Letter to Incoming Freshmen

Dear Incoming Freshman,

You are about to embark on a four (or five or however long it may take) year journey. This journey will teach you a lot about yourself, other people, and life. You are going to college to prepare yourself what lies ahead in the world. That said, the main point of college is to teach you how to learn. You only get out of it what you put in. Either you or someone else is paying a lot of money for you to get your education so this isn’t the time to clown around. High school is over and you are going to get a wake-up call real quick. Now is the time to make that transition into college, especially if you came from a high school like Oliver. Your high school did not prepare you for college as they should have and you will suffer because of it. However, do not let that slow your progress. You need to catch up to where everyone else is at or you will be left behind. I would like to give you some advice that will help you through this phase of your life.

1. School is serious business. This is not the time for partying; this is the time to learn. You will have time to party after you get out of school and have a decent well-paying job.
2. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!! You do not want to fall behind because once you do, you cannot catch up. Try to stay ahead when possible and do not wait until the night before an assignment due to do it. It will not get done. At least start 5 days in advance. If it is a paper, start at least 3 weeks in advance unless told otherwise by your professor.
3. Professors are not teachers!! Your professor doesn’t give a d*** about you. Their job is to make money for the school and for themselves. They do not care whether or not you show up for class and they do not care whether you pass or fail. It is your responsibility to do what you need to do to get the appropriate grades. Your professor will not guide you by the hand or baby you like your teachers did in high school. You will address them with Ma’am, Sir, Professor, Doctor, etc… You will show them the appropriate respect.
4. Colleges do not deal with thugs. You will not look like a thug, especially if you are black. I would prefer if you would dress casually everyday (dress pants, matching dress shirt/polo, dress socks, dress shoes) but you do not have to. Do not wear jerseys, baseball caps, do-rags, earrings, and do not wear your pants below your waist. No on wants to see your underwear. If your pants/shorts go below your waist, put on a belt to hold them up; that’s what they are for. If you are a male, no braids and afros. You will have little to no hair on your head. You will be cleanly shaven daily. Do not associate with thugs for they will hold you back.
5. Do not talk or act like you are uneducated. At college, they speak English, not Ebonics or whatever you speak out in the street. If you cannot speak English, buy a dictionary.
6. Have respect for yourself and for everyone else. NO SEX!!! Do not even think about. The consequences from having sex are too much for you to handle. You could either get a STD or have a baby before you are ready and be forced to drop out of school. Females, do not wear revealing clothes for most males are horny bastards. Don’t give them any thoughts. NO DRUGS AND NO ALCOHOL. These have devastating effects on yourself, your friends, your family, and your grades. Do not put yourself in such a position. You could get arrested and land in jail, or end up having sex and getting a female pregnant or get a STD.
7. Keep God first. Find a good church that believes in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, His acts on this Earth, His death on the cross, and His resurrection 3 days later. Buy 2 bibles, a King James Version and a study bible, preferably King James however New King James and New International versions are acceptable. Read them DAILY. That is 7 days a week. I also recommend reading Letters to Young Black Men by Daniel Whyte III. This has proven to be very inspirational and it will help guide you along with your bible.
8. College food isn’t necessarily the best thing for you. Eat with caution.
9. Exercise daily to avoid the Freshman 15 (yes it is real). Remember that you don’t have physical education classes anymore so it is on you to stay in shape.
10. Your faith in God will be tested. Keep focused. Remember that the Bible says that homosexuality is wrong. It has always been wrong and it will always be wrong.
11. Do not pull an all-nighter. Make sure to get plenty of sleep every night. Be in bed by midnight.
12. Books aren’t cheap. Be prepared for sticker shock.
13. Make sure you have money toiletries when you get to school. Make sure you have soap, wash cloths, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, face wash, shaving cream, and razor blades.
14. Unless you school has free laundry, have plenty of quarters. Laundry is not cheap. Also make sure you have laundry detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. Do not do laundry on weekends; that’s when everyone else does it. You may need to do laundry weekly so try to do it at the same time every week.
15. People living in dorms are slobs. Have hand sanitizers with you always and unless you are in bed, always have shoes or sandals on your feet.
16. Life isn’t easy nor is it fair. You have to be ready to be in it for the long haul. At some points, it may look bleak but you have to keep rolling.
17. You don’t have to choose your major right away. You might not know what you want to do and that’s okay. Remember that college is for discovering yourself. Just make sure to choose before it is too late. Don’t switch in your 3^rd, 4^th, or later years. By then it is too late and you have forked over too much money.
18. Keep applying for scholarships via fastweb.com. You can never have too much money.

I hope these words of encourage will help you not only through college but through your later years as well. Heed these words advice and you will make it. Ignore and you are doomed to fail.

Sincerely,

Robert Underwood

Robert Underwood