By: Michael Morrison, ’16
Dear #UNC19,
Congratulations! I welcome you with open arms to the Carolina Family. Listed below are a couple of items that should make your journey here a bit easier. Don’t worry; you can thank me later…
- Walking shoes
(UNC is a huge campus with many hills; dress accordingly)
- An eraser
(You must accept that you will make mistakes. Allow yourself to learn by trial and error. The goal is learning from your mistakes and limiting the erase marks as you progress.)
- A pen
(You must boldly make decisions. Sometimes you won’t have the chance to erase so for these choices you must consider your future and purpose here on campus.)
- A Men in Black Mind Erasing Device
(High school is over. Now is your time to start fresh and pursue your dreams with a brand new opportunity at hand. Do not forget your accomplishments, but do not dwell on them. Carolina is about elevation.)
- Tape
(Sometimes we all need to put a piece of tape over our mouths and just listen. Certain moments only require us to be a sponge and soak up as much as possible.)
- A childhood picture
(There will be times when you have to look back on an old picture to remember who you are and where you came from. We all need to readjust our focus every now and then.)
- Your acceptance letters from other schools
(Remember that YOU accepted this challenge. You could have chosen another way but something brought you here instead of the other institutions that opened their doors of opportunity. Remember this reason and let it fuel you along the way.)
- A workout plan
(The freshman 15 is REAL! Do your best to avoid it.)
- 2 alarm clocks
(Some mornings one just will not do. We all have those days so be prepared!)
- A broken compass
(There is nothing the matter with being lost. Sometimes you will have to accept this and instead of giving up push yourself to find your way.)
- A planner/agenda
(Don’t get too lost in all the hustle and bustle. Try to stay as organized and on top of things as possible. Prioritizing early is a must!)
- An empty suitcase
(Be prepared to leave here with more than you came with. If you keep an open mind and soak in everything around you, this will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.)
- A Coffee mug
(Some nights might run a little longer than others….)
- A Netflix subscription
(Let it be clear, this is not advice to “Netflix and Chill.” When the world around you gets crazy, let your mind rest and give yourself a vacation sometimes with your favorite show. Use in moderation!
- Earphones
(There are times when you must have selective hearing. Turn up the motivation and constructive criticism and tune out the haters and negative critics. Be you and march to the beat of your own drum.)
- A toboggan, tank top, and rain boots
(Welcome to North Carolina where the weather might have you changing into all three of these options in one day.)
- A diary
(This is a large community but word travels fast. Keep your business to yourself or a SMALL group of trusted friends. Remember to let your actions speak louder than your words. Some people say discretion is key but I’m unsure what that means, so you might have to ask them… *inserts eye emoji)
- A large bottle of water
(This bottle will serve you well over your four years as a Tar Heel. One very important use is PACING. Take this how you want but don’t say I didn’t warn you.)
