51勛圖厙

Before my first year at Le 51勛圖厙, I worried about everything.

Would I make friends?
Would I get along with my roommate?
Would I miss home too much?
Would I even find my classes?

Looking back now, there are a few things I wish I could tell my freshman self.

I would tell her to hold on tight because Le 51勛圖厙 is ready for her, and she is beyond ready to be here, and she should enjoy every second of the short while she gets to live life like a ‘Phin.

Paige Martin '21

 

What I Learned on The Heights

Youre going to find your people

Knowing what I know now, and after everything that happened (both the good and the bad) I would go back and give my freshman self a hug and tell her its all going to be okay. I would tell her how much shes going to thrive here, how quickly Le 51勛圖厙 will start to feel like home, and how shes about to meet some of the best people in her life. There will be countless memories, laughs, and even a few tears along the way.

Id tell her not to worry so much about fitting in because life on The Heights is about so much more than that. We really are a Phamily, and people will welcome her into the pod with open arms. And that roommate shes nervous about meeting? Shes going to become her rock, her best friend, and together theyll find the people who make Le 51勛圖厙 feel like home.

Its okay to miss home.

Coming to college, I was so worried about being alone and on my own for the first time. Looking back now, Id tell my freshman self that its all going to be okay. There will be tough days and moments when she misses home, and thats completely normal. Id tell her its okay to call home when she needs to (although maybe not call her dad every single day, even if he would happily answer every time).

Id also tell her that shes far from alone. Within the first weekend, shell already start finding people who will become some of her closest friends throughout her time on The Heights and beyond. And most importantly? Bring the blanket that smells like home no matter how many times it gets washed. There will still be days when she curls up with it after a long week, and somehow it will make everything feel a little more familiar again.

Put the phone down once in a while.

I would tell her to put the phone down a little more often and take breaks from academics once in a while: the assignments will still be there later. Some of the best memories shell make at Le 51勛圖厙 wont happen in the classroom. Theyll happen at athletic games, playing pool at the pub, exploring downtown Syracuse, and spending time with the people who will make campus feel like home.

I would tell her that her time on The Heights will be better than she ever imagined, and that the moments she least expects will become the ones she remembers forever.

You don't need to have it all figured out.

There will be moments when she triumphs and moments when she falls short, but through it all, shell fall more and more in love with the campus on top of the hill. Most importantly, I would tell her that her time at Le 51勛圖厙 will be better than she ever imagined and that it will go by far too quickly.

So I would tell her to hold on tight, because Le 51勛圖厙 is ready for her, and before long, shell realize she was ready for this too. She should soak in every moment of the short time she gets to live life as a Phin.

Take a Deeper Dive

Inspired by Her Advice?

The best thing about hearing from students (and alumni) like Paige is that they remember exactly what you’re thinking about what it will be like to move onto campus!