Dear Freshman Bridget,
There is no way to encapsulate what you will experience during these upcoming four years in a few paragraphs. Hell, even a novel probably would not be sufficient. So, I am going to give you a snapshot of each year. Of what you will experience, feel, and believe to be true. And then I will add my wisdom, a glimpse of the future. Here it goes…
Freshman Year: There will be a time this year when you think you have it all figured you. You will say goodbye to that shy girl from high school and jump right into everything. You will make close friends on the first day, you will do well in your classes, you will kiss cute boys, and you will realize the dangers of Burnett’s. You will think you have it all figured out.
Spoiler alert: HA. I’m sorry, but I had to laugh. This high will come to a crashing halt. You will lose close friends, you will struggle in some of your classes, you will have your heart broken and break some hearts, and you will realize the dangers of Burnett’s over and over and over again. You will realize you do not have anything figured out. Eventually, you will realize that’s ok.
Sophomore Year: There will be a time (actually, several times, sorry) this year when you will be sitting on a bench alone at around one a.m., thinking that you are completely and utterly alone. Thinking that you have no place to go and no one to call. Thinking about all of the mistakes you have made so far, mistakes that seem irreparable and catastrophic. Thinking that Georgetown might not be the place for you after all.
Spoiler alert: Everything is going to be fine. You will quickly realize just how many caring people you have in your life. Go to them. Those mistakes you made? They are reparable. In fact, they may not be mistakes at all. They may actually be leading you in the right direction. Away from people, places, and things that make you unhappy and toward the ones that help you shine. You will realize that Georgetown is exactly where you need to be and where you want to be.
Junior Year: There will be a time this year when you realize you are finally exactly where you are supposed to be. You will become closer with old friends and make some amazing new friends. You will realize you love psychology but hate research. You will vow to stop drinking Burnett’s (seriously, it took you long enough). You will not study abroad, and you will eventually be ok with it. You will start to realize that your path does not have to look like anyone else’s path.
Spoiler alert: You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Those friends? They are your friends for life. You still hate research. Smart to figure that out early. You will drink Burnett’s again (seriously, stop). You will no longer regret not studying abroad. It was probably one of the best decisions you ever made. Your path will not look anything like your peers’, and you will question it. But you will soon realize it is the right path for you.
Senior Year: There will be a time this year when you are walking back to Burleith alone from class (let’s be real, it was probably the Tombs), and you will look around you and smile. You will see Healy in the distance, hear the clock striking one. You will pass by the familiar townhouses and eventually stumble upon your door. You will be so unbelievably happy that you will want to cry. You will think of how far you have come and how far you have to go. You will wonder how you will ever leave this magical place.
Spoiler alert: It will be difficult, but you will leave. They tend to make you do that after you graduate. Rude, I know. You will move back home and go to graduate school. You will make new friends and start a career that you are passionate about. So yes, you will leave. Physically. But really, part of you will never leave the Hilltop. No matter how far you travel, Georgetown is still your home and always will be.
Hoya Saxa forever,
Bridget