YOU DID IT ! !

Dear FutureMe, Hello! HAPPY GRADUATION!! Congrats, you badass :) 🍾 I'm so proud of you. You did the **** thing. You made it. Weird to read a letter from your freshman self, right? I think the main reason I'm doing this is to reassure myself that everything will be alright (and I know it will), and also to remind myself to enjoy my college years (particularly freshman lol) while they last. Seeing as I just wrote a very long letter to myself regarding the freshman experience so far that I can always look back on, I think this one will be pretty short. Or perhaps I'll write one at the end of this semester to compare those dates which will be weird :) then I'll have two to read! I'll think about it or see if I can even remember lol. If anything I know I'll have this one. Hopefully that's enough for me heheh Anyways, freshman year as its own thing has been mostly very cool. My mental and physical well-being certainly hasn't been the greatest, but I still feel incredibly grateful and lucky to be here and have had SO many cool experiences so far (and hopefully 10x more by the time I've opened and read this!) I just know that the time will fly by from now to then - It may not feel like it day to day, but I know that come graduation I'll be looking back on freshman move-in like it was yesterday :) Even as you enter the "real world," be sure to cherish every moment, spend so much time with/ care for the ones you love, especially your family, and never forget to remind them how much you love them every day. I just know they're so proud of you. I also hope that I worked hard and earned my stars and that I made an effort to make myself known, be creative, make friends and connections, and enjoy myself, most of all. At this point, I really can't imagine pursuing anything else (and I really hope I made the right choice!) Knowing myself, this letter may likely either empower the **** out of me or fully bring me to tears. Who knows? If anything, I just hope you're happy. Life isn't over just because college is. I hope I know that. I don't think it's "just beginning" at all either, but not to worry, you still have so many AMAZING things ahead of you (that is granted I didn't **** up, which would be highly unfortunate. and if I did, hopefully, I can work something out?? But I'm going to assume I got my **** together and did it because I KNOW I CAN) and now a few fun facts.... I start prozac today (lol), how did that go? Are you on meds? Do you still exercise? Even if I'm not fully stable, I hope I've found a solid support system and a way to feel comfortable and happy in life. I hope my parents are doing well, and my brothers too, particularly as James will be a junior in college by this point, and Miles will be graduating high school right around now for you which is insane to think about!! How's Liz? Did she ever find the one?? She deserves nothing but love. They all do. The most lovely souls and most beautiful family I could've ever asked for (this sounds weird and spiritual as hell but istg I'm just tryna get real hahah) Keep pushing. Remember that failure is good, especially in your position. Keep in touch with your friends - both in and out of college. And on that note, those ones from college will likely be your co-workers soon, so reach out, and be kind to them all. I don't want to beat around the bush anymore so I'm going to sign off and hit send now. Best of luck to you Laura. I know you got this. Please build a bright future for this little 18 year old freshman to look forward to - I know you can do it! All my love (which you should always keep - love yourself always :)), College Freshman Laura (11/10/2022 - almost the end of first semester) <3