Intro
Dearest Reader,
If this page intrigues you and you want to learn more about your place in the world, congratulations!
You are one of many brilliant, persistent young women who have completed your SATs, ACTs, crossed your “t’s” and dotted your “i’s” to ensure your place at an institution of higher education. If you haven’t begun the process of applying to college yet, don’t worry! You’re either incredibly proactive, or you are still figuring out your path. Perhaps you are uncertain of your future, which is why you’ve applied to several colleges or none at all. This is perfectly normal, as most people change their major at least twice throughout their college careers. You will not be in limbo forever! Hang in there. I promise it will all make sense, perhaps not in the way you expect, but you will find your path with a little help from your support system.
The challenges you have faced leading up to this point are fundamental parts of your story. Keep in mind, however, that your college experience is only the beginning of a long and winding road, complete with twists and turns that will lead you to a better future than one you can imagine for yourself.
If you barely scraped through high school, socially or academically, and now attend a community college, you inspire me. If you participated in multiple extracurricular activities, performed in the school musical and landed a spot on the Dean’s list each semester, I admire the perseverance you show each day. Even if getting out of bed and facing a world that doesn’t accommodate or try to understand you is your greatest accomplishment, you are doing an incredible job. The reason why you have made it this far can be summed up in four powerful words: you have a purpose. You might want to be a therapist who counsels girls on the autism spectrum who have aspirations of their own. You might be inspired by artists, poets or writers who are proficient in both verbal and nonverbal styles of communication. A medical profession may be your end goal, or you might have several passions and are unsure about what your specialization will be. Regardless of your interest, you see a fundamental issue with the world and feel the compulsion, a burning desire, to right it. You want to make your mark, and I encourage you to do exactly that.
I am so proud of you, and I believe in your dream.
For those of you who are avid movie buffs, or who have older siblings in higher education, you know that college is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Everyone who attends a college or university comes from different areas of the country. You will meet students who don’t share your views, but please don’t shy away from them simply because they look or act differently. As individuals, you all share fears, hopes and ambitions. Let that bring you closer to others. If you possess leadership qualities, helping another student adjust to campus life will make you feel a little more secure in your abilities, as well!
The stories you have read about or heard will differ from yours. You might have picked up pieces of advice from numerous people, including friends, family, siblings and counselors. Experience, regardless of whether it’s your own or another’s, is valuable. It can be overwhelming to have so much advice thrown in your direction, but keep in mind that those who share these pieces of advice mean well. They care for you and want you to succeed in your studies as much as you do, if not more.
Let me make one thing clear: I don’t encourage you to throw away all of their advice and to take my word as gospel. Take it all with a grain of salt, and find what resonates with your truth.
We are going to explore several areas of college life in these pages. Feel free to take what is most applicable to you and draw from my personal experiences to ease your transition into this new lifestyle.
Thank you for taking the first step on your journey. You’re going to do fantastic things!
Regards,
Rachel
