Lenah Helmke

Photography by Greer Diaz

If you’re reading this, invest in yourself.

The day after my 18th birthday, my parents and I drove the 14 hours from Massachusetts to Wisconsin for my freshman year of college. I packed up my childhood bedroom, like we all do, and waved goodbye to my small western Massachusetts town. At the time, my public high school of 400 students was all I knew. My classmates and I all played the same sports, took the same classes, and knew whose car belonged to who. My community growing up was small, and because of that, I wanted to explore a new world for college.

I didn’t cry, not once, when saying goodbye to my high school best friends, my siblings, or my two chocolate lab puppies. I hopped into the back seat of my car, excited for the adventure ahead. Deep down, I knew I was ready for something that would push me out of my comfort zone. However, I had no idea what I was jumping into.

After the two-day journey and stops at Niagara Falls, desolate gas stations in Ohio, and downtown Chicago, we arrived in Madison at sunset. Before checking into our hotel, we stopped at a roadside pizza joint for a bite to eat. As my dad ordered inside, my mom and I sat on a dingy bench outside, and in that moment, reality set in. My mind started to race, and the feeling of anxiety and fear took over my body in anticipation of the semester ahead.

That fall, I was thrown into the chaos of sorority life and a full class schedule, all while trying to hold on to who I was as a person. My mind was constantly spinning, questioning if I was doing the right thing socially, professionally, and personally. Through this navigation, I lost sight of what was best for myself and how I want to show up in the world.

My mom told me on the phone that semester, “Do one thing consistently every day. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy.”

Among feelings of loneliness, confusion, and isolation, I shifted my attention to daily habits that I could control. To start, I ensured to do the same skin care routine every morning and night. This may seem silly, but the act of washing my face, applying my toner and moisturizer, and using my Gua Sha for two minutes in the fluorescent dorm bathroom light grounded me among the unknown. Now, as a senior, I can say I still do the same routine every morning and night.

This small act of self-care provided comfort, stability, and control within my chaotic college schedule, allowing me to feel grounded once again.

When leaving your hometown and what you know, it is easy to feel lost, overwhelmed, and anxious about your journey ahead. My choice to explore a new region, culture, and large university was terrifying at first, but looking back three years later, I cherish the importance of prioritizing habitual details in your life that make up who you are, no matter where you are or who you are with.

So, I urge you to:

Invest in the people who matter and truly care about you.

Invest in the activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Invest in small habits that ground you, no matter where you are.

Invest in yourself, the rest will follow. 

Lenah H., University of Wisconsin

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