Dear freshman Anant,

High school is something else. Starting on your first day of school, you will experience every emotion on the spectrum: from ecstasy after your first Bombay in the Bay performance to fear when you get your first D on a calculus test.

As for your personality, you also better start becoming more social because in a mere two-and-a-half years, you are going to become the co-president of the Indian Cultural Awareness Club. You know that “weird” Indian dance show your older brother forced you to watch at the end of eighth grade? You’re going to start loving it so much that you choose to lead this crazy group of students.

Your friend groups are going to change every year. The people you started off hanging out with in August of 2012 when you first walked onto campus will not be the same ones you stick by in your senior year, but that isn’t a bad thing — you’ve learned to surround yourself with the people who truly matter to you.

Also, you know the free Falcon T-shirts you receive at Falcon Fest at the beginning of the year? It might not be a great idea to keep wearing those during school, or else you’ll earn some questionable nicknames. Also, you might want to get some new shoes — as comfy as though ragged tennis shoes may be, they really aren’t all that stylish.

I also hate to rain on your parade, but second semester of senior year won’t seem at all what it’s cracked out to be at first. College admissions are a rollercoaster and the whole process is not as organized as it may seem. The month of March is going to be the hardest month to endure. You are going to be told “no” numerous times and although some of these will crush you, the “yeses” will feel all the better.

However, the terrible days you have will be counterbalanced with equally amazing days. The next four years are a time to discover everything about yourself, your friends and the world around you. Life gets harder, but it will also get so much more fun and enjoyable. There will be so many activities to do that you will never have time to be bored.

You will discover yourself in high school. You will look back on your freshman self and be shocked at who you started off high school as.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d leave you with before you embark on this long, topsy-turvy journey, it is to never forget your roots.

Have fun in Saratoga. There is no place like it, and it certainly is more than great to be Falcon.