To my dearest Megan,

First year is the time when you realise school taught you too much about vectors, calculus and Wuthering Heights and too little about life. Then again, how can you teach independence, self control and to avoid ‘Autumn Harvest’ at all costs? Instead, you learn the hard way.

Admittedly, our life has been sheltered. I realised this most profoundly when doing an interview for journalism. It was with a girl, no different from me, who had been raped at a high school party. The disrespect, indignation and the breaking of trust she had experienced was unreal. But trust can be broken in a lot of different ways.

Being able to see the best in everyone is good when you are surrounding by close friends and family but in varsity, you’ll end up feeling more like a doormat and less like your bubbly self. Trust has to be earned rather than doled out like condoms in o-week.

I met a guy I immediately liked in o-week, for reasons I can’t really recall. It’s exhilarating meeting so many new people, and it continues well into the year, but investing hope in someone you don’t know is naive to say the least.

To borrow the words of Baz Luhrmann,

“don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.”

I learnt that when you expect nothing in return you will be most satisfied by the outcome. Trust me when I tell you that having the patience and curiosity to look in the least likely of places reaps the best rewards!

Finally, when your boundless enthusiasm starts to falter because of the lack of it in others, realise that it sets you apart and should be cherished.

Yours truthfully,
Megs