Ah, college--full of the good, bad, and the ugly; the best four years of your life; the most stressful years of your life; the hungriest and most cramped years of your life. Whichever you relate to most, I'm sure we can all agree that the time leading up to college was probably one of the most nerve-wracking times of your life.
Last weekend my sister got to experience the surge of nerves as she moved into college, ready to begin her freshman year. Although she didn't show it, I could see she was anxious to begin a new chapter of her life. As a loving and concerned sister, I have hopes, dreams, and goals for her, but these can apply to any college freshman.
Make the friends of a lifetime.
I wish for you to find your "person." I can't express how important it is to have a solid group of friends, or just one individual, for that matter. You need that one person you can count on 24/7/365. These people also make or break your entire experience, as you'll share some your greatest memories with them. I know I have already found my best friends and I couldn't be happier to have them in my life.
Be successful in everything you do.
Whether it's studying like there is no tomorrow, killin' it at sports practice, or getting that job you've always wanted, there is one central idea that remains the same: throw your heart into it, and success will come. Being successful doesn't happen overnight; it takes patience and hard work. I still have a ways to go to reach all of my goals, but there is nothing more rewarding than reaching a goal I worked so hard to achieve. I wish for you to have all the success you desire, as long as you put your heart into it.
Find yourself.
This is the most important thing: I wish for you to dig deep and discover who you truly are. College is a time for figuring out lots of things--your major, your career, the type of relationship you want, how to cook, how to manage your time...I could go on forever. The one thing all of these have in common is that they all are a part to figuring out who you are. So go out and explore, make mistakes, and do whatever it takes to find yourself. In the end, the key to loving yourself is knowing who you are, and the best thing you can do for yourself is love yourself.
So, shake it off and go out to conquer that campus of yours. You're going to be amazing.
