Letter to Senior Self

Dear Senior Self,

I did it! I made it through my freshman year!

I wasn’t sure how I was going to adjust to college life however, I adjusted very quickly and loved every second of it. The first semester I struggled to keep my grades up, but the second semester I pulled myself together to finish with all A’s and make the Dean’s list. I joined the club volleyball team and made friends that will last a lifetime. There were times that I became really homesick, but a facetime or trip home for the weekend made me feel a lot better. Throughout this year I have learned how to be more independent, which was very important to me coming into my freshman year. I am a very shy person however, throughout the year I have learned how to become more outgoing which is a huge improvement for me. What made me the happiest this year was realizing that I chose the correct major, as I enjoyed my major classes and they seemed to be the easiest. This year was full of both personal and professional growth and I can’t wait to hopefully return back to Longwood in the fall.

Club Volleyball! Joining club volleyball was the best decision I made this year. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to try out at first, but I’m very glad I did. It has allowed me to stay active and healthy throughout the year as well as make a ton of new friends. Both the girls and guys volleyball teams have become family to me and I can’t wait for my next three years on the team! The best part about volleyball is it allowed me to meet Grace who is now one of my best friends who I know I can always count on. We became so close that we decided to be roommates! Without club volleyball my year wouldn’t have been the same.

This year didn’t end the way I expected but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. About halfway through the second semester all students were sent home due to the coronavirus. All classes were switched to online and both the students and faculty had to adjust along the way. It was a huge change as to how we were learning the information for each class and I was really upset I wouldn’t be allowed back at my new home for at least the rest of the year. Moving home was a huge and unexpected change that was hard to deal with. I really missed being able to make my own decisions along with my friends. All of my friends have continued to stay in contact, which made being quarantined just a little bit easier.

I hope that by the time I’m a senior, I will continue to work hard at everything I am a part of. Alongside working hard, I hope that I will join many different extracurricular activities and continue to learn about the major I am passionate about. This year was a good start, and I feel ready to take on the rest of my college career.