CREATIVES

Dear Freshmen,

You may not realize it yet, but life’s greatest journey is about to begin. You’ll walk wide-eyed and eager to discover what awaits you, and you’ll leave with enlarged knowledge and a full heart.

You will grow in ways you never imagined were possible or necessary throughout your time in college, which is an incredible and remarkable period. New acquaintances, instructors, and peers that you’ll encounter will help influence your time there. Your four years in college will be supported by those pals. They’ll be there to study with you, go out to lunch with you, and yes, even extend invitations to a few events.

Your campus is vast and intimidating, and you will most likely become lost... frequently. But by the end of your stay, strolling through those walkways and corridors will be a cakewalk because you’ll already know the place inside and out. It will be more than a college campus to you; it will be your home. It’ll be where you spend hours in the library memorizing equations and preparing for that looming midterm. The numerous food stops on campus will be where you stop for a morning bagel on your way because you didn’t have time to get food from your own kitchen in a rush to get to class.

Four years of college isn’t about coming into the campus and leaving four years later with a degree in hand. It’s the setting, the parties, the friends you make, the events you attend, the professors you meet, and so much more. We may not have had the best start, but we must make the best of it.

So, future college students, pay attention. This is where your greatest life journey begins. This is where you will make some of your best memories and discover new things. Take it all in and appreciate it. The statement is cliche for a reason, but it genuinely does go faster than you imagine, and you’ll be sad when it’s done.

A new decade, a year of transition, a new beginning—just not what we anticipated. But we continue to have hope for what comes after, right?

Justine Miralles