College is full of education. But the lessons don’t end after the seventy-five minutes are spent in each class. Every moment of every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and mature as a person. Here are eleven lessons I am so grateful to have learned outside the classroom in my short eight months as a college student.

1. Sometimes you just need to take a walk.

That statistics exam grade didn’t turn out exactly as you had hoped, your roommate is getting on your last nerve, and your partner for your group project has left you to do everything the night before the huge assignment is due. The best thing to do is get moving. Go sit on a bench in the park. Walk to Starbucks. You don’t even have to drag yourself to the gym (though it is my go-to stress reliever), just separate yourself from your frustrations for a few minutes. I guarantee that with a little meditation, you will be able to face your stressors with a renewed sense of determination (and remember that Ben & Jerry’s is always there for you at 3 a.m.).

2. Confidence comes from within.

You don’t need anyone else to tell you when you look good. If those high-waisted jeans and crop top make you feel like a million bucks, rock them. Strut around campus like you’re a supermodel. You are your own best friend, you are beautiful, and you must never let anyone ever tell you differently.

3. It is never unacceptable to FaceTime your mom and ask to see your dog.

There will come a time when you’re stuck outside (because someone in your dorm forgot to put water in their Easy Mac) during a fire alarm and you will have the intense desire to see your dog. Ignore the judgmental looks of your friends and cry sloppy tears of happiness when you finally get to look into Biscuit’s big brown eyes. There will always be those little things in life that can brighten a cloudy day, no matter how sad we might be.

4. Never say no to an opportunity.

Apply for everything that even remotely interests you. Audition for the spring musical (Troy and Gabriella did it -- why can’t you?). Join the rugby team. Attend a club meeting. You can always decide that you just don’t have the time to commit, or that the program isn’t right for you. But you’ll never know until you try. You’ll regret the things you don’t do more than the things you do do. Who knows? You might even end up meeting your future husband or wife, and ten years from now you’ll be so grateful that you took that chance and signed up for that club (OK, I might be getting a little ahead of myself now, but you get what I’m saying).

5. One door closes, another one opens.

Speaking of opportunity, sometimes things won’t work out exactly as you planned. The spring of my freshman year, I auditioned, applied for, and ran for five different clubs, jobs and executive boards. I didn’t get any of them. At first, I was so upset, because I felt like a failure destined for mediocrity. But everything happens for a reason. Because I didn’t get into Chamber Choir, I ended up having no classes on Fridays. I was able to do so many other activities, such as a day trip to Woodstock and Relay For Life. I didn’t get the board positions I wanted, but now I’ll have time to try out new clubs next semester, and I can find other ways to get involved. And I am only more motivated now. I know that not everything is going to be handed to me on a silver platter, so when I do get what I work for, success will be that much sweeter.

6. Make sure you are conscious of others, but you are your main priority.

You have to take care of you. If that means telling your friend you don't want to go out on Friday night because you've had a really long week and would rather binge-watch "Orange is the New Black" in your PJs, just do it. College is supposed to be a time to have fun; don't feel pressured into doing anything you don't feel comfortable with for the sake of pleasing others. Make decisions that will make you happy.

7. Don’t be so quick to judge.

First impressions are important, but they're not everything. I recently had the opportunity to speak to incoming freshman, and though some of them were nice, most of them were somewhat curt and a few outwardly obnoxious. I’m not basing my opinion of them on this first encounter, however, because I’ve been in their shoes and I know how intimidating it is to start a brand new school with total strangers. Give people a chance to loosen up and relax before you judge their true character. You just might find that the quiet girl in your philosophy class has the best sense of humor, or that the intimidating leader of your club is actually very sweet.

8. You never really know what is going on in someone's life.

The happiest, most upbeat girl I know at my school recently revealed that she struggles with mental illness. As much as we all like to think we know our friends like the back of our hand, we don’t. Everyone is fighting his or her own personal battle. It is vital to remember this when you feel like everything is falling apart, and you’re stalking that model’s Instagram profile wishing you could be in her shoes, with her perfect body and gorgeous boyfriend. I promise you, she has her own problems and her life is far from perfect.

9. Start that assignment when you’re bored.

It’ll be so much less stressful than waiting to do it until the last minute. As an expert procrastinator, I am skilled in the art of 2 a.m. paper writing, but I have learned that starting assignments days in advance is awesome, because you can work on them in small increments and the workload never seems overwhelming. Yes, the first time you do homework when you don’t have to will be a little painful, but I promise it pays off (you’ll be thanking me later when you can go out the night before your term paper is due).

10. Speak up. Be assertive.

Being in college means that you are now on your own; Mom and Dad are no longer there to hold your hand and do things for you. You have to fight for what you want. If you think you deserve a higher grade in a class than you received, visit your professor during office hours and plead your case. If you're dying for a job in the admissions office, talk to student employees who already work there. Introduce yourself to the dean. Be your own advocate. The highest achievers don't wait for opportunity to come to them, they seek it out.

11. Stand up for what you believe in.

There will be times when your values are challenged. Standing up for what you believe in can be incredibly difficult, as it is often contrary to the popular opinion, but you will feel so much better about yourself if you do. I promise it will be worth it. Follow your heart. Trust your instincts. In the end, everything will work out in your favor.

I am a work in progress, but I am trying my best. And that's what matters most.