Coming into college, I had so many unrealistic expectations and false ideas of what my undergraduate experience would be like. I thought that I would have a seamless transition into the college world, I thought that I would be a stellar student who got good grades easily and managed time effectively, and that I would know exactly what I wanted to do with “the rest of my life.” However, it turns out that my romanticized fantasy of what college would be like did not translate to reality. Being that I am now a senior and graduation day is approaching, I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to take some time and give my freshman self some advice that I wish she knew at the time. Maybe this advice can be of help to any freshmen or students who are reading this.
The first piece of advice that I would give is to stop doubting yourself. Usually in the midst of doubt there is a lot of fear and anxiety that causes individuals to second guess themselves, forfeit great opportunities, and not operate at their full potential. I realized that there were some amazing opportunities that I missed out on because I constantly doubted myself and did not believe that I was capable. It was not until my junior year where I realized that all along God gave me everything that I needed to be successful, and that I should not allow doubt to stop me from taking advantage of opportunities that will contribute to my growth and future success.
The second piece of advice that I have is do not overwork or overwhelm yourself to prove that you can. Throughout my undergraduate experience, I always felt like I needed to prove myself. I thought that by proving myself to others, they would think that I was a “great student” who had it all together and was involved in her school community. Looking back, I can see that I took on more than I could handle when it came to courseload and extracurricular activities. Because I was extremely overwhelmed and burnt out, my physical and mental health declined and grades suffered. You are already worthy, so you do not need to paint a picture for others that you are a super amazing human being. All you have to do is your best with what you can handle in the current season that you are in.
The third piece of advice that I would give is to be present and more intentional with your time. College goes by so fast that you can forget to embrace and experience every moment. Being present and making the most of your time in college will help you to look back with more joy than regret. Another thing is that time waits for no one, so use it wisely. Do your work, study when you do not want to but know you need to, grab lunch or dinner with a friend when you both are available, exercise and make time for yourself. I wish I understood the importance of time.
The fourth piece of advice that I have is do not shrink yourself; take up space. I dealt with, and sometimes still deal with, imposter syndrome. During the times where I was not doing well in my classes, I felt like a major fraud. However, I realized in adopting this toxic mindset, I felt small, so I played small. I did not ask for help as much as I should have, I threw self-pity parties, and I was okay with being the victim in my story. It has taken me a long time to see that I belong here at Andrews University. God placed each and every one of us here on this campus for a reason. We are all afforded the opportunity to take up space, adopt healthy habits, seek accountability and wisdom, and accomplish our dreams and goals.
The fifth piece of advice that I would give is to exercise in any capacity, whether that is working out at the gym or going on a walk around campus. When you are able to, go outside or to the gym and move your body. Moving your body can improve your mental health and mood as well as help you with becoming stronger.
Lastly and most importantly, I would tell freshman Kayla to always run to God with all of my problems. Prayer and being in God’s word is key, having conversations with God about issues in your life will overall make you feel better. I am reminded of 1 Peter 5:7, which states, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” God wants you to come to Him with all of your problems because He will surely handle your situation. The best thing to do is pray and go to God more than you worry and overthink.
Honestly, reader, I want you to know that it is okay to not have everything figured out. I certainly did not have everything figured out when I started my undergraduate experience at Andrews. Even in approaching the end of my undergraduate experience, I still do not have everything figured out. I am realizing that that is a part of the journey, embracing the unknown, allowing God to order your steps and trusting the plans He has for your life. Although, I sometimes wish that I could travel back in time and give my younger self this advice. I am grateful for the experiences that have stretched me and have helped me to be able to give this advice to the person who is reading this.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.