Upon leaving high school, most students feel on top of the world, as they're finally on the path towards independence and their futures. While the euphoric state induced by high school graduation leads many students to believe they know it all, first semester of college serves as a reality check and a learning experience. If you're a student just completing your first semester of college, it's likely that you'll relate to the 13 following realizations.

1. People who you were friends with at the beginning of the semester, might not be your friends now.

Unfortunately, making friends in college isn't as simple as making friends in high school. Throughout your first semester it is likely that you thought you would be great friends with someone, but realized otherwise after uncovering their full personality. However, this isn't suggesting that you didn't hold onto any of your pals from the earliest days of the semester.

2. The Freshman 15 may be a myth, but the Freshman 2-3 definitely isn't.

While the ever-feared "Freshman 15" is often joked about during your first semester, the reality is that the transition into college likely induces the gaining of a few pounds. Although some individuals may think its the end of the world, it's not. In fact, gaining weight during your first semester is common and expected.

3. The dining hall isn't as great as you though it was during welcome week.

When you first arrived at school it's likely that you entered your dining hall with an impressive view of the plethora of meal options provided. Equally, you probably visited your dining hall 3-4 times a week in the early days of the semester. As time went on you most likely grew bored of your dining hall, using credit card swipes instead of meal swipes on food.

4. Which of your friends you actually liked back home.

Upon leaving high school it's normal to think that you'll be staying close with all of your pals. However, it's likely that you haven't talked to a few of them in a long while. Haven't talked to a friend in a while? Maybe it's because you haven't had the time, but it's most like because you consciously don't miss them. Anyhow, the people who you still contact regularly, or the ones that reach out to you often, are probably those who you valued the most when you were at home.

5. Doing your hair for a frat party is pretty pointless.

Before your first night out to a frat-party it's likely that you got dressed to the nines: hair, makeup, and outfit on fleek. To your dismay, you were likely to have been met with one constant after your arrival: frizz. It's not an over exaggeration to compare most frat houses to a fully-functioning sauna. You go to a bar school? The bar on a Friday night is likely to generate similar implications.

6. Taking 8AM's might not have been the best idea.

When planning your courses before the semester, you probably thought that 8 a.m.'s were a perfect way to start your days in a productive and early manner. Unfortunately, the collective combination of hangovers, all-nighters and general exhaustion might have made you think otherwise. Did you ever find yourself staring into space during your 8AM? Yeah, me too.

7. Clothes stay cleaner for longer now that you have to do your own laundry.

Granted that you didn't do your own laundry at home, it's safe to say that your more hesitant to classify your clothing as dirty. While you might have thrown a once-worn sweater or pair of jeans directly in your hamper back at home, you probably no longer do the same thing. The best way to tell if your once-worn clothing is dirty? The sniff test of course.

8. Your shower at home may be the best place on earth.

Before you left for school, you probably didn't appreciate your shower at home as much as you do now. Accordingly, your shower at home most likely has better water pressure, hotter water and a more comfortable environment to belt out the words to your favorite song. Not to mention, shower shoes are one of the worst things in the world.

9. Correction: your bed at home may be the best place on earth.

Not only does your first semester make you long for your shower, it also makes you crave the comfort of your bed. You're likely to have dreamed of your bed at home at least once, when laying in your dorm-room bed. In a few short days you'll be met with privacy, coziness, and more comfort.

10. Going to bed at 1 a.m. is now early.

While this varies for everyone, your likely to be going to bed later now than you did at the brink of the semester. It seems like staying up late one night, makes your body inclined to stay up later the next night. This vicious cycle probably infringes on your own sleep, and if not on yours, on someone else's who's noise might be keeping you up.

11. Immaturity still exists, and so do mean girls.

You probably thought that immaturity and mean girls faded away after your high school years. If there is one thing you learned your first semester, it's that immature and mean people are still all around you. Hopefully this semester also taught you to ignore these people, and live in the light.

12. You're probably no longer the smartest... or the most unintelligent.

Depending on your university, your most likely not the top dog or the underachiever anymore. In fact, you've probably met a plethora of people who are very similar to you on an academic scale. If you still are the smartest, kudos to you my friend. If your still an underachiever, keep trying your hardest.

13. You're ready for a long break back at home.

Even if you disagreed with everything on this list, you probably can agree with one overarching fact: going home for a while is much needed. Enjoy your winter break and stay tuned for more articles to come!