Welcome to Vic, and take a second to pat yourself on the back! You’ve survived high school and made it to one of the top universities in the country. You owe yourself some major congratulations for that, and you also owe it to yourself to keep that in mind over the next year. You got here, and that alone is an accomplishment.
Some of you are going to love Frosh Week and will look back on it with fondness. Some of you are going to hate every moment of it and will worry that the rest of your undergrad is going to feel as isolating in its fake positivity. Both experiences are valid. The only thing I can tell you with complete certainty is that the way you feel about Frosh Week will not in any way affect the overall success of your undergrad.
If you’re anything like myself, you’re going to do a lot of idiotic and questionable things over the next few weeks, months, and probably years of your undergraduate degree. Terrible, mortifying, disappointing things are going to happen to you. But many great and exciting things are going to occur in equal and definitely more frequent turn. After three years at this at times unforgiving institution, I can say with confidence that everything (essay writing, socializing, class participation, extra-curricular activities) becomes easier. The not-so-great stuff will roll off, all those terrible decisions will become hilarious in hindsight, and the good times will become more regular and recognizable.
Don’t worry about being a number. Your ten-digit student number is going to become as natural to remember as your own name, and there’s nothing wrong with that. There are 30,000 undergrads at this school—of course you’re going to find your people! I’m excited for you all to make mistakes, learn, and get comfortable in your stride.
I couldn’t be happier that my once-Froshie voice found a home at The Strand. I hope that yours can, too. But hey, don’t let me tell you what to do with your time at Vic. It’s all yours.
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