To My Freshman Self on Move-In Day
Hey, girl.
Almost two full school years have passed since I’ve seen unabashed optimism like yours. You really are stoked to be here, aren’t you? I’d say that’s a marked improvement from crying at high school graduation because you didn’t want to leave. You still think you peaked in high school, and you will probably think that for a while, but I promise you that’s not true.
I wish that there was some way that I could prepare you for what comes after this. There’s no way for me to tell you what it will feel like when you hug your dad goodbye, and later your mom. I can’t offer comfort for the sudden shock to your system that orientation will be. I can’t tell you everything that you need to know about what lies ahead, but I’m going to try.
You are going to experience some of the hardest things you will ever experience in your life, and there’s nothing I can do about that. Losing your best friend to suicide will be incredibly hard. You will think it’s the end of the world, but I can promise you that it’s not. Believe it or not, you are strong enough to endure this. You are strong enough to get past the feeling that you don’t fit in, and you are strong enough to return in the fall happier than you’ve ever been.
You’re going to experience the highest highs you’ve ever felt. When you start as an RA in the fall, you are going to find the closest group of friends you’ve ever had since your friend group in high school. You will learn a lot from this experience; you’ll learn not to judge a book by its cover, to trust your instincts, and to allow yourself to feel worthy.
Like I said earlier, I can’t prepare you for what’s coming, but I can promise that you will be stronger for it. I’m excited to see how empowered you become; I’m excited to see how close you become to your friends in the coming years. In the meantime, I can offer you a single piece of advice: this too shall pass.
Stay humble, be kind.
Love always,
Carly