An Open Letter to College Freshmen
It is that time of year again... back to school season! While this is an exciting time for many, this is an especially exciting time for you as you begin to embark on a new chapter of your life. The next four years will be some of the best years of your life filled with new experiences, people and exciting opportunities that will shape you into the person that you will become when you walk across the graduation stage in four years.
It wasn’t too long ago that I was in your shoes. I was excited, anxious and a little scared about what was to come, as I am sure you are. As you begin your college journey, I want to give you some advice on how to make the most of the next four years. There is so much I want to tell you but I will leave with you four pieces of advice that I believe are the most important.
1. Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can
I am not saying to overwhelm yourself by going to every event. However, pick the ones that interest you and relate to the field you want to go into. Also, take advantage of your school’s career services department. They will help you with your resume and will help you with your professional development.
2. Be involved
I cannot imagine what my college experience would have been like if it wasn’t for the clubs and organizations that I was a part of. Being involved helped me feel more connected to my campus. I made great friends and made a difference on campus. Your college years are truly what you make of it and being involved will make your experience more fulfilling.
3. Be proactive
This can be interpreted into many things. Be proactive on campus by creating clubs that don’t exist or events that you would like to happen. Be proactive by asking questions in class and establishing a relationship with your classmates and professors. Be proactive by looking for internships that relate to your field of study. Whatever it is, don’t sit around and wait for something to happen. Go out there and make it happen.
4. Treat your peers and classmates with respect and support one another
Depending on your field of study, some programs can feel like they are competitive. However, college is not a competition. Respect your classmates and support one another. You never know who you might end up working with outside of college, or who you might need for a favor later on in life. Treat college like one big networking event.
With all of this being said, I wish you all a great four years. These truly are the best four years of your life so enjoy every second of it.