Letter to My First-Year Self — Jonathan Singer

Dear Freshman Jonathan,

First of all, congratulations on finishing 4 years of Stuy. If I had to go through that again I would absolutely die. There is seriously no way I could do the four years of 6 or fewer hours of sleep a night and 10 or more hours of school + homework a day with extracurriculars and a commute on top of that. Take some time for yourself and realize that college is not about that. Unfortunately, I also have to inform you that just as soon as you start to break out of your shell a little bit and be more confident as a person and engage with different kinds of people in different ways the world will be completely turned sideways by some buzzkill called COVID-19.

When things finally do begin to return to some semblance of normality, you will have to do things all over again — once again reacclimate socially in a very changed world. Meet new and different people but also lament the friendships that could have been built beforehand.

And yet, I have some general advice for you, that I wish I had taken to heart more:

1. Search for meaning first and foremost — your time is valuable and the things that don’t bring you the kind of meaning that you have found elsewhere are worth deprioritizing.

2. At the same time, SAY NO to some things. Every single semester you will think things won’t be that bad, but you are merely under an illusion because work hasn’t ramped up yet. Believe me, it will. It always will. And at the end of the semester you will really regret some of the ambitions that you had which prevent you from using your time in finding actual meaning in life.

3. Really try hard to work towards finding or creating community which is supportive and kind and welcoming, whether that’s in the bronfman center or outside. Every place isn’t a perfect fit for everyone but complaining is far less worthwhile then working towards change.

4. Chill out! Smile more! Enjoy life! Prepare for the future but stay in the present because there is so much wonder and beauty left in the world that has yet to be experienced!

You will enjoy your experience in college despite everything that happens, and I trust it will be a stage in our life that we look back on with fondness as we move onto new and also exciting things!

Sincerely,

Jonathan but with a B.A.