A Letter to My First-Year Self

I remember the first month trying to find people to fit in with, maybe going to events I wasn’t particularly interested in with people I did not feel like I connected to just to feel less alone. Being on the other side now I can tell you that all the worries are worth it. Of course, that feeling of homesickness is present, but it is so much easier to deal with as you build your community on campus. I wish someone had told you that you're exactly where you're meant to be—the hard parts are worth it.

You and I have put in the effort to make this University our home; we have built our routine and a sense of stability that helps us breathe easily. As we head into our third year, there is so much we have learned. We have fostered a sense of independence that is invaluable, a sense of financial awareness that is crucial for the future.

We reached that perfect balance of trusting and relying on ourselves and on others, not being afraid to ask for help as we approach different obstacles. Of course, this is not to say we know everything—far from it. But we are more equipped to handle all that comes our way, and as our support system continues to grow, so do our opportunities.

The biggest piece of advice I can give you is this: Be patient. I know this is something that does not come naturally to us, but good things come to those who wait.

You don’t find your community immediately, but you do find it.

You don’t crack the code on how to manage academics, social and work life right away, but you do get better at it.

Any and all challenges we will approach and have approached are not fixed in the blink of an eye, but the capacity to do it has always been in us. To you, the Isa in Fall 2024, I say all of this to let you know that if I had the choice, I would do it all over again.