Who ever said you learn everything you need to know in kindergarten? I’ve taken in a lot about how to deal with work, life, and relationships during my 3 paltry years here at Alma College, and I still have a long way to go. Of course, everyone will experience college (heck, life in general) differently, but these are my best personal nuggets of wisdom:

1. If you get involved in too much, back out
2. It pays to be active in the community in more ways than you imagine
3. Find a way to prioritize your life
4. Learn to use Excel
5. Spend more time with your friends
6. Spend more time with your family
7. Be optimistic, but don’t be naïve
8. Figure out how you do work best
9. As Lowes says, never stop improving
10. Aim for improvement instead of perfection
11. If a person works, talks, listens better than you, you can use them as an example and a motivation for change
12. A teacher can be your best friend
13. You can be your greatest enemy
14. You learn the most from experience
15. Try to leave 15 minutes early for class
16. There is always a bit of leeway in everything, including things you panic the most about
17. Get to sleep on time and wake up early
18. Relax before bed, do exercises in the morning
19. Learn from failure instead of condemning it
20. Ask yourself questions when you annotate and take notes
21. Study 3 days or more before a test
22. It’s okay to be sad and lonely
23. You are more gentle than you think
24. Compliment yourself and give yourself snacks, because you’re running a marathon and you need your strength
25. Find a way to balance your pride and humility