People have always told me "college is the best 4 years of your life". College is built up to be this unbelievable experience, and when you get there you are slightly disappointed. The dorm rooms look nothing like they do on the pinterest pictures you've been pinning all summer long, the food really isn't all that great and going to class is nothing like it was in high school. As the halfway point of my junior year is almost over these are a few things I have learned that I wish I could go back and tell my 18 year old self as I started college.

1. When you open the door to you new room, don't expect anything but a small room with concrete walls. Never fear, you will make the best memories in your tiny new space!

-All summer long I had been planning and talking to my roommate about what the theme of the room was going to be, how to set everything up and I just knew it was going to be SO cute! Well let me tell you, I was wrong. I walked in and was immediately ready to walk right back out. I was so used to a clean room, with carpet and nice painted walls with all the luxuries of living in my parents home. I quickly realized, that luxury was gone and my life as a poor college student had begun.

2. Realize that you aren't in high school anymore and procrastinating no longer works.

-In high school it was so easy to procrastinate, because you always seemed to be in bed by midnight and knew that your project was done for the next day. College does not work like that, most projects that are worth a lot of points take longer than a few hours one night at 3 am. Just do it when you get the assignment, save yourself the pain and lack of sleep.

3. Try new things

-Trying new and different things is scary, do it anyway. You may love it and you may not, but at least you tried! Don't be the person who never does anything because you're scared.

4. Love yourself through it all!

-One of the hardest lessons I have learned is not everything is going to go your way. You are gonna get knocked down, your heart broken, and make a few terible grades. IT IS OKAY. It is not the end of the world, pick yourself up, put a smile on your face and move on. Don't let your failures define who you are, let the way you live your life after your failures define who you are.

The most important thing I have learned;

5. It is okay to miss your mom and dad!

-I miss my mom and dad every single day. I think about them often and am always thinking about things to tell them. I have to admit though, I am pretty terrible at calling them. I am such a night owl that when the day is over and my homework is done, I realize how late it is and remember that I did not call them, and I know they are going to be upset. No matter how often I do or do not call them, I am always thinking about them and remembering how much I love them!

I continue to learn new things every single day that I wish as a freshman I knew, but you live and you learn. Take chances, live your life, love yourself while you do it and never forget where you came from!