Hello and welcome back, Hawkeyes!
I hope that everyone had an amazing Summer, and is having a great start to the fall semester.
For any incoming freshman who may stumble upon this, I wanted to give you my advice as a former freshman (aka sophomore).
- Take up space! Don’t be afraid to use your voice and to get involved. It can be nerve-wracking, and you can feel out of place, but this is your home now too. You deserve to be heard.
- Take a deep breath; it’ll be okay. Freshman year especially is challenging on so many different fronts. Days can be long and hard, and it is easy to get overwhelmed. Pause, take a breath, slowly let it out. It is going to be okay. Everyone struggles, and you are never alone.
- Building on my last point, reach out if you need support! Whether that be mental health, academics, or something else. The university has seen it all, and they have amazing programs for when you need a little extra boost.
I hope these are helpful for a new Hawk or a returning Hawk.
I’m so excited to see where the year will go.
Love,
Sophia
