A Letter to my Freshman Self #8

Dear my Freshman Self,

Here you are in your first year of college. You are now four hours away from your parents and do not know a single soul. You are eager to meet new friends and see what college is all about. You probably feel a little overwhelmed because you have no idea what to do with your life yet here you are beginning the journey to what is supposed to be your lifetime career.

I promise you to not freak out over picking a major right now. I know you do not want to be that girl that finishes college thinking she just wasted four years of her life. But believe me, the classes you will take and everything you experience will push you in the right direction. Just remember to always listen to your gut. Do not do whatever your parents want you to do. This is your life. Not theirs. Eventually they will understand and accept that you do not want to be a dentist.

Right now, I know classes and grades are not really on your mind. You did well in high school with barely studying so it’s understandable that you think you can do the same for college. But let me tell you, you must work hard to get good grades in college. Remember that these classes are not cheap. You do not want to retake or repay for a class. Study ahead of time. Skip out on a few nights of partying. Stop procrastinating on papers. Waiting to do things the night before will only keep your stress levels high and quality of life low.

Group projects are going to be a huge part of your college career. You are extremely committed and have a wonderful leadership quality about you. But this does not mean that you must be in control and do everything on your own. Trust people and learn to work together. Group projects are such a good way to network and can help land you a job in the future. You may even make some life-long friends in the process.

Lastly, remember to forgive yourself for all your mistakes. It is inevitable that things will not always go the way you planned. Econ will totally test your sanity but you will get through it. Money troubles will find you, friendships will fade, and boys will definitely get in the way of your studies. Do not worry. Everything will work out for the best even when you think nothing good could possibly come from it.

I swear, the best days are yet to come....

Love wiser and soon be graduated,

Jenn

P.S. Get more sleep! These bags under our eyes need all the help they can get!