Letter To An Incoming College Freshman

Dear anxious excited terrified curious recent high school graduate,

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess why you’re reading this, are you curious whether college is really what it’s all cracked up to be? I hope I am able to put your conscience at rest. I’m going to tell you a few things I learned from my freshman year.

1. Take it seriously, please do yourself this favor. Listen, your parents can try all they want to prepare you for college but let’s be real. You will never be 100% ready. But you can put your best foot forward. Try to see everything as an opportunity, either it will move you forward or set you back. I didn’t think college would necessarily be the hardest thing in the world but I sure didn’t expect it to wear me down as much as it did. Don’t get me wrong it is a great learning experience but try learning from the first mistake and not the 17th.
2. Give yourself a break. You are not a super hero, you aren’t invincible. Whether it’s piles of homework and sleepless nights or trying to stick to a no junk food diet. Success doesn’t happen overnight. And trust me, everyone has their breaking point. Even those people who seem like they’ve got it all together usually they’re racking their brains the most. I thought I could do anything and everything I set my mind to, but in reality, I was driving myself crazy and that is okay. I learned what I can and can’t do. I learned that working more than 6 hours a week will mentally exhaust me. Literally everything is a learning experience, my dad once told me that you never stop learning and it’s true.
3. Everyone feels the way you do…weird. I didn’t have the hardest time adjusting from living at home to dorm life; but I sure didn’t feel at my most comfortable. I go to college with my best friend from high school so I already had a close friend on campus. But what about the other 18,000 students on campus? Exactly. I kinda just wanted to have my own friend group already, as if one day I’d wake up to the best girlfriends I’d ever want. You need to put yourself out there. Join as many clubs as you can, find what you’re interested in I’m sure you will come across something. Be friendly, outgoing, and true to yourself that is your best bet.
4. You CAN do it. College really isn’t for everyone. I’d say I am one of the most driven people I know and I struggled at times. There will be late nights when you’re tired and want to quit studying. “Screw it!” you’ll say. Try and remember that at the end of the day it’s your education on the line. It is your future. No one is going to hold your hand in college. You have to want it. I can agree that it will be more difficult if you aren’t majoring in something you’re passionate about. There is no way in hell I could be a biology major, I’d become depressed and fall into a pit of despair. More power to all the STEM majors out there. Personally, I seek strength from God. I believe without him I would not have gotten this far. Do what you have to do to cross that finish line, it will all be worth it.

Follow my advice, or don’t. Regardless I do wish you the very best on the start of a new chapter of your life. Good luck.

Sincerely your friend,

Cristina Fig.