An Open Letter to College Freshman Kids: Survive First, Thrive Later

With the college school year slowly closing, our college freshmen may need a little space to think about what they’ve experienced

To our college freshmen kids,

With the school year slowly winding down, many college freshmen find themselves needing something that doesn’t always get talked about: space. Space to think about what just happened. Space to sit with what college actually is—versus what everyone said it would be.

We know college sounded exciting after high school. For some, it promised freedom. Finally, no one telling me what to do. For others, it felt like the official first step toward a dream career—lawyer, doctor, engineer, take your pick. And for those coming from homeschooling, it may have felt downright terrifying.

Not just for you—but for us parents, too.

Maybe it’s because the battlefield’s changed?

College today looks nothing like the one we remember. Classes are hybrid. Homework lives on learning platforms. Professors rotate faster than ever. Teaching, like all passion-driven professions, comes with burnout—and that reality shows.

What hasn’t changed? The social dynamics.

Every batch still has its future kings and queens—students who enter college ready to reinvent themselves. Most of them learn quickly that professors are unimpressed by ego. That lesson arrives early and unceremoniously.

And that’s okay.

Your job right now isn’t to dominate college. It’s to survive it. Honors are a bonus, not a requirement. Putting that pressure on yourself from day one is unnecessary weight. Everyone starts from a different line—and yours is valid, wherever it is.

Your friends don’t always have to be the ones you came with

Freshmen are grouped into blocks, but those won’t necessarily be your forever friends. Many of us barely talk to our original blockmates anymore—and that’s normal.

Look around. Join a club. Try something new. You’ll find your clan eventually. College has a way of revealing who grows under pressure and who doesn’t. What matters is what you choose to make of those moments.

And one more thing: always be friendly with the administrative staff. Whether it’s the secretary in the department or even the janitor, they help you—even if it inconveniences them. Be nice. Sometimes, they offer the most useful college survival tips ever.

If you’re going to take risks, make sure they’re calculated.

We know there will come a time when our advice won’t be followed. That’s part of growing up. If you’re going to take risks, just make sure they’re calculated.

Prepare. Think ahead. Cover your bases.

There’s a line from The Rookie that applies perfectly here: ACH—Anything Can Happen.

It’s also the sound you make when you weren’t ready.

This is your time now. Own it.

Letting you go is hard. Not because we don’t trust you—but because we don’t trust the world. Some people are careless. Others are cruel simply because they can be.

So hear this clearly: a temporary retreat is allowed. Coming home to breathe, reset, and steady yourself is always okay. Giving up, however, is not the plan.

This is your season now. Own it.
And when the world gets too loud—or too heavy—come home.

We don’t mind at all.

Love,

Mom and Dad

More about college life for kids?

Your College Kids Need To Attend At Least One College Dorm Party
The Easy Drinking Guide for College Kids
A Letter To Parents Who Have College Freshmen For Kids: “It’s Okay, Letting Go Is Hard”