Today is the first day in the last couple months that the sun has come out before 1pm and I am putting on a mini skirt.
This will be a quick one!
DEAR ALIX,
I'm about to turn 18 this June, and I'm getting ready to move to college in the fall, so your track June Gloom is very much the vibe at the moment. It's so weird finally being free from how repetitive and rigid high school was. I always thought I'd be so much happier once I was out, but now these long "in between" days are leaving way too much time for me to be alone with my thoughts. Do you have any tips for getting busy in meaningful, uplifting ways? Also, what's your best advice for the transition to college? I'm really apprehensive about adjusting and presenting my most authentic self when in a brand new place full of new people.
Thanks for your help (and for the song)!
Sabrina :)
DEAR SABRINA,
First of all, I want to give you the biggest hug. Happy birthday and congratulations!!!
I graduated high school in 2020, so the first half of my post-grad summer included speeding through my movie list, wearing the same pajamas for weeks at a time, going to bed at 4am, and waking up at 2pm to do it all again. I would not recommend doing this.
When I was finally able to see my friends that summer, it was always the same group of 3-4 of us. Every time we got together, we did some combination of the following things: skateboarding and scootering around my cul-de-sac, going to the beach, playing music, sneaking into my local high school’s swimming pool, eating pizza at various parks and lookout points, and watching horror movies at my house. We did this for so many days and it never got old. I look back on those few months of my life with so much fondness, and my friends and I still talk about it often.
My one piece of advice for the summer: Treasure the free time you have, and fill it with the things and people you love most. Soak up every car ride with your parents, take advantage of living down the hall from your siblings, spend as much of it as you can with the friends who might not be in close proximity after high school. You truly never know how many small things you’ll miss until they’re gone, and how many things will change until they do. If you’re going to school somewhere far, become a tourist in your hometown before you leave! When I’m home and feel like I have nothing to do, I love going on Yelp and seeing what the most popular recommendations are nearby. Chances are you’ll either find something new that wasn’t on your radar, or you’ll roll your eyes at one of the most obvious recommendations, do it anyway, and find some surprising sentimentality in it.
I wish I could tell you more about my experience as a freshman adjusting to college, but my first year was fully online. When I finally made it on campus sophomore year, there are so many things I would have done differently. Here’s the pep talk I wish I could go back and give my 19 year old self in her first week on campus:
Clubs are cool!!! And they really do help you meet people. One of my biggest regrets from my time at USC is not joining radio, or even one of the a cappella groups just for fun. Thinking about all the cool people I could have met if I’d been brave enough to step out of my comfort zone makes me sad.
I would say overall, try to say more yes’s than no’s when it comes to spontaneous plans and outings; I always regret the no way more often than the yes.
That being said, if you do need alone time, try to make it worthwhile and use it for true self care, like going on walks, journaling, watching your comfort movies/shows, and calling your go-to people. Doom scrolling isn’t good for anybody and FOMO is real.
Your professors are there to help you. College classes are hard; they just are! I’ve found that more often than not, professors love when you ask questions and email them and go to their office hours. The more you show up and engage and try your best, the more they’ll be willing to give you some extra leniency when you ask for it down the line.
There is always time to switch your major. You can always drop a class. If it comes to it, you can always change schools.
Stock up on gum/mints to offer to friendly classmates, invest in an extra long phone charger, bring photos/posters/a stuffy from home (or get a Warmie), explore different parts of campus to find your favorite go-to spots, explore explore explore. Overall, give yourself grace and be patient; making friends and fully adjusting to a new environment might take longer than you hope it does, so be gentle with yourself!
I made two playlists when I was packing up my childhood bedroom and getting ready to start my sophomore year of college: one for when I felt bright eyed and giddy and hopeful and one for when I felt anxious and unsure and more nostalgic than I thought possible. Here’s one and here’s the other.
I hope I answered your question and that this helps even the tiniest bit. I’m cheering you on from my couch and wishing you nothing but the best best time. Drive it like you stole it!
Love,
Alix
As always, email yournametwice@substack.com for all of your questions <3333
Here’s my rapid fire report of the week:
I rediscovered FutureMe, a website where you can write letters to your future self. It’s a pretty no-brainer concept and such a hidden gem of the internet; it’s also free, and it saves every letter you write to yourself so you can go back and read the old ones at any time.
I’ve created a rule for myself this year where I’m only allowed to buy new beauty products if they’re replacing something I’ve run out of. That being said, I love a trip to Sephora. On my last one, I tested out and made a list of items that I’m planning on buying once the product I’m using for the same function runs out - here it is if you’re curious:
Every Wednesday at Sprouts, sushi starts at $5. I have a reminder on my phone for it so I don’t forget to take advantage. Last week I got a spicy tuna roll and a ginger lemon Olipop for $7 and it was glorious.
I was SO close to fully growing my bangs out and impulsively decided to cut them on Friday… Silly silly me. I regretted it almost instantly but after washing it and living in it for a couple days I think I’m adjusting. Also, my grandma complimented it which, if you know my grandma, means a lot.
Until next time!
i second joining clubs !!! they’re the best! and i also wish i did usc radio
the constant struggle between growing out the bangs and impulsively cutting them 😞