Dear Freshman Me,
Welcome to Bucknell. A journey of four spectacular years awaits you. First, I would like to congratulate you. I’m so proud of you for getting accepted to this prestigious institution and I know you will make the most of your time here. You will do a lot of things here, but not all of them will be easy. You will make good choices and sometimes bad choices. But I’m here to tell you that it’s okay.
You will learn first hand the meaning of “work hard, play hard.” You will work hard and get good grades, but have to skip a few nights out to ace your exam. And then there will be nights where you choose to go out and put your studies second, ultimately having to pay the price later in the semester.
You will meet some amazing people on your first year hall. Some will disappear over the years, and others will be there with you through thick and thin. You will also add to your circle of friends as the years go on. Don’t be afraid to let it expand. Introduce new and old friends, you can never have too many. And do remember that friendship is a two way street and you need to work at it in order to maintain it. There will be days where a friend will upset you, but it is just as much on you to reach out and fix it. And at the end of the day you may learn some friends are unfortunately not friends at all. Instead of chasing after something not meant to be, focus your efforts on the amazing ones you do have. Who knows, they might even be your bridesmaids one day.
You will meet some nice guys and some jerks. Remember that the jerks aren’t worth your time. You’ll make the mistake of taking them back after they’ve done something awful, and then realize they won’t change. But for every jerk, there is a nice guy on this campus, and you will eventually find one. He may not be The One, but he will be there for you. He could come in the form of a friend, a classmate, or a boyfriend, but know he is looking out for you.
You will appreciate the beauty of the quad in all four seasons. Even in sub-zero weather, Bucknell is one of the most beautiful places you will ever live. You will value having your friends close. Even if they live downhill and you live uphill, it’s still closer than New York to San Francisco. You will value late night mozzarella sticks, French fries and Domino’s pizza because no other time in life will you be able to hand over a student ID to pay for a late night snack.
Most importantly, you will reflect and look back on your experience at Bucknell, the good and the bad, and appreciate everything you learned and the memories you made. As I conclude this letter, I want to remind you to stay true to who you are. Throughout your time here you may change your mind, question your beliefs, or test your morals. And that’s okay. You don’t have to be the same person you were when you came to college, but embrace and be proud of the person you become. I have a feeling she’s pretty awesome.
With love,
Senior Me