Hi friends, Miracle here! I’m a volunteer with the Ruvvy Resilience Lab. As I prepare to graduate this May, I’ve been reflecting on my college journey and wanted to share a few lessons and action steps I wish I knew as a freshman. Whether you will be starting high school, college, grad school, or just transitioning into a new phase of life this fall, I hope this can be a helpful guidepost for you as you prepare to move forward on your journey!

College moves fast. Opportunities don’t wait. And no one is going to organize your life for you.

You have to decide early: will you be reactive, or intentional?

If I could sit across from my freshman self, here’s what I’d say:

Always Plan Ahead (Classes, Internships, Volunteering) 

College, and honestly life, is not that forgiving when you fall behind.  

Classes fill up quickly, especially the ones you actually want. When registration opens, be ready. That means understanding your requirements, mapping future semesters, and building a plan in advance.

If you wait, you’ll end up in classes you don’t need—or don’t care about.

The same applies to internships. The best opportunities aren’t last-minute. Many deadlines fall as early as January or February, and strong applicants prepare months in advance.

If you’re not early, you’re late.

And don’t overlook volunteering. Even a few intentional hours each month shows reliability, initiative, and purpose.

Write Everything Down and Track Your Life

Organization is the most rewarding skill. 

In college, no one reminds you about deadlines. Professors mention things once, maybe twice, and then it is your responsibility.

A planner isn’t optional. You’re balancing classes, work, relationships, extracurriculars, and your well-being. Without a system, things fall apart.

 This is not like high school where you see your teacher every day and they remind you consistently when things are due. In college you get a syllabus and a professor may mention the assignment once in class. That’s it.

You must write down what needs to be done and also by when. Otherwise, you will find yourself in class taking a test you didn’t study for or desperately asking for an extension for a paper you didn’t do. 

And beyond school, tracking your time helps you protect your energy and create a real balance between your academic and personal life. 

Find a Mentor

This might be the most important advice here.

A mentor gives you access to opportunities, guidance, and growth that you cannot find on your own. They help you see what is possible and what your future could actually look like. 

Shadowing is especially valuable, it lets you experience a career before committing to it. Freshman year is the perfect time to explore and figure out what you like (and don’t like).

And yes, cold emailing works. People are more willing to help than you think. If you are respectful, curious, and intentional, they will respond. That is how you build connections. That is how doors open. 

Talk to People

Everyone around you is trying to figure it out, just like you.

College can feel isolating if you wait for people to come to you. You have to take the first step, start conversations, introduce yourself, and show up.

It’s uncomfortable at first, but so is loneliness.

Join a club. Go to a meeting. Sit next to someone new and say something.

Small moments turn into friendships, networks, and opportunities.

You have more in common with the people around you than you think. Do not miss out on connection because you were too afraid to try.

Enjoy the Ride

Time moves faster than you expect.

Yes, this is a time to build your future, but it’s also a time to discover who you are. You are allowed to try things, change your mind, take risks, and grow.

One day, you will look back and realize how much these years shaped you. The people you met, the experiences you had, and the challenges you overcame will stay with you.

Do not rush through it. Be present.

Take the opportunities. Make the memories.

You do not get these four years back.

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