Dear Incoming Freshmen of the University of Nevada, Reno (and everywhere else tbh),
You have probably heard this over and over, but college will be the best years of your life. You will make new friends; you will fall in love with your major; you will have the time of your life.
I can’t begin to tell you the memories I’ve made. Every experience and everything I have done has led me up to this moment, to the day I graduate. When I walk the stage in Spring 2017, I know I’ll look back and not regret a single thing I did in my four years.
Here is my advice to you:
It is okay to be scared. You don’t need to act like you’ve got it all figured out already. You just got out of high school. College is something different, but it’s a good different. If you need help or have a question, just ask. You can still be scared when you graduate (I know I am).
Be yourself. When first starting college, it’s hard to be yourself when you’re trying to become a new person or if you don’t know who you are yet. But remember to be the person that you know your family and friends (old and new) will still love.
Go to class. This can’t be stressed enough. If you don’t go to class, you’re going to learn the hard way. Trust me. I’ve had to retake two classes just because I got lazy my freshman year (I failed those two classes). You don’t want to sit through the same boring stuff all over again…it really sucks.
Get Involved. Everyone says this, but there’s a reason why. Getting involved on campus makes your whole college experience completely different. Join a fraternity. Join a sorority. Join a club. Make a new club. Join student government. Just do something that makes you active on campus. Do something that will make you want to stay on campus. Even just attending events is being involved.
Student discounts. Just showing your student ID gets you a discount. Find out from your school what discounts are offered in the neighboring businesses. (Nevada students here’s your link to the different discounts: http://www.nevadaasun.com/packfriendlybusiness/)
Make new friends. Don’t be afraid to talk to that person you don’t know in class. Don’t be afraid to text that cute girl or that cute guy that you just met and ask them to hang out. You’re in college now, learn to network. You never know…with all the friends you make…one of them may help you find the dream career you want.
Take advantage of every opportunity. Free food, free stuff, free movies? You don’t get that stuff when you’re 30. Everything the campus gives out for free comes out of your tuition, take advantage of it and all the other campus resources. You want to be in a leadership position, do it. Take that internship offer. Take that job offer.
Make a bucket list. Maybe I’m just a list type of person, but it’s fun looking back to see what you did on your college bucket list.
Do what you want to do. You’re gonna want to join a fraternity or sorority. Do it. You’re going to want to go to parties. Do it. You’re going to want to stay in and watch Netflix. Do it. Do what your heart desires. Make memories. Make your own choices. Don’t let someone peer pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do.
And my last piece of advice…Have fun. Make the best of college. Sooner than you think, the four years (or more) will be over, and you will be walking across that stage thinking where have the past four years gone.
There will be times that make you question why you joined something or decided to do something. There will be times that you don’t want something to end. There will be times where you will be sad or you will be mad. But that is how life is. Just go with the flow.
Welcome to college.
Lots of love,
Your Senior (citizen)
melissajaneung.com 