As every high school senior begins to rack up their "Dorm Life" Pinterest board, they begin to imagine what life just might be like in the next year to come. I was one who had every detail planned out for college. Once I was accepted into my dream school, I knew exactly which sorority I wanted to join, which dorm I wanted to live in, who I was going to live with, etc. I counted down the days until I could leave my hometown, in order to find new adventures.

As I gradually started preparing for college, I realized what a joke my plans were. I had this dream scenario of my first days and how life was going to be as I ventured into the unknown, but was awakened by how different my life actually was. I wasn't in a sorority, I met my roommate the day of move-in, and I managed to end up in the smallest room on the top floor of an all-women's dormitory. This wasn't exactly my dream, but I was adaptable.

However, I found that I was slowly being weighed down by comparisons. Everywhere I went It seemed like people were having the times of their lives in college. From groups of girls in the dorm hallways to peers I went to high school with, it seemed that they were all so happy. I looked at my own life and felt that I was miserable being away from home for so long. I longed for my old life back, my friends, and my familiar surroundings. It upset me that I wasn't having "the experience" that so many people described before me. However, I am almost done with my first year of college and I've been able to take a breather, and be thankful.

So, my senior dreamers here is a list of Do's and Don't's in your first year of college.

1. Do: get to know the people around you.

Life is too short to worry about your social status, especially in a place like a college. There are approximately 10,000 people in my baptist private school. It is so easy to feel lost in the crowd day in and day out if you don't talk to the people around you. It makes life just that much more pleasant when you have someone to look forward to talking to in class. Take the time to learn someone's name, and get to know them. They're probably feeling just as scared as you are, and it takes a friend to be a friend, right?

2. Don't: have the perfect Pinterest dorm.

Coming from a girl who is obsessed with everything fashion, this was a tough one for me to understand. I probably spent over $300 the summer before college to make sure I had the perfect dorm. Decorating certainly isn't bad, but understand that this dorm is not your life-long home, and you don't have that much room. You really don't need that 16 piece glassware set, or that $500 twin bedspread. Don't waste your or your parent's money and just get the basics, worry about this whenever you have your own house.

3. Do: get involved.

For me, this was the toughest part of my journey. I looked at all the clubs my university had to offer, and still felt like nothing really fit me. I joined a few small clubs here and there but wasn't thrilled with the commitment or personal involvement. Once again, I felt like an outsider in the groups that had been around for years. Flash forward a couple of months later, I got a local job and fell in love with it. I love my co-workers and being there has changed my whole perspective on my town. Moral of the story: involvement doesn't always mean a club or a sorority. Just find any way you can to get plugged in!

4. Don't: be afraid to get help.

Freshman year is rough -- for everyone. However, you don't have to walk through this journey alone. If you feel like you're constantly digging a deeper hole for yourself, consider seeking out professional help. Most universities have counselors you can talk to, and they can make this transition less scary. If you're anything like me, the thought of going to talk to someone made me even more scared. But I promise they will understand you and walk you through this journey. You will feel loved and understood, and given tools to help you through this phase of life.

5. Do: be thankful.

You got to this exact place you are at because of the hard work you achieved in high school. Through the love and support of your friends and family back home, you got to this point. If you're feeling like you just plain don't belong where you are, look around at all the things you do have. For me, it's the thankfulness I have for an amazing roommate and a sweet Jesus who has bigger plans for me than I can ever imagine. Simple things like this can change your perspective and make you feel more #blessed then words can say.

Overall, no one can tell you how you should and shouldn't live your college life. College is a journey that people everywhere have taken, and it looks different for everyone. It is a time that will mold you and transform you from a once bright teenager into a brilliant adult. Stay focused on the one who matters the most, and He will guide you through all of your troubles.