In a little under 6 hours I will be walking the stage at graduation ceremony. The memories that I made over the last 4 years changed my character is so many ways. Today, as I’m going through old photos and videos from my freshman year, I am feeling a little nostalgic. I don’t know if anyone will read this, but this is my advice to any incoming freshmen.
1) You’re so much more awesome than you give yourself credit for. As someone who has always felt self-conscious and lacked self esteem, there are opportunities I missed to because I felt like “I wasn’t good or cool enough”. I wouldn’t go out for certain campus organizations until later because I felt like “they wouldn’t like me”. That’s some shit I regret. If you truly want to go achieve or be apart of something, don’t let that self-conscious doubt talk you out of it.
2) BE INTERESTED. What does this mean. It means to actually care. When you make friends, remind yourself to be interested in THEM. People want to feel like they are actually being listened to, not just having meaningless conversation to avoid awkwardness. BE INTERESTED. Be interested in your classes. Sometimes classes can get mundane, but I wish I had a better inner voice telling me “hey, this stuff is cool! How can I use this in my life and how lucky am I to be able to take this \[insert name\] course!”. Just care. Find stuff to be interested that is bigger than yourself.
3) Cherish the moments you have with your friends. Friend groups change so much throughout college. The people that you are closest with one year may not be close to you at all the next. It is just how it goes. So enjoy those moments you get because nothing lasts forever.
4) Find what you are passionate about. This is a time in your life to discover what you love. What hobbies or subjects really get you excited? Think long term as well. How can I make this major, hobby, etc into something that can grow down the road, potentially even to make a living off of.
5) Enjoy the ride. The years feel like they only get faster. The speed in which senior year went compared to freshman year is crazy. Be nice to people. BREAK OUT OF YOUR CONFORT ZONE. That is the only way you can be a better you.