A Letter to my Freshman Niece
Dear,
Once in a while we find ourselves caught in a dilemma where we think we have so much to say that we don’t know what to start with. Here I am, sitting at my
computer starring at the screen for more than ten minutes without writing down a
thing. But no more delaying, I tell myself.
It’s been nearly a week since you left for your new school, the college as far as in Chendu, right in another province. I went home yesterday and met your Mom. We all laughed, but half bitterly, when she described how you suggested giving up college and going back home because of the whopping high tuition and campus expenses. You had been hesitating for the entire summer vacation whether you
should take the opportunity for college and there you go, even after registering you were still thinking about quitting. But by no means am I blaming you. You had studied hard and tried your best. I can read what was in your mind. With
your father dead for so many years, and your brother in high school, life has never been easy for your Mom. You wanted to stay home and help her support the family. But your Mom is not the type to submit to fate. After having my opinion
that that you stay home helping her could be an option, she insisted that you go to college. I sure take my hat off to her.
Now there’s no turning back. The only one way you can repay your Mom in the
future is you study hard, find a decent job, and lead a happy life. This is what your Mom expects of you. The amazing fact is you are by far the only one that
goes to college in the entire family, and you can surely be proud of that. I gave up when it was my time but I had a good reason. Times change.
For a girl who has never been far from home like you, the first few months might be the toughest period of college life to go through. You may get grave homesick. I know that feeling because I had been there when I was away from home for the first time. But it will go. You are never a sociable girl, but the best
way to get over that homesickness is to make friends so that you have someone to
talk to. Maybe it’s the first challenge for you. You are from a poor family
but that’s not your fault. Just be sincere and be honest. I hope you have already befriended someone in the room.
Though not having gone through college life myself, I can envisage how colorful it can be since I have been reading 21st Century, the newspaper that aims at college students. The way they teach and you learn at college is completely different from that in high school. You should make up your own plans and take the
initiative. You major in Japanese, despite your preference in English; that can
be a huge challenge since it means you have to start over. The good news is there are a whole lot more people who are taking English as their major than people who are taking Japanese; this disparity in numbers of learners makes Japanese
a real competitive language to learn. You have learned English not bad, and have seen how languages work. One thing worth a word of mentioning is that learning Japanese doesn’t have to conflict with furthering your English study. Just stick to one kind of English reading material, and make it a habit to read a little every day. After all, being literate in three languages is far more marketable in the future than being only a bilingual.
Then here comes this trend that one’s got to experience the taste of loving someone or being loved during this four-year campus life. I am not an ingrained
conservative, but I think you should not let that trend push you. It’s always
nice to make new friends, but it’s wise to be prudent about blurting out the word love. And remember, keep chastity before marriage. The trend among the youth might have changed remarkably, virginity is still held in high esteem among fine, decent young men. It’s not about feudalism, nor is it about “male superiority or male chauvinism”; it’s about adhering to your life principles. Enjoy
healthy, helpful relationships as much as you can, but don’t get stampeded into
going out of your way for someone. After all, you are there to get a college education, not to taste some forbidden fruit.
Another challenge is monetary arrangements. You know how your Mom works her fingers to the bone for you and your bother and you have always been a thrifty girl. The challenge is you are now alone at the school having to arrange everything on your own, including money matters. I am never good at financing myself, so I’ll just suggest that you read 21st Century, which sports a column featuring
money management, and keep traces of everything you spend on. But don’t scrimp much on your diet. You should eat healthfully to keep fit. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you are caught in a financial predicament. I don’t have much
but I’ll do what I can.
Contact me the moment you have your own cellphone.
I wish you all the best,
Your Uncle.
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轻松英语