thinking

being a college student

When I was leaving for college, all of the adults in my life told me that it was a time of new beginnings, wonderful friendships, and joyous discoveries. And there have been plenty of those moments! But no one told me how difficult it would be - and is. So, to any of you headed off to college, here's my grad card to you.

You will fail. You will fail, and fail, and fail.  You will fail in numerous ways. You will fail in ways that didn't seem possible. You will be tired, and hungry, and cranky, and sad. You will say the right thing to the wrong person -and worse, the wrong thing to the right person. You will disappoint your friends and your parents. You will make mistakes. You will bomb tests and papers and maybe even a class.  You will hurt the people you love, sometimes on purpose and mostly on accident. You will (occasionally) be a bad roommate. You will be rejected - by your crush, by professors, on the hunt for summer internships and job prospects. And that's just fine. 

What I am trying to tell you is that you will fail. Again, and again. And it will be awful. And this is an integral part of the college experience, even though we don't like to talk about it. What I am also trying to tell you is that it is okay. That all of this failure sucks - really, truly sucks - and it is also so incredibly normal. 

So. There will be those days when it takes an incredible amount of strength to leave your bed and face the world. And you will do it, and that is something to be proud of, as much as any test grade. Remember, dear friend- that I too, am proud of you. That there are so very many people in your corner, and who love you regardless of what you accomplish, and will love you throughout all of your failures. You are not less of a person because of anything you fail at. I promise. 

making time for yourself

At some point during your college years, you'll look around and ask yourself - "What the hell am I doing here?"

This will probably happen more than once, if I'm being frank. 

find some hobbies (an impassioned plea)

At some point during your college years, you'll look around and ask yourself - "What the hell am I doing here?"

This will probably happen more than once, if I'm being frank.