry my way up the stairs and dried them before meeting my roomies for the first time. I realized not a single part of me was ready for this challenge. I have looked forward to this all summer, how could I not be ready now? Truthfully, we're not as prepared as we think we are and we have to experience things for ourselves. Because I have recently completed my freshman year, I will share some things with you to help you through your first year.
Right now you probably have this mentality that you can’t wait to leave, high school is a joke, and you are ready to start over. Let me remind you that it isn’t over. You have the whole summer. I found that I made the mistake of not enjoying the last few months at home and rather holding back because I knew it was going to end. What an awful thing to waste time solely because another chapter of your life is around the corner! This time is precious and I can promise you that things at home will not be the same again and you’re never getting this time back. I also found my friends at fault for this, too; we all were. You’ll be back for breaks and for summer, so don’t burn too many bridges. Embrace every moment, every second, and every memory of your last free summer.
But as the summer comes to a close, obviously you should prepare yourself for change. It kind of feels like being dropped off for your first day of kindergarten, but you aren’t being picked up. You are on your own now. This is adulthood. Good times and bad times will come and you will become stronger. You will (hopefully) mature faster than ever before during the year. You will experience people of different races, religions, sexualities and walks of life. My advice for you is to be respectful. These people are new just as you are, so support each other.
Not everyone you meet is going to be your best friend. It isn’t like some perfect fairytale story where you meet your bridesmaids the first day and your future husband is in the dorm across the hall. Well, I guess some get lucky. Let me remind you that also not everyone is as true as you may want them to be. It is also crucial to realize that the petty high school drama is sadly still lingering. If you have grown up, congratulations, but I can guarantee that several around you have not. I’m not saying you wont meet great friends -- I’m saying to be patient. You don’t have to settle for a mediocre friend. There are great people out there waiting to find you as well.
Do not forget to catch up once in a while with you old friends and tell you family that you appreciate them. It may feel like you’re all on your own sometimes, but your family is still here and they aren’t leaving. Call them to catch up and update them on what’s going on. Keep in touch with your friends from home because trust me, you’ll want friends over breaks. Remember to not be so caught up with everything new that you lose track of things at home.
This isn’t perfect advice, but it’s what I have to offer. Take it or leave it. Don’t think that there’s a perfect list of things to follow for a flawless freshman year. You make choices on your own and that’s what makes these years so uniquely yours. Have fun!
