a letter to my first-year self — Ilana Symons

Dear Ilana,

Welcome to NYU! What a wild and incredible couple of years you’re in for! You’ll have experiences you were hoping for but didn’t think would come to fruition and experiences you never dreamed you would have. There will be highs, and there will be lows; in three years’ time, you’ll feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be- hang in there.

As with many first-year students, you’ll feel like there’s nowhere you truly belong. It’s frightening and frustrating and seemingly endless. You came into school expecting Hillel to be just like NFTY, living in a dorm to be just like camp, and your classmates to all be as dedicated to their studies as you. To some extent, these wishes will come true, but give it time. Your people are around the corner. Be patient. And if that doesn’t work, go look for them. Take people up on coffee. Talk to the person sitting next to you. Interactions and moments are fleeting- take advantage of them.

It’s terrifying to not have the upper hand; in a few years, you’ll learn that you very rarely do and also no one else feels like they do either. Fumble together. Force yourself to connect and hold on to the meaningful ones. Join communities and, in some small way, make them your own. Explore your passions, find new ones, and try everything once. At times, it may not seem it, but the years will fly by and when they do, you’ll be sad to see them go.

Good luck with your first year. Learn the subways. Try every ice cream shop. Find your people.

Ilana

Ilana Symons is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, and she currently serves as the President of Kesher, the Reform Jews at NYU.