A new journey is about to begin for you. You are about to leave your hometown and move to a new place, whether it is states away or right down the road. No matter how far from home you go, your life is about to change. You are going to meet new people, some that will become your new best friends, others that will be referred to as “that one friend from freshmen year.” You will probably lose some friends, most likely from back home. It will not be because you want it to happen, but because that is just how life goes.

So much is about to happen in the next four years. You might think about dropping out of school on those long hard weeks where classes seem never ending. You might think about switching majors, which if it does happen, it is okay. You might fail your first class and you even might fail multiple classes. You might sleep in late too many times and might even skip a test or two when those Thirsty Thursdays get too crazy or when you just need more sleep, which you will soon learn you will never have enough of. Some of you might transfer because you have realized the school you picked is not right for you. These are the motions of college that everyone goes through at some point. Even though all these scary things could happen and very well might, there are a million other amazing things that are about to happen.

The friends you will meet these next four years will make you the happiest. It might take time, but you will find a roommate you click with, someone who you cannot live without. You will meet friends from all walks of life, learning as much as you possibly can about them as you go. You might fall in love, whether it lasts or not, it will be an amazing experience. You might meet the person you spend the rest of your life with, or friends that you know will be at your wedding, maybe even in it. You will go on so many adventures and make so many memories.

When it comes time to graduate in the next four years or so, you will think about these first days at college. You will think about how excited you were, how unsure you were. You will think about how when you started, you never knew how much this place could mean to you. You did not know of all the memories that would be created, all the things that would happen to you. All you knew was that a new chapter was starting and you were a little scared, but in a good way of course.

When you move in to college, after your boxes are unpacked, your family has said their goodbyes, and the excitement settles to a gentle hum, I want you to look around. I want you to look at your new room, and maybe across the way at your new roommate. I want you to have dreams and start chasing after them at that very moment. I want you to be open to new experiences, whether it is meeting new people you normally would not talk to or trying a new activity. I want you to know that it is okay to be scared of the unknown, as long as you do not let it ruin this experience. I want you to think about all of the possibilities that could happen, that will happen to you. I want you to be excited for this next step and remain open minded to taking risks and chances.

This is it. This is the start of your new life for the next four years. This is the beginning of a new adventure, new memories, and new friends. You have no idea what is about to happen in these next four years, the small little details that will soon become a big part of your life. So many doors are about to open, and some may close as well but anything can happen because this is only the beginning.

Welcome to your new chapter.