Dear freshman me,
As I write to you, now a freshman in college, I must start off by saying that even though I know more now than I did four years ago, I still do not know it all. Yes, I know, shocking. Usually, I am on top of things. Since August 2010, God has had me in his eyes, his hands molding me to be the most perfect me that I can be. This, however, has come with unforeseen changes, difficult challenges, and incredible opportunities that I would have never imagined, but will never regret.
Freshman me, I know that you want to be a psychologist. I know that you want to attend Georgia Tech and play professional tennis one day, just like your idol Melanie Oudin. I know that you want to be a famous YouTube sensation. I know that you wholeheartedly believe that one day you will marry Justin Bieber. Trust me, God has a different plan for you. Stay open-minded. Go Dawgs.
Freshman me, I know that you've been wronged in the past. I know that it is so hard to trust people after all the drama that you've been through. I know that sometimes you wish you were more "normal" just so those people would have nothing to say about you. Trust me, "normal" has no true definition. Let your guard down and love yourself.
Freshman me, I know that you hate your body. I know that people have called you "fat" and "ugly" and "not cool." I know that all you want is for that cute sophomore boy to notice you, and that you will do anything to feel loved. Trust me, do not lower your standards, for God has an incredible cute sophomore boy named Grant, an incredible future sister and brother named Kendyl and Josh, and so many more blessings coming your way really soon.
Freshman me, I know that it is hard to fit in. I know that you love God, that you love your cheesy Disney Channel shows, and that you love dancing around like a crazy person. I know how hard it is to show your true self despite the negativity and corruption surrounding you. Trust me, just be you. Pray hard. Sing High School Musical at the top of your lungs. Dance crazy IN PUBLIC. One day, you'll meet your best friend who loves to do these things too and you will bond over your weirdness. You will have the most fun you've ever had.
Freshman me, I know that you are worried about your future. I know you want to be successful, marry a perfect man like Justin Bieber (haha just kidding), and that you want to live a life just like a Nicholas Sparks book. I know that you are so scared of what will happen in the next four years, and that you try to act like you have it all figured out. Trust me, I still don't. I have changed my major three times in one month. I am so scared about job opportunities in the near future, and that I will be dragged away from Rome when I do find a job. The fear never goes away, but God's promises will always be there to support you. Go for your wildest dreams.
Freshman me, I know that you are starting to get nervous...about everything. I know it is hard to wake up, go to school, and put a smile on your face everyday. I know that sometimes you want to cry, give up, and hide from the world. Trust me, you cannot stop pushing forward. You will experience anxiety, panic attacks, sickness, fear, drama, and you will be so sure that you are on an endless downward spiraling roller coaster. Wait for the day that your coaster cart begins to ascend up, up, up. You will receive so much love, support, and blessings that you will question why you ever worried in the first place. No, the anxiety and fear will not go away, and yes, panic attacks will visit during your most vulnerable times, but focus on the circling beam of light coming from the distant light house. One day, very very soon, you will row right up to its shore, the winds and stormy water behind you.
Freshman me, I know you question your faith. I know that you love God, but that you quest more. You want to know Him deeper, you want to love Him more, you want to be a brighter light for Him. Trust me, God has some big things in store for you. In two summers, you will renew your faith. You will be baptized on your sixteenth birthday. You will lead freshman girls in a Bible study. You will mentor, love on, and inspire two younger girls who will support you, love you, and text you how great you are everyday. You will help them during crucial times in their lives, but they'll teach you so much more. They will inspire you, keep you straight, and you'll never forget their sweet faces. They will be your first real "sisters".
Freshman me, I know you are overwhelmed. I know you want to get involved in EVERYTHING. I know that you want to please your teachers. I know you want to be perfect. Trust me, this will never change. Do as much as you can, but do not over-stress yourself. Cling to two teachers, Mrs. Emily Mowery and Mrs. Jeannettelena Santillan. They will be your "school moms" and will support and love you endlessly. They will want the best for you and encourage you in all your endeavors. They will write you the BEST recommendation letters that no doubt will be the reason that you will be accepted into your dream college.
Freshman me, I know that you feel small. That you feel as though you don't matter. That you are a little bitty fish swimming upstream against the current. Keep fighting. Scream until your voice is heard. Do not let others knock you down. Trust me, one day, when you are a freshman once again, you will be glad that you vouched for yourself. You will honor yourself. You will love yourself. You will lead your peers.
Freshman me, do not worry. These next few years will be scary, they will test you, they will push you to your limits. You will also become so happy, so successful, and will be fully prepared to move on to the next stage of your life.
Last but not least, freshman me, do not stray. Do not let go of the silly, smiling, sweet person that you are. Do not become so wrapped up in this world that you neglect the people that you love. Do not lose track of your goals, your dreams, who you want to be. Do not forget yourself.
So, freshman me, press on. Pray often. Laugh at the cheesiest jokes. Dance to the silliest songs. Write on. Then, in four years, when you get to where I am today, you will finally realize what God's plan for you has been all along.
Sincerely,
Emily, (College) Freshman You
As I write to you, now a freshman in college, I must start off by saying that even though I know more now than I did four years ago, I still do not know it all. Yes, I know, shocking. Usually, I am on top of things. Since August 2010, God has had me in his eyes, his hands molding me to be the most perfect me that I can be. This, however, has come with unforeseen changes, difficult challenges, and incredible opportunities that I would have never imagined, but will never regret.
Freshman me, I know that you want to be a psychologist. I know that you want to attend Georgia Tech and play professional tennis one day, just like your idol Melanie Oudin. I know that you want to be a famous YouTube sensation. I know that you wholeheartedly believe that one day you will marry Justin Bieber. Trust me, God has a different plan for you. Stay open-minded. Go Dawgs.
Freshman me, I know that you've been wronged in the past. I know that it is so hard to trust people after all the drama that you've been through. I know that sometimes you wish you were more "normal" just so those people would have nothing to say about you. Trust me, "normal" has no true definition. Let your guard down and love yourself.
Freshman me, I know that you hate your body. I know that people have called you "fat" and "ugly" and "not cool." I know that all you want is for that cute sophomore boy to notice you, and that you will do anything to feel loved. Trust me, do not lower your standards, for God has an incredible cute sophomore boy named Grant, an incredible future sister and brother named Kendyl and Josh, and so many more blessings coming your way really soon.
Freshman me, I know that it is hard to fit in. I know that you love God, that you love your cheesy Disney Channel shows, and that you love dancing around like a crazy person. I know how hard it is to show your true self despite the negativity and corruption surrounding you. Trust me, just be you. Pray hard. Sing High School Musical at the top of your lungs. Dance crazy IN PUBLIC. One day, you'll meet your best friend who loves to do these things too and you will bond over your weirdness. You will have the most fun you've ever had.
Freshman me, I know that you are worried about your future. I know you want to be successful, marry a perfect man like Justin Bieber (haha just kidding), and that you want to live a life just like a Nicholas Sparks book. I know that you are so scared of what will happen in the next four years, and that you try to act like you have it all figured out. Trust me, I still don't. I have changed my major three times in one month. I am so scared about job opportunities in the near future, and that I will be dragged away from Rome when I do find a job. The fear never goes away, but God's promises will always be there to support you. Go for your wildest dreams.
Freshman me, I know that you are starting to get nervous...about everything. I know it is hard to wake up, go to school, and put a smile on your face everyday. I know that sometimes you want to cry, give up, and hide from the world. Trust me, you cannot stop pushing forward. You will experience anxiety, panic attacks, sickness, fear, drama, and you will be so sure that you are on an endless downward spiraling roller coaster. Wait for the day that your coaster cart begins to ascend up, up, up. You will receive so much love, support, and blessings that you will question why you ever worried in the first place. No, the anxiety and fear will not go away, and yes, panic attacks will visit during your most vulnerable times, but focus on the circling beam of light coming from the distant light house. One day, very very soon, you will row right up to its shore, the winds and stormy water behind you.
Freshman me, I know you question your faith. I know that you love God, but that you quest more. You want to know Him deeper, you want to love Him more, you want to be a brighter light for Him. Trust me, God has some big things in store for you. In two summers, you will renew your faith. You will be baptized on your sixteenth birthday. You will lead freshman girls in a Bible study. You will mentor, love on, and inspire two younger girls who will support you, love you, and text you how great you are everyday. You will help them during crucial times in their lives, but they'll teach you so much more. They will inspire you, keep you straight, and you'll never forget their sweet faces. They will be your first real "sisters".
Freshman me, I know you are overwhelmed. I know you want to get involved in EVERYTHING. I know that you want to please your teachers. I know you want to be perfect. Trust me, this will never change. Do as much as you can, but do not over-stress yourself. Cling to two teachers, Mrs. Emily Mowery and Mrs. Jeannettelena Santillan. They will be your "school moms" and will support and love you endlessly. They will want the best for you and encourage you in all your endeavors. They will write you the BEST recommendation letters that no doubt will be the reason that you will be accepted into your dream college.
Freshman me, I know that you feel small. That you feel as though you don't matter. That you are a little bitty fish swimming upstream against the current. Keep fighting. Scream until your voice is heard. Do not let others knock you down. Trust me, one day, when you are a freshman once again, you will be glad that you vouched for yourself. You will honor yourself. You will love yourself. You will lead your peers.
Freshman me, do not worry. These next few years will be scary, they will test you, they will push you to your limits. You will also become so happy, so successful, and will be fully prepared to move on to the next stage of your life.
Last but not least, freshman me, do not stray. Do not let go of the silly, smiling, sweet person that you are. Do not become so wrapped up in this world that you neglect the people that you love. Do not lose track of your goals, your dreams, who you want to be. Do not forget yourself.
So, freshman me, press on. Pray often. Laugh at the cheesiest jokes. Dance to the silliest songs. Write on. Then, in four years, when you get to where I am today, you will finally realize what God's plan for you has been all along.
Sincerely,
Emily, (College) Freshman You