First Person: Letter To My First-Year Self

Hey, it’s me, your 21-year-old self. You’re now a senior in college. Can you believe it? You can get into the Hoot Owl now and go to Tuesday Blues with your friends. You live off-campus, too, with your two best friends. You decided on being an English and environmental studies major and it fits really well with your interests. You’re about to graduate, and although you’re feeling heavyhearted about leaving, you feel well prepared to be a person in the world. Still, please, please savor your time. It goes by faster than you think.

First of all, I want to let you know that your future self is proud of you. You should be proud of yourself, too. You left home, went somewhere completely new. Being someone who struggles with transitory periods, you are overcoming and defeating that fear every day. You started taking challenging new classes. You put yourself out there. You are brave. Don’t ever doubt that.

Second of all, relax. It is all going to be more than okay. Yes, you are going to have hard times. You are going to stay up too late studying, you are going to procrastinate, you are going to eat a few too many Oreos while writing that history paper. You’re going to miss home, and wish you had your mom to take care of you when you get sick. You're going to rely on the lovely nurses at the health center as a replacement. You’re going to struggle with course content. You’re going to drift apart from some friends but gain so many more. It is going to take some time to find your best friends, and let me let you in on a little secret: they’re going to come into your life when you least expect it, and it’s worth the wait. Everything is worth the wait.

You’re going to move into the LIGHT House, and lead meditation workshops, candle-making workshops, and more. You’re going to take yoga classes. You’re going to order Sergi’s. A lot. Specifically, the Bob’s Special with ranch. You’re going to dance until you’re sweating. You’re going to attend nearly all the Java shows, and wear a lot of glitter. Said glitter is going to get all over each of the rooms you live in throughout your SLU career and in each of your beds. You’re going to spend a lot of hours chatting with your friends over matcha lattes at the Bagelry. You’re going to spend many more hours in the library. You’re going to vastly improve your writing skills and cultivate your passion for creative writing.

You’re going to spend a lot of days skiing at Whiteface. You’re going to go on trips with the Outing Club to cliff jump, ski, kayak, backpack and so much more. You’re going to meet amazing new people. You’re going to have some of the best times of your life. 

Please, my dear one, take a deep breath. Face every day with renewed optimism and excitement because truly, there is so much to be excited about. Do your homework. Get up early for that sunrise hike. Allow yourself to grow and change. Say yes to things. You’re doing just fine.

Love,

Senior-Year Rosie