Letter to My First-Year Self

Anna Hsia

Dear first-year Anna,  

Coming to the Mount, you thought your routine would look just like it did in high school, very structured and predictable. You honestly thought you would just go to class and practice and then spend the rest of your night in your dorm doing homework.  

For some reason, making and hanging out with friends was not high on your radar, which was weird because you were also very excited to make new friends and redefining yourself. Looking back, there were a lot of nerves about how to balance a new social life while also staying on top of college level schoolwork. 

During your first semester, you will meet many people, try new things and even put yourself out there. This made the first year more memorable and meaningful.

You will learn that you really enjoy your philosophy classes. The readings will feel overwhelming at times. You will also regularly need to reread the same paragraph several times before you finally start to understand it. Math, however, still will not be your favorite class. Some things never change.  

Throughout your time at the Mount, you will also be given many opportunities. Some may look like internships all the way to studying abroad in Italy. Taking advantage of these opportunities will be crucial and especially important for your growth. 

Studying abroad, more specifically, will be one of the best experiences in your college career. It will push you out of your comfort zone, introduce you to new cultures and give you so many memories that you will always remember.   

Looking back, the amount of growth you have experienced over the past few years is crazy to think about. You did not expect that you would grow this much or that your experiences would shape the person you are today. You grew in ways you did not even think were possible and learned so much about yourself. 

A feeling you have recently loved is realizing how much you have grown. It will remind you that time keeps moving, even when it feels like it’s standing still. Even when life feels mundane or stuck, looking back shows me how much change has occurred in the past four years. You should be so proud of yourself.  

Best of luck,  

Senior year Anna