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Abstract
Memorable messages are verbal messages which may be remembered for extremely long periods of time and which people perceive as a major influence on the course of their lives (Knap, Stohl, & Reardon, 1981, p.27). Since these messages are tied to concepts such as hope and resilience (Merolla, Beck, & Jones, 2017; Lucas & Buzzanell, 2012), and because the transition to college can be a particularly stressful time for students, I sought to explore the messages and advice received during their freshman year of college through the use of narrative inquiry. While my results reinforced some existing knowledge about memorable messages, I also found that indirect messages received from college environments and policies can have a strong influence on students. In addition, I found that first-generation students might be more likely to seek out advice than those that are not. My findings lead me to suggest that college administrators put an added focus on the types of messages they wish to share with students and whether or not they are successful in sharing in them.