Let’s cut the shit: college is not the perfectly filtered montage you saw in that admissions video with slow-motion frisbees and people pretending to like econ (take it from me someone who majored in it). It’s chaos in a sweatsuit. It’s breakdowns in a communal shower at 2 A.M. It’s laughing so hard you pee a little on a dorm room floor with someone you just met. It’s heartbreaks, hookups, terrible coffee, and figuring out who the hell you actually are. It’s showing up to campus wondering “who tf am I.”

I’m not going to lie to you, college is a freaking hot mess. Like… literally. I swear sometimes it’s going to feel like someone dipped you in gasoline, lit a match, threw it at you and then handed you a solo cup full of regret mixed with energy drinks. Most times it’s going to feel like you’re in a coming of age movie from the early 2000s. But here’s the funny thing: that’s exactly how it’s supposed to feel.

You’re going to mess up. You’re going to regret some decisions. You’re going to keep on living (even though you’ll feel like death the day after a 2am taco run at a sketchy food truck with people you just met). You’re going to make questionable friends and do even more questionable things with them. You might even accidentally join a club you hate because of the free pizza. And guess what? That’s. How. You. Figure. Shit. Out. And. Start. Becoming.

It’s okay to not know what the hell you’re doing when you first get there. Hell it’s okay to not know throughout your entire time in college. I just graduated and I still don’t know wtf is happening. But let me tell you, it’s 100% okay to walk in thinking you want to be one major and then realize nope, this isn’t it. Switch once, switch twice, hell, switch three times if you want. If you hate a class, drop it and switch it with another. It’s okay… that’s called figuring it out! College isn’t some rigid path; it’s chaotic, loud, messy, and figuring out who you are… especially as a student. Yeah, you still might have your parents up your ass about grades and studying but it’s different now since you’re an adult. This time is for you. For exploring. For screwing up. For discovering passions you didn’t even know you had yet.

You need to tattoo this one thing on your brain so you never forget it: leave college with no regrets. No “I wish I just…” or “Maybe if i had…” bs. You aren’t going to do that to yourself. You gotta do it all. The wild nights, the horrible classes, the embarrassing stories that make your group chat laugh for years. It’s okay to go to hard at a party, order $60 worth of taco bell on doordash just to throw it all up, and then go to class the next morning feeling like death. It’s okay to make out with that person all your friends think is blocked. It’s okay to fail or drop a class. It’s okay to make mistakes.

At the same time though, take nothing for granted. Seriously, don’t sleep on the little moments. The random late night talks, the stupid jokes, the study sessions, the barely making it to the game after hours of tailgating. Make sure you especially don’t forget to tell the people you love that you love them. Call your parents. They’ll miss you way more than you realize, and hearing your voice might just make both of you cry in the best, messiest way possible. You’ll meet people who challenge you. Who change your life. You’ll lose people who feel like home. It’ll hurt like hell but you’ll come out stronger in the end. You’ll try things and fail. You’ll try things and fall in love. You’ll discover passions you didn’t even know you had. You’ll become someone entirely new and still somehow more you than ever. So say yes. Say yes when your brain is screaming “Are you insane?” Say yes to the party invites, the late night calls, the random road trips, and maybe that class that seemed like a “hell no” but actually turns out to be one you love in the end. You have to live LOUDLY babes. Messy hair, last night’s makeup, questionable decisions, and all.

But remember, being bold and living loudly doesn’t mean being a bad person. Your actions still have consequences, both good ones and bad ones. Don’t go around breaking the law or hearts just so you can feel something. Living loudly means being kind, especially to yourself. You’re gonna be your own worst critic, your own biggest fan, and sometimes your own tornado. Don’t forget that people who judge you for your mistakes and failure are not your friends.

Kindness is truly going to be your secret weapon. You already have it flowing in your blood. Throw kindness everywhere as if it’s glitter. Everyone is just trying to feel a little less alone. Be kind to the “weird” kid in your dorm building, the people who applaud your mistakes, the workers at your university, and most importantly, be kind to you. All of you. The you that’s laughing one moment and then crying in the communal shower at 2am. The you that sometimes wonders if you are going to make it as an adult. I know it’s going to seem hard but, don’t let the negativity win. People who judge you for your mistakes and failure are not your friends. Surround yourself with people that also throw kindness around like glitter. Remember, glitter gets everywhere and once it’s on you it’s a pain in the ass to get off. Kindness changes lives.

Here’s my challenge for you: show up for yourself every damn day. Take the risks. Dye your hair a different color if you want. Embrace that bizarre hobby nobody understands. Dance like you’re in a music video (even if it’s just in your dorm). Say yes more than no. Because this messy, chaotic, beautiful disaster of a life? It’s yours.

When shit hits the fan (and it will) remember this:

You’ve already made it this far in life. You’re already killing it by just being here. You might be lost but you’re still showing up. You’re already enough, even on your worst days. And the best? It’s still coming for you baby.

Go ahead, make those mistakes, take those risks, and own your chaos. Because the world? It’s not ready for your kind of crazy. And honestly? Neither are you. But that’s the fun part. Live enough to say that you did it all. The frat parties, the all-nighters, and the glory days are waiting. I’m here rooting for you because I once was you. I can proudly say I graduated with no regrets and kindness still in my heart.

Now go raise some hell. Make some memories. Take no shit. Don’t forget to call your mom. Most importantly do as Sandra Oh says and “Always make the time to dance it out”.

Keep Spilling Babes, xx.