• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » To My College Self: You Are Where You Are Supposed To Be
Freshmen

To My College Self: You Are Where You Are Supposed To Be

FacebookTweet
27
gifts for lonely friends
https://unsplash.com
Daria Wilk September 8, 2021

Dear freshman self,

First of all, congratulations! You made it, you made it to the US. Even better, you made your dream come true—you live in New York. Take a minute to celebrate, enjoy! As I gained insight into the future, trust me, it became one of the best decisions. I know you worry about switching majors, but you will experiment with a couple of programs and end up happy, so keep making those brave decisions.

One thing that I learned over the past couple of years—we both possess good instincts when it comes to decision-making, so keep following them.

giphy.com

However, we need to talk about social expectations, and how much pressure you will feel to do what others and society expects. Let’s face it, even if you don’t want to admit it yet, the two phrases that describe you (outside of a long list of amazing qualities) consist of “people pleaser” and “overachiever.” As always, you will sign up for everything that your university offers, and sometimes you won’t be keen ongoing.

At the end of the day, sometimes you will go anyway, but you will do it just out of fear of missing out or because friends decided they were going, and they asked. Here comes a secret though: you can let go. It’s okay. Don’t be afraid of resigning or letting go if you feel overwhelmed! Just because an opportunity is there, doesn’t mean you always have to take it. Instead, think about what makes you happy. Sometimes that will also mean resigning from professional development opportunities. I know these can feel harder to resign from than some party, but sometimes you should put yourself also in front of your resume.

This leads us right into professional development.

giphy.com

During some of your internships, you won’t connect with people you work with, and they won’t end up as your biggest fans. People cannot be liked by everyone. Don’t try to change to fit their narrative. After all, sometimes being different allows you to bring other perspectives to the table. If that one volunteer opportunity doesn’t appreciate your perspective, then your next internship will. Connecting that thought to my previous message to you, let go of places that don’t appreciate your perspective. Hired staff, intern, volunteer—no matter the job position, you deserve to be in a place that acknowledges the work that you put in; if they don’t, leave. It’s not always worth sticking around.

Another aspect of social life you will feel pressure in?

giphy.com

Getting into a relationship. Of course, everyone wants to fall in love, but life doesn’t always turn out that way. Don’t settle for the first guy who charms his way into your heart. Behind the great first impressions, sometimes comes the half-truths and games. Give yourself a chance to get to know all aspects of a person before you get attached, and definitely don’t give a second chance at this point in your life. Some people find love in their life in college—good for them!—but for a lot of people, it is time to get comfortable dating. Leave second chances for true commitment.

Most of the movies and tv shows set this image of finding a huge group of friends with whom you do everything.

giphy.com

And it works like that for some people, but let’s face it: you always preferred a little more diversity. So, don’t worry. You will find great friends in all of your programs, but not the ones you thought you would connect with during the first week or two.


trending

119

How Graduation is Causing Me a (Good) Existential Crisis

Gretchen Rubin, author of Life in Five Sense
98

Awaken Your Five Senses with #1 NYTs Bestselling Author Gretchen Rubin

79

Adulting with Your Mom Is Fun


Here, we arrived at I think the key message: sometimes, people you think you will connect with, you don’t, and you shouldn’t change yourself to fit in. Instead, people you thought you couldn’t connect with will turn out to become your greatest support. Friendship is also a two-way street! It’s okay to let go if you feel like you won’t get anything back from a person.

As much as I loved writing this, it’s time to wrap up with the advice.

giphy.com

Wait—one more thing, I almost forgot. To answer your biggest questions, yes, we made it. I recently walked down the street of New York and it hit me: I am exactly where you envisioned yourself to be. I am living your aspirations. I found work, internships, my major, career path and I live in a nice apartment in downtown Manhattan, genuinely happy writing this article while sitting in Central Park. All the waiting? Worth it! Relax, you will be okay, and it only gets better! So, buckle up and enjoy the ride to where we always wanted to be.

About Daria Wilk

Hi, I am Daria. I am originally from Poland, Europe and I am pursuing my double degree in Political Science and Communications Arts in New York. I am always on the move which is probably why I lived in 3 countries so far and why I am the worst person to go on vacations with if you just want to lay in the sun all day.

What I Wish I Had Known About Mental Health So I Wouldn’t Have to Call Myself a College Dropout

Was There a Purpose for That Roommate Questionnaire?

How My Dream College Became My Worst Nightmare

Expectations Vs Reality at UF

pixabay.com

Curtailed Curfews: How to Adjust to the Freedom of College

5 Tips to Get Through Your Freshman Year of College

Surviving Freshman Year by Joining the Strangest Sports Club: Quidditch

Be Proud, Be Brave, and Be Prepared—A Letter To My Freshmen Self

An Age of Perseverance: A Letter To My Freshman Self

Previous Post:Everything You Need to Know Before Interning at the United Nations
Next Post:10 Human Rights Initiatives at UCLA That Deserve Recognition

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding