Dear Georgetown Freshman,
Today, I’m thinking back to something Christopher Robin once told Winnie the Pooh: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” It’s a quote I gave my sister when she went to college and the same quote she gave me when I moved in to Harbin Hall.
I never thought that I would be so moved by the words of one of my favorite characters from childhood, but as I struggled this year with frequent panic attacks and severe depression, these words served as a reminder of my potential when I needed it the most.
It was these words, imprinted on a mug that I made chai in every morning, that kept me going. It was these words that told me to go to class even on days when I was so sleep deprived due to anxiety, to continue going to therapy when I felt like treatment wasn’t working, and to face any other responsibility when it seemed that I couldn’t.
Regardless of whether or not you suffer from mental illness, the transition to college will affect you in some way. For many of you, this will be the first time you’ve been away from home; in fact, some of you may be moving to a different country entirely to study here.
You will be away from your family, pets, and the people you grew up with. You’ll be exposed to new material and be academically challenged. It will not be easy.
Whatever obstacles Georgetown throws at you, always remember that you belong here. You applied and the university decided to accept you as a Hoya. You were meant to be here and you are not alone.
And if for some reason that doesn’t still convince you that you CAN overcome these roadblocks, take comfort in the words passed from a young boy to a very simple yet wise yellow bear:
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
Welcome to the Hilltop fellow Hoyas. We can’t wait to see what you will accomplish.
Love,
Varsha