The uncertainty, the debt, the class work, that one cockroach-riddled apartment — all worth it, they say.

Eight years ago, Ryan Reed wanted to work with kids. Today, he’s a social studies teacher.

Sasha Campbell wanted to dance. She does, a lot.

Brian Erickson wanted to be an engineer. He started at Pioneer Plastics two weeks ago, a process engineer in the press room.

The Sun Journal wrapped up its Following the Freshmen series in 2009 after detailing the four-year college experience of 15 local students. Today we check in to see what life has brought them so far.

Over in our b section, you will find updates and stats on the former freshmen, including their careers, milestones, moves and, yes, babies.

But first, our former freshmen offer advice here to the new class starting college this month, from researching majors, to getting off-campus, to minding money.

As well as some advice that could apply to all of life’s pursuits.

Warns Tyson Morgan: “Mistakes will be made.”

What college advice would you give your own 18-year-old?

“If you do not know what you want to do for a career in life — which is very, very OK at 18 years old — take some classes, explore careers you are interested in. You want to be confident in your choice before you head to a $40,000+ school.” — Loren Lepage

“Don’t waste your time applying to any schools you can’t imaging yourself going to. Treat yourself well, get sleep, be healthy, have fun. Oh, and go to class!” — Elizabeth Mitchell

“It’s only now that I realize that there were so many things to do and so many resources right at the tip of my fingers. Participate and engage with fellow students, professors, administrators and alumni as much as you can. Your experience is what you make of it. College is a very unique experience, and you only get one shot at it, so do it right the first time around.” — Alison Coleman

“Enjoy it while it lasts, because you will never be that young and have so little responsibility ever again. Take every opportunity you can to travel and try new things, and never take for granted that your friends are all living within a few minutes of you.” — Ryan Reed

“Show up, sit in the front and speak up. No one is going to hold your hand in college. No one will care if you sit in the back and never hand in an assignment. No one will care if you fail. You have to care. Showing up to class hung over in sweatpants is not cute. Now is the time to become who you want to be.” — Danielle (Sicotte) Eaton

“Make sure you take the time to figure out what you want to do and major in before you start college. Know what jobs you can get with that major and what the availability is of that particular job market is. Get involved in internships/field work to make sure that profession is really what you want to do. I would also advise volunteering in the profession you think you are interested in before going to college and committing to that major.” — Tracy Bradley

“If you have an interest in something, get in touch with some people who are doing what you want to do who are in college. I’m sure if I was 18 and someone had told me that, I would’ve thought it was the dorkiest thing in the world, but I think it would be useful anyhow. There’s always an administrative assistant in any given department that will have access to a group email list or knows specific people in that department that might be willing to give you a candid glimpse into the life of a student in that field of study. You are going to log a lot of hours with a certain type of person in a certain set of buildings doing a very particular set of things.” — Brian Erickson

“Look at what you want to do and GO FOR IT! But make sure you know the job opportunities, where you want to live, and be realistic.” — Sasha Campbell

“If you have any desire to study abroad, do it. No excuses. You won’t regret it. I studied abroad for a semester (at Lancaster University, in Lancaster, England) and it was the best thing I did in my five years at UMaine.” — Matt Jones

Related to that, any advice on partying, socializing or being involved in the college scene?

“Go to one big bash early on, get it out of your system, and then realize they are a complete waste of your time and just enjoy being with your friends. The best way I found to make friends was to always keep your dorm room door open and to always take opportunities to enjoy yourself when they are presented.” — Ryan Reed

“Put yourself out there and try to make as many connections as you can. Take it all in, the good and the bad. Every situation is a learning opportunity.” —  Alison Coleman

“Be careful, and hopefully use the best judgment possible to avoid dangerous situations.” — Jennifer (Dowling) Berresford

“Get involved. College is not just about studying.” — Matt Jones

“It’s cheesy, but you have to be true to who you are. Trust your instincts. Be a good friend.” — Elizabeth Mitchell

“Make sure you get involved in any type of sports/clubs/extracurricular activities because that will not only help you to find a home away from home and build a new social network, it will force you to really focus on time management and teach you discipline. You will also build strong, lasting relationships with friends that have common interests and will always be there for you.” — Tracy Bradley

“I have a lot of great memories from parties, but also had a lot of fun on days where we would go to Acadia for a day, traveling to the Common Ground Fair, or playing disc golf all day. So in summary, take advantage of weekend daylight, too.” — Brian Erickson

“Don’t be stupid. I had a lot of fun in college, went out with friends, but was always careful and safe. Make good friends, stick with them and support each other.” — Sasha Campbell

What, if anything, would you do differently if you could?

“I started at Ithaca as undeclared and ended up transferring into the clinical exercise physiology major. If I could do it again, I would have made up my mind from the beginning to do physical therapy right off the bat. Despite what they say, it’s very hard to transfer majors once you have completed your first year due to the regimented class schedule that does not have much flexibility.” — Tracy Bradley

“I’d try to spend a little less time studying and more time hanging out with friends. I only learned to do that my last year or so, and I kind of regret it.” — Tyson Morgan

“Look into scholarships more when I was first starting. Look into being an RA. Basically pay a lot more attention to the loans adding up, so you are more aware of how much you will owe when you graduate.” — Loren Lepage

“The only thing I wish I did was take better advantage of having so much free time. I sometimes daydream about through-hiking the Appalachian Trail, and those few years during college would have been the perfect time to do it.” — Ryan Reed

“I would have taken some classics and government courses and more econ courses. My friends and I still discuss the courses we took and the professors we had, and when I listen to their stories about certain courses or professors, I often think to myself, ‘That sounds so cool. I wish I had taken that course!'” — Alison Coleman

“I transferred from Connecticut College after my sophomore year to graduate from Bates College, and every once and a while I hear about people’s experiences of going to a school for four straight years and think, ‘Man, I wish I had stayed somewhere for four years,’ and then immediately remember: I met my best friend from one school and my boyfriend from the other (even though I didn’t meet him until after college!) and had professors from both that shaped me into the person I am today and can’t imagine doing it differently.” — Elizabeth Mitchell

“I would have gotten involved in more on-campus activities in order to get to know more people outside of the computer engineering department.” — Matt Jones

“I would not have changed anything. I took advantage of all the different aspects that (Cedar Crest) had to offer. I was involved with the science department, with student organizations, the Chem Club and the Forensic Science Student Organization (FSSO), which I served as an officer for two years. Outside of the sciences, I was very involved in the theater department, working in the scene shop for four years and stage managing over five productions. As a freshmen, I rode for the college equestrian team, which was a unique experience.” — Jennifer (Dowling) Berresford

“For a long time I would’ve said that I should have waited a year before starting college. I felt a lot of pressure when I graduated high school with a scholarship and plenty of college options to keep right on that path. Then, realizing that I was pursuing something that I had picked out when I was 17 seemed crazy to me. But now, I see that a lot of things I have had the most success with since beginning college have been things I was apprehensive about.” — Brian Erickson

“I like where my life took me. I would like to go back to get my MFA in dance to teach at the college level, but I didn’t want to do it right out of undergrad, and now I’m going to wait until my baby is a little older.” — Sasha Campbell

“Not a thing. There were so many experiences throughout college that made me want to quit. The roommate issues my freshman year, living in a dank basement apartment plagued with cockroaches, having my apartment broken into with most of my valuables stolen including my laptop, which contained my term paper due the very next week, an unwanted “admirer,” and family health issues all had me wanting to run home crying. I did cry, and I did run home for the weekend, but I never gave up, and that opened the door for so many great experiences too, like late nights prowling the city with new friends, trying my hand at a modeling career, off-Broadway shows, time spent with family and getting to be in a movie with Dane Cook and Alec Baldwin! I went through so much in those four years, it gave me the confidence I needed to come home and grow up.” — Danielle (Sicotte) Eaton

Grads face a new world: Maine college freshmen are trying to spend less, learn more and think jobs.

Following the Freshmen: Where are they now?

Since the Sun Journal stopped following the original 15 students in our “Following the Freshmen” series in 2009, bringing to a close our four-year college project, they’ve established interesting lives, careers and pursuits. And gained a lot of perspective on the value of their educations. We were able to catch up with 11 former freshmen and quiz them about life, college and future goals, and how school played into all of it.

• Jennifer Berresford: In the pharmaceutical industry, pet foster-mom-to-be
• Tracy Bradley: Helping others get fit, enjoying Boston
• Sasha Campbell: Dancer, mom, busy lady
• Alison Coleman: Moving up the ranks at work, still fitting in softball
• Danielle Eaton: Marketer, mom, grateful former Bostonian
• Brian Erickson: Engineer open to new adventures
• Matt Jones: Computer engineer in Rhode Island
• Loren Lepage: Helping others rehab and loving it
• Elizabeth Mitchell: Taking life and career to the West Coast
• Tyson Morgan: Learning, teaching, writing
• Ryan Reed: Teacher, husband, dad

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