Dear me in the past,
Hey there, you finally made it to college. After twelve long years of hardships and grinding, you can proudly call yourself a college freshman! As you travel through your college journey, you are definitely bound to be confused and that is okay. My first day was a big surprise! You fall in love with the sublime scenery of the campus as you gaze into the lush greenery surrounded by very buildings you will enter to gain an education. A warm smile is shed as you see other students move into their respective residence halls and play soccer in the nearby fields. As you take a closer look at your surroundings one last time, your smile soon transforms into a frown realizing your worst nightmare comes to life: you are lost. Unconsciously, you were somehow able to walk from Centreville to Washington Hall on the southside of campus. Finally, after moving in circles with no sense of directions for two hours (crazy right?), you were luckily able to return to Centreville before nightfall. As you exhaustingly sink into your bed, you cannot believe the number of miles that you traveled. (Invest in some actual walking shoes, you're going to need them)
In the beginning, you will struggle to get accustomed to campus life like any normal freshman. (I'm still not sure how I did not initially realize this. I must have been really nervous.) You know that this will also be your first time living in a long-term residence that is not your normal home address. With campus being 30 minutes away, you go in knowing that you can come home with ease and convenience. However, don't be surprised if you find yourself having recurring episodes of homesickness. It is understandable for you to feel slightly lost at this point of time. College is one of the fundamental stages of adolescence that helps you adapt to the real world. Do not fret. With the help of your parents, friends both new and old, and other loved ones, the journey will not be as bad as it currently seems. Although it will be tough, it will absolutely be worth it in the end!
Classes. (Sigh... I know.) Although you dreaded them in high school and you currently may not be the best of friends, you will see how they build you into a responsible student. (wow I sound like my parents) CPSG100, ENGL101S, CMSC131, CHEM135 and MATH140 will all test your ability to time manage, focus, and set priorities. Your full attention is needed! Those that you take in the Spring semester are sure to make your head twirl. (in a good way) As mentioned before, (and I will continue to emphasize this) you will start off struggling. Do not let this hinder you. I repeat, do not let this hinder you! As you go along your academic journey, set goals and milestones. Make sure you utilize campus resources such as Math Success, Guided Study Sessions (GSS), and the office hours of both your professors and TAs. You will see how your study skills and comprehension of class topics will improve incredibly. Do not be afraid to reach out to classmates (including your Scholars mentor, she is very helpful) while doing this. You live with many of them (in Centreville) for a reason. Friendships that you were not expecting can develop, who knows? Speaking of friendships, as time goes on, you begin to understand that some unfortunately are not meant to be. Do not be afraid to cut any relationship that distracts you from the overall goal and is not aligned with your morals. It will be hard, but it will prevent problems from worsening in the future.
Most importantly, build a support system. It will help with any potential emotional issues (such as your homesickness, trust me it's going to happen) all while encouraging you to stay motivated and focused. You will be amazed at how much the constant calls from mom, Ariana, and your friends will help. Don't be afraid to join a club (or two). You never know what opportunities lie ahead.
Believe in yourself. Be steadfast in your faith and do not be easily discouraged. The world will not end due to a couple of bad test grades. Make it a habit to reward yourself for all the hard work put in regardless of victory or defeat. Live your life with an open mind. With time, you will overcome many of the academic, mental, and emotional challenges that you encounter.
As you look back, you will be surprised at how far you came from being the boy helplessly lost on the first day of school.
All the best,
Adrian