Dear freshman-year Amy,

As I remember you, the world still feels too big to step into with both feet. You’re worried about a lot of things—probably your GPA, which classes to take, whether or not your friends and teachers like you, maybe even how likely it is that you’ll get into your dream school. You are empty and full at the same time, and nothing has been determined, which is a curse and blessing all at the same time.

I get that everything feels huge right now. I get that you’re not sure of which words to use and when to use them. You’re probably overthinking a text to a friend or how you ended a conclusion to an English assignment. You’re probably worrying about your classes and the people in them, your friends and the not-yet friends that you’re not so sure about. 

And that’s understandable. For now, the seeds to your long-term growth have barely taken root yet. After all, you’ve joined The Nexus but you haven’t found your voice in it, and you’ve met people you’ll be best friends with, but your relationships just aren’t quite there yet. You’ve already met Mr. Wenger, but you’re still scared of him, and you’ve brainstormed ideas for a first article even if you haven’t started writing it. You’re hopeful about heartbreak even if you’ve never experienced it, and you’re so young, so scared of what’s yet to come, of what people think of you, of what a teacher might comment on an essay you weren’t even quite sure how to write.

For now, just focus on enjoying the ride. The people you meet become your family and the places you go become your home—L104 and Bob’s couch will eventually be familiar, even comfortable. Because what you don’t know yet will one day make you happier than you can even imagine—there are things that you care about that won’t matter and there are people that you don’t like right now that someday you’ll care about infinitely. 

So be patient, Amy, and be kind to yourself. Savor the moments when you’re in L104 just learning what it means to write a feature, when you’re laughing so hard with your friends in the parking lot that you can’t breathe, when you’re curled up in bed at 1 a.m., experiencing the true definition of liminal space in a way that only sleep deprivation and APUSH can provide. 

So don’t worry so much. Don’t overthink things that don’t matter, and don’t be afraid to take risks. Try new things, take hard classes, and make friends with the people who scare you.

Step into the world! Jump forward! The best is yet to come.

Love,

Amy