I remember going as a freshman to an entirely new country-I spent three years in London between 1993 and 1996.I was totally excited and utterly terrified, just like most of you are feeling now.. But in all honesty, it turned out to be one of the best times of my life. The first few weeks may be scary, but after that, it becomes an amazing ride.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. Until now, you’ve probably been put in a box by your family, friends, teachers, or community. Maybe you were the nerdish bookworm like I was, or the quiet one, or perhaps the joker of your class. No matter what box you’ve been placed in, it has likely defined your place in life up to this point. I know how hard it is to break free from these labels and escape what others have defined for you. But college is one of the most important reset buttons you’ll ever get.
At Purdue, everything will be different. You’re going to a new place with new people. As an international student, none of your new peers will know or care about who you were in the past. Everyone will only see who you are now. If you had a tough time in school, now is your chance to start afresh. No one knows what box you were in. You get to choose what new role you will play on the grandest stage of your life so far. Will you remain what you were always told you were, or will you finally discard that ill-fitting costume and transform into the super-hero you’ve always wanted to be?
For many, high school is a stressful and traumatic time, with years of cramming classes and extracurricular activities just to boost a college application. Here at Purdue, unlike in high school, your grades alone will not define your future- the connections you make and experiences you have will make a huge impact on your life.
From the moment you land, you’ll only get as much as you put in. While a lot of BGR/BGRi will expose you to new opportunities on or around campus, it’s up to you to make an effort to get to know Purdue. In your BGR group, there will be people who might call the BGR dance “cringe” or who prefer to sleep in until noon instead of going to social activities. Don’t listen to them. I know how terrifying it can be to put yourself out there in front of so many strangers, but I promise you that just by making an attempt, you’ll gain the respect and friendship of countless people around you.
The start of your freshman year will have its ups and downs, but it can, and will be, so much fun- if you let yourself go. Maybe it was not the perfect ideal start you wanted. But remember- nothing can change your housing assignment or get rid of the butterflies in your stomach from a brand-new environment, so your best bet is to come into this with an open mind. Go to BGR, do the silly dances, run through the fountains, go to football games, meet your floor-mates and as many other people as you can, join clubs, get involved in events, and explore the campus. It may be scary at first, but once Purdue starts to feel like home, things will become much easier (and you’ll never want to leave).
For the first time in your life, you will have independence, make new friends, find out who you are outside of your family, live as an adult, and will have no one else but yourself to push you academically. But as Peter Parker was told, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Your parents have worked their whole lives to give you something very few get—an education at a world-class US university. By the time you’re through, they will have spent almost a quarter of a million dollars on you, so make them proud! They want nothing more than to see you set up for the future.
The next four years will be a journey of self-discovery. You will stumble and occasionally trip on the way. But it doesn’t matter how hard you fall; what matters is how quickly you get up. Purdue will teach you a lot, much of it outside the classroom. You will learn so much about yourself during university. Your experiences here will shape you, like a sculptor chipping away at a marble block, until the real YOU emerges.
When I look back at my university years, I always feel nostalgic. You’ll meet people here, as I did, who will become your friends for the rest of your life, and you’ll make connections that could help define your future. Don’t waste the opportunities you are given—Make the most of it.
To quote A.A. Milne, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh.
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