Congratulations! You’re here. While tons of schools moved classes completely online this fall, you’ve gotten lucky. Welcome to the best kept secret in Alabama, and a place full of people who care about you more than your dollar. 

Last year, I wrote an open letter to freshmen titled “You’re probably going to hate it here (at first)” where I encouraged freshmen to stay on campus over the weekends, make new friends and find out what you’re really interested in. I stand by this advice. It might feature a mask and some outdoor events with social distancing, but I guarantee you’ll be happier if you take it. 

I’ll tell you a secret: college doesn’t start off very fun. You’ve been told your entire life “these are the best years of your life!” Most of the time, people who tell you this aren’t remembering their freshman heartache and homesickness. Especially now, it’s scary to be on your own. But taking care of yourself, your health and wellness can help you quell those fears. 

When you start college, you start to think about all different kinds of things you never thought about before. Are you drinking enough water during the day? Probably not. Are you eating enough vegetables? Absolutely not. Are you sleeping at normal hours? Try to shoot for around midnight if not earlier. Are you in need of exercise? A light walk around campus in the evening works!

We’re being reminded of our physical health everywhere we turn and wellness is an integral, and often overlooked, part of health. Parenting yourself well when you first leave home will give you good habits to carry you throughout your life. And what better time to work on your health than now?

All this being said, mental health is another huge piece of your wellness puzzle. That means making new friends and trying new things. This year might look like making more friends through your classes than clubs. Instead of sitting inside at Starbucks, rent some sanitized kayaks from the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) and spend time outside on Cypress Creek. 

Starting college feels like riding an emotional rollercoaster during a “presented” year. It’s normal to miss home; you won’t be the only one who does. Embrace that! Know that you can always go back there if you’re ever in need. Your next mission? Make UNA your home. It’s the most effective way to get over the beginning college blues.

I spent my first few weeks eating alone, feeling alone, crying, then calling my family. Even though I knew everyone else was in a similar boat, I struggled to make friends I felt connected to. The choice I was faced with left me two options. I could spend the rest of the semester miserable, or I could go out for anything that interested me and see what stuck. My own experience with sorority recruitment had left me disenchanted so what else did I have to lose?

At times, it felt like I was the only one struggling to find my place. Social media made my friend’s lives look near perfect, but a quick phone call or text revealed they too struggled just as much. Stop believing everything you see Instagram, but more importantly, stop letting it make you feel inferior. Everyone progresses at their own pace: life is not a race.

One of the best things I did freshman year of college was work to be my own best friend. It’s a journey I’m still on, it’s tough and it doesn’t happen overnight. Instead of criticizing yourself or others or the situation, try working on changing your attitude. If you think “coronavirus will ruin my college experience,” then it absolutely will. When you reframe your thoughts from a place of gratitude watch magic happen around you. 

You’re here to learn. You’re going to grow. The class of 2020 has already shown so much resilience, patience and flexibility that maybe we should be looking to you as our example. We’re happy to have you. 

Welcome home.