Advice for my Freshman Self...

This is the first September that I have not had school since I was in kindergarten! 

I am staring the real world... after I return from our belated honeymoon in Europe of course. :) 

I have completed my MSW and have gotten a job! I am a Family and Community Professional at Lutheran Social Services providing in-home mental health services to youth. I am so excited!

My Master's Degree Graduation at UW Oshkosh

This month I have been thinking back on my college experience and wondering what I would tell myself 5 years ago when I started college at University of Wisconsin Marathon County. 

My Bachelor's Degree Graduation at UW Stevens Point

Dear Freshman Self,

1. Do not let anyone make you feel bad about starting at a two-year, UW college. I have friends from high school who went to a fancy private college and now are thousands in debt and have little to show for it. I have a master's degree and I am debt free! In addition, I LOVED my experience at the smaller school I started at! I had close relationships with my professors and I was challenged in every class. 

2. Do find your passion. I had originally planned to be a psychologist, but I took my first social work class and I was hooked! I only wish I had found it earlier. 

3. Go to the dang school adviser- The first day! I was stubborn and I did not want help from a stranger about my school decisions. Little did I know that the so-called stranger is a professional whose job is to help you! My adviser became one of my greatest allies later in my college career and saved me a lot of delays in transferring. 

4. Life will get busier and harder- enjoy this. As a freshman I had a job at a local daycare and I went to school full time. I thought I was so busy! Grad school is much harder, let me tell you! I did not start volunteering until sophomore year and I cut back on social events. My advice would be to take a break from work and travel sooner! I did not start traveling seriously until my junior year when I studied abroad in Costa Rica during my winter break. I went with a small group of people I did not know and I had a blast! This picture features the pervy monkey I met while volunteering at an animal reserve there. Dear freshman self, take risks sooner! 

5. Stop comparing yourself to others and be YOU! This really relates to me starting my first photography "business." I still have to deal with feelings of inadequacy, but I am who I am! I make mistakes and I learn from them. 

Things I don't regret during my college career:

1. Having my high school sweetheart. And getting married to him young! It is a myth that a girl needs to "date" to find the right guy. Don't start dating until you know! Getting married young doesn't "weigh you down"; my husband has been the greatest supporter and my best friend. Also, getting married did not mean I couldn't do the things I like on my own time- I have been to Peru and many "girl's weekends" without him. 

I organized and led VBS this year!

2. Switching churches. I moved churches during my college career. Go where you can be used by God and where people want to use you! Your salvation is the most important thing to get right! I currently go to my husband's original church on Saturday's and my new church in Elderon on Sunday's. We go to church all weekend, but we are being used! 



3. Going right away for my master's degree. There were many people in my cohort that had a lot of experience and did there MSW later in life. They also had kids and full time jobs! I am proud of myself for pushing through! I know I would have never done it if I waited. 



If anyone has college questions or questions about social work I would love to mentor!


Sincerely, 

Justine Cleveland, MSW   :)