A Letter To A College Freshman….

Dear Freshman,

Congratulations! You made it through 13 years of an education that was mostly laid out for you. Now you are an adult, and it’s your turn to choose for yourself. Everyone tells you to choose wisely, and they never hesitate to give their opinions. Regardless of what you choose academically, you will be fine and will most likely figure it out in time.

I want to talk about your social education. You might be away at school or still in the place you grew up, but either way you are testing the independence that comes with being 18. What does it actually mean to be 18, and why is that the age chosen to call you an adult? At 18, mostly because of history, politics, and social convenience rather than biology, you are considered an adult. In reality, having an 18‑year‑old brain means your prefrontal cortex is still developing, and that affects your impulse control and your ability to plan ahead.

This is important to understand because you will feel ready for freedom long before your brain finishes building the systems that help you pause, think, and choose wisely. You are capable, smart, and growing fast, but you are also in a stage where excitement, pressure, and new environments can push you toward quick decisions. Slowing yourself down for even a moment gives your brain the chance to catch up. It is not about limiting yourself. It is about protecting the future you are working so hard to create.

You are stepping into a world full of freedom, and I want you to enjoy it without losing yourself in the process. Protect your body by avoiding situations that can leave you hurt, sick, pregnant, or carrying something you cannot undo. Protect your heart by knowing that some relationships will feel huge and still end, and that heartbreak is part of growing up, not a sign you did anything wrong. You deserve to move through college with your health, your safety, and your future intact, so make choices that keep you here to experience all the good that is coming.

Yours truly,

A Former Freshman