Freshmen are the driving force of this university. Really. Don’t let faculty, staff,… Freshmen are the driving force of this university. Really. Don’t let faculty, staff, administration or other students convince you of anything different. Everyone else is tired and developing some sort of exit strategy when it comes to Pitt.

Freshmen are the heart and soul of the entire operation. With wide eyes, big dreams and a hope of enduring four years that would be anything except whatever happened in high school, freshmen are what college is all about — the possibility and opportunities for new experiences.

I’m not going to bore you with the details of my freshman experience. It really doesn’t even matter. It was so long ago, and it’s all a blur now. Besides, one of the things I remember most about coming to college was how much I hated hearing about everyone else’s experience. I figured if college was supposed to be this great time for me, then I should be allowed to go through it without any interference or the influence of others. I got tired of warnings about alcohol, time management, the new type of coursework or being a good roommate.

It seemed as if everyone had something to say about being a freshman, and after about two good stories, I was tired of listening. I just wanted to do it.

Should you be prepared to adjust study habits? Yes. Should you watch out how much campus food you eat in the next three months? I would suggest that everyone go to the nutritionist. We do pay a health fee. Would it be a good idea to refrain from alcohol? Well, if you are a freshman who is 21 or older, the safe consumption of alcohol is an option for you, but don’t drink and drive. You shouldn’t drink and take exams either. Actually, there are several things that drinking doesn’t mix well with, but that is not my point.

My point is that your first year here, much like your entire life, is going to be precisely what you make out of it. No matter how much advice you get about it, this is your life. You are in control, and with that control comes accountability.

Now this is where even some seniors miss the mark, so pay attention.

No one is holding your hand anymore, and I’m in no position to tell you what to do, but I will say this — be responsible.

The C you might get in introduction to astrophysics, which you took to fulfill a requirement you need to graduate, was not given to you. You earned that, my freshman friend. That girl down the hall who won’t hold the elevator for you in Lothrop doesn’t just have an attitude. She caught you making out with her boyfriend. Your money doesn’t just disappear; you spend it. Believe me, if you don’t get used to the idea of accountability now, it is going to hurt you later on.

You may end up one of the bitter people who looks down on the incoming class and says, “Stupid freshmen,” only because you have come to resent the mistakes you made. Go ahead and make as many mistakes as you can as long as you can also deal with the consequences. Common freshman-year mistake consequences include loss of scholarship or financial aid, citations and fines for public intoxication, the addition of another semester or year to complete undergraduate study, severed relationships, weight loss, weight gain, nausea, depression, anxiety, vomiting and children. If you think you can handle it, then go ahead and learn from it.

This is the stuff of college. When people look back on their time at school, they remember the last year and the first year. The middle is of no consequence unless something spectacular happens — like your first off-campus living arrangement.

Hold your head up high and be proud to be a freshman. Besides, it looks like you’re lost if you are always looking down. You are what this whole shebang is all about, so make it worth your time.