Dear Freshman Me,
You wouldn’t even realize how often I look back at all of my freshman year memories and smile. There’s nothing quite like freshman year, so make the most of it.
Go out on Thursdays. Take advantage of your young age and ability to bounce back. Once you start taking harder classes and are on co-op, you might not be able to do it.
Go on a date with that guy in your class. It may amount to nothing, but you’ll probably get a good story out of it that you’ll always remember.
Don’t pull an all-nighter. You’ll end up staying up late with your friends doing everything except studying and then you’ll be tired during your exam. Also, always eat breakfast before an 8 a.m. exam. It helps more than you would think.
Be spontaneous. You’re only a college freshman once.
Be open to new experiences. Talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to. Join clubs and play intramurals that you aren’t even good at. You’ll end up having way more fun than you think.
Realize that not everyone you walk into college with will be the people you walk out with. But the ones that are with you the whole way will be your lifelong friends, because you’ve been through thick and thin together.
Cry over that guy. Yes, it was casual. No, you weren’t really dating, but it’s okay. Now you know what you should look for in a partner, and you have him to thank for that.
Take time to talk to your parents. You may want nothing to do with them after high school, which is totally understandable, but you never know when something might happen. It’s better to take the time to call them, thank them, and stay in contact rather than regret not doing it later on. Tell them you love them. You both may know it, but it’s nice to hear it sometimes.
People will always want to do things in groups, but you should also learn to do things by yourself. You’ll only get to know yourself better if you step out of your comfort zone and do things solo. Eating alone at the Hans isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Don’t be afraid to explore the city. Philadelphia is a grid and the subway only goes up and down or side to side. Considering it’s a major city, it’s pretty easy to use and almost impossible to get totally lost.
Have fun and be silly. You’re going to make memories this year that you’ll never forget!
Love,
Me