An overdue letter: To our friends at other universities, from here at UCSB
Life is fresh
To my friends at other universities,
We don’t talk as often as we used to, but I’ve seen your life change dramatically since high school through the pictures you post on Facebook and Instagram. Your snapchats give me a glimpse into your new college life, and for just a few seconds, our friendship resurfaces. Your tweets bring me within range of the inner circle you now share with the friends you met dorming on campus last year.
I’m happy to see you are doing well.
I don’t exactly know what college life has been like for you, but if it’s ANYTHING like it is here at UCSB then I’m sure you are having what is arguably the best time of your life. College is a lot different than high school was. There’s more people, more opportunities, and a bit more fun.
For me? Attending a university for two years has taught me more about myself, and the real world, than I had learned in the previous 18 years of my life… I’ll admit that’s a tad dramatic but you get the picture. College is pretty rad.
Like yours, my life has made a few important turns. Since college started:
I’ve developed an interest in music
I’m talking an actual interest in music.
I had never really paid attention to music the way I do now until college started. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but what I’ve come to learn about music is that for every mood you’re in, there exists a song that reflects those same emotions. There’s something really cool about songs you can relate to on multiple levels. If you haven’t picked up your ear buds in a while, don’t be afraid to do so and listen to something new.
Having a broad music taste can never be a bad thing.
I’ve picked up a new hobby
I’m not too sure what hobbies you’ve picked up, but with a beach on campus I felt like I had to give surfing a shot. I’m not saying I’m good by any means, but since the opportunity is there – I try and make use of it while I can. If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far in college, it’s that more free time means having greater freedom when it comes to pursuing the things we’re interested in.
I hope that like I have, you are still pursuing your interests and have found interesting ways to spend your newly acquired free time.
I’ve joined Greek life
Like many of my college friends, and like some of you have, I made the decision to “go Greek.” I’m sure you would agree when I say that joining a Greek organization was one of the best decisions I could have made when coming to such a large university. Greek life makes UCSB a little bit smaller. It’s kind of like our high school friend group, but a lot bigger.
Whatever your friend group looks like now, I’m glad you have one. Those are the people that’ll have your back if for some reason, things go downhill and you end up in a position where you have to use your right to a phone-call.
I’ve finished watching The Office on Netflix
I finally finished it, and it was awesome. If sarcasm is your thing, and you’ve never seen it – I would highly recommend it.
I’m sure throughout college you’ve come across some good cinematic recommendations and I hope to hear them at some point in the near future. I hope you still choose to fill some of your free time with a relatively unhealthy amount of Netflix…because if not then I have some serious life reflecting to do.
I’ve become more socially aware
I don’t know about you, but as a college student, I’ve realized I want to know about the world around me. Politics, the economy, breaking news, whatever – I need to know what’s going on.
Admittedly, most of my daily news consumption occurs via theSkimm, but hey – I’m working on it.
I’ve found a home on the beach.
DP living is something else.
I can’t think of another place in the world where walking around with 7 of your friends at 1 a.m. carrying an inflatable whale would be considered acceptable, but maybe there’s a few places that evade me. Either way, I have realized after moving to college that for 9 months a year, I am grounded in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. From what I’ve seen on social media, you feel the same way about your university and college town.
I’m stoked to see the next phase of your life underway.
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If I don’t hear from you directly, that’s okay. I’ll probably just assume what I have been – that you’re busy, happy, and trying to gather together the shambles-of-a-life you sometimes live thanks to college. If I do hear from you, then I look forward to catching up. Although we may not talk too much anymore, I do still hope your life is coming together the way you’d like it to.
Hopefully, both of ours come together before finals week.
From,
A friend at UCSB
P.S. I’m sorry this letter is so overdue…I’ve also become quite the procrastinator since college started.