Commencement

A Letter to my Freshman Year Self

Graduating senior Kelsey Martirano reflects on everything she wishes she knew freshman year

Dear Freshman Year Self, Well, we’ve almost made it. The all-nighters studying for exams, early mornings at BUTV10, and afternoons with friends at the BU Pub are swiftly nearing their end. Walking across the stage in Agganis Arena in my bright red cap and gown will no longer be a figment of my imagination but rather a date in next month’s calendar. It’s difficult to wrap my head around since the classroom has been an unwavering constant in my life for as long as I can remember. Come May 21st, the countless chapters that have led to this moment will close, and a new, unknown will open. So, before I say my final farewell and thank you to Commonwealth Avenue and all of the previous schools, teachers, and classmates that have led me to this moment, I would like to give some unsolicited advice to my freshman year self.

While I could warn you to sign up for your courses as soon as possible or tell you that your academic advisor will become the greatest resource as you change your major a handful of times, I won’t; you’ll learn all that on your own. However, I can tell you that it is rare for things in college to stay the same, and that’s okay. 

If there is one thing I’ve learned these past four years, it is that change should be expected and welcomed. From classes and majors to friends and relationships, so much will change over your college years, and as cliche as it sounds, it’s true – just look back at how much you have evolved from the beginning to the end of high school. Now, you’re a transfer student at Boston University, living on your own, in an unfamiliar city with a roommate you met through a Facebook group. It all sounds rather terrifying, especially being new during a pandemic, and it is. Nonetheless, it will end up being better than you could’ve thought, even if it doesn’t go at all how you have planned.

Now I’m finding myself to sound somewhat cliche, so here’s some more nitty-gritty advice to know. First, it’s okay to sit in the dining hall or GSU alone; I promise nobody is judging you. Second, if you want to make friends with your classmates, you’ll have to reach out; over 30,000 students go to BU, so you’ll have to make an effort to meet some. Lastly, get to know your professors; they can provide excellent advice and insight into your field of study or just general career guidance.

 As you embark on the next four years, take a moment to reflect on all that got you to where you are now. Freshman year (and the rest) will fly by. Remember how fast high school seemed to go by? College somehow goes by even faster. 

Looking back at myself at 18 years old, moving into my freshman year dorm, I see a faint, distant version of me that’s since drastically evolved. Since that blazing August move-in day in 2019, a lot has happened. I’ve endured a global pandemic, attended countless classes, submitted thousands of assignments, gained new friends, traveled throughout Europe while studying abroad, worked various jobs, and even participated in a handful of campus clubs and organizations. And somehow, that is just the tip of the iceberg. With all that being said, enjoy it.  Enjoy all of the late nights and early mornings, the times when you miss the BU bus and are stuck in horrible weather. Enjoy the days when you and your friends cannot find a single empty washing machine in your dorm on laundry day. Enjoy the great days and the less-than-perfect ones. It’s all temporary and will be a fond memory as you venture into your next chapter. So, for now, thank you Boston University, and congratulations seniors!