If you're like me, you're a fear-ridden, socially awkward, loner who loves spending her time watching Netflix and reading books. If you're also like me, you have crippling social anxiety that worsens when you're thrown in to unfamiliar or new situations.

College. From where you're standing now, whether it's a high school junior or senior, a teen who decided to take some time off before starting the next four plus years of endless school work, or someone who is currently sitting in their dorm room by themselves watching Grey's Anatomy, college may be a scary word. Back in junior year of high school, I know it was all I could think about. Finally getting that freedom, breaking away from your family, making your own choices. It sounded like every typical teenage dream.

Now, you're in your dorm room. It's move-in day. You've never been so uncertain in your entire life. You feel like you completely messed up. This so-called 'dream school' that you've been waiting to escape to all summer has turned out to be a jail cell that you now have to sleep in. It's terrifying! You have no friends, the dining hall food is terrible and making you sick, and your psychology professor wants you to read two, fifty-page chapters in a night. You feel like you're drowning. I know it may feel like it now, but thankfully, you aren't the only one who feels this way. Here's some advice that I wish someone told me when trying to get through my first week of college.

1. No matter how much you don't want to, throw yourself in to activities. I'm telling you now, if you skip the club fair, the sport's team sign up, or any other planned college event, you will regret it. Sign up for as many clubs as you can. Did you play a sport in high school? Play it in college. Find people who like the same things that you like and have the same interests as you. Maybe you're a master of photography. I am betting you there's a photography club at whatever school you're at. At my school, there's even a makeup club! One of the best things about leaving high school is that no matter how big or small your high school was, your college is a lot bigger, and a lot more diverse. Now, instead of trying to make friends with people you've known since kindergarten, you can make friends with people you've never met. You can finally be yourself! Which brings me to my next piece of advice...

2. BE YOURSELF. Dye your hair blue, get a bunch of tattoos, wear whatever clothing you want. This is the beauty of college. You finally have the opportunity to live by your own standards and no one else's. There are no dress codes, no guidelines to what kind of person you have to be in order to attend the school. You can do what you want, when you want, and all for you! The best thing about college is that you can now find "your people". You can find the people who listen to the same music as you, who love Grey's Anatomy, and so on.

3. I am begging you. Please, please, please get out of your room. I know it's scary to be away from home. I know it's scary to not know anyone here but the only way you'll make friends is to get up out of that burrito of blankets you've managed to wrap yourself in and put on some clothes that aren't pj's. Go to a campus party, go to a movie night, go out in the lounge and talk to someone that's already in there. JUST GO! It may seem impossible and terrifying now, but once you do it, you'll be glad you did.

4. The best way to not let yourself get behind with school work and what not is to make a schedule for yourself. It doesn't have to be a strict "brush teeth at 8:30" schedule. Maybe just a sticky note that says "To Do" on it stuck to the lotion on your desk. List the homework you need to get done and cross it off as you go. I promise it'll make things a lot easier. Buy a planner. Not a crappy basic one either, unless you like that kind of thing. A pretty planner with puppies or polkadots or whatever color makes you happy. WRITE EVERYTHING IN IT. I mean everything. Test dates, school events, encouraging notes that you can read throughout the day to keep you going. Anything that'll make your day a little easier.

5. Last but not least, have fun. College is all about finding new friends and having new experiences and doing what you maybe couldn't do living at home with your parents and siblings. Now, I'm not encouraging drugs or anything, but go out and do something fun for you. Do something that'll make you happy, that'll get your mind off from being sad about being away from your family. Do something for yourself.

I hope this those of you who are anxiety-ridden or just missing home a little perspective and I hope it even made you all feel a little better about starting the next big step in your life. College is scary, everyone feels that way at first, whether they admit it or not. But with these few tips, hopefully you can make it a little more bearable for yourself.