ENGL 165 – 09 Fall ’24: Letter To My Future Self
Dear Future Abby,
Transferring here as a sophomore took away one year of being a part of the Longwood community. I am still new to everything and am trying my best to branch out, but I hope you took advantage of the shorter time you had and put yourself out there. Longwood, as you know, offers an abundance of clubs and organizations. Seeing as a major part of your heart belongs to caring for animals, maybe you joined the STEP program where you train dogs to become service pets. You might have also found clubs related to your interests in debate and political themes, possibly researching into the different classes that incorporate those ideas as well. I am currently in a game club, do I stick with it every year of college? I also received a bid from the ABY Sorority the other day and accepted it. I am hopeful that you made friends with all of the sisters, current and new, and helped expand the sorority itself. Though it might be a bit of a reach, I hope the road eventually leads you to becoming an important member of the sorority and possibly one that can make actual change happen.
When it comes to your academic successes, I hope you maintained a 3.2 GPA or higher, simply because I understand that some classes will be difficult and it is okay to not get a 100% on every assignment. I believe that you majored in English flawlessly and you took classes out of your comfort zone. There are moments in which I think that English is not the right fit for me, but I know you persuaded me to stick with it and kept me going. You should also have your next steps lined up so that you are not fearful of your future, or at least I hope you do. Right now, it is impossible for me to imagine the direction you are heading, but I know that your experience at Longwood was life changing. Even with the shortened amount of time we have here, I believe it did not deter you from making changes with yourself and the community around you.
Sincerely,
Your past self
Citations:
Alpha Beta Psi. (2025). Alpha Beta Psi. Lancer Link.
https://lancerlink.longwood.edu/organization/alphabetapsi
STEP. (2025). Service-Dog and Education Program at Longwood University. Lancer Link.
https://lancerlink.longwood.edu/organization/step
Hey Abby,
I thought your letter to your future self was very thoughtful and well written. I really enjoyed reading about all the goals you have and the experiences you hope for yourself since you have transferred to Longwood.
I know it was definitely tough having to come in as a Sophomore but it seems like you have definitely done a great job getting involved around campus and taking advantage of the opportunities around us. From joining clubs to accepting that bid from ABY, these are great steps towards getting connected with great people around campus. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a stretch to think about playing a significant role in the sorority over time because you definitely seem motivated on making a meaningful difference. Going along with making a meaningful difference, the STEP program sounds like an amazing opportunity. Especially since you have a passion for working with animals. It would be awesome to see you line up your values and your passions. I really hope you will get the chance to work with their program in the near future.
In addition, I really enjoyed your perspective on academics as well. Setting a GPA goal for yourself that’s actually realistic connects with me as well. It helps that acknowledging not everything will be perfect is a great way to approach school this semester. I can tell that you are committed to your major and it is definitely a tough one. Majoring in English isn’t an easy path but I am sure it is very rewarding after college.
As you finished your letter, your thoughts about the future felt very relatable. Many of us don’t have everything figured out but I am glad to see you are putting a lot of thought into your future and your time here at Longwood. Best wishes as you work towards your goals.
Sincerely,
Ethan Reed