As I embark on my sophomore year of college, I realize that my freshman year stands out as a defining year in my life so far. Incoming freshman, take note: you will learn more about yourself in the upcoming year than ever before. My year had ups and downs, absolutely, but left me with the confidence to go into the rest of my college career as a better person.

Here are some of the lessons a year in college has left me with.

1. The study habits that were acceptable in high school, won't last a day in college.

This is a big one. In high school, students are too often able to fly by the seat of their pants, writing papers the night before they're due, and studying for tests hours before taking them. For college courses, it simply doesn't work that way. Granted, some classes are easier than others and will require less studying. However, for the majority of classes, hours of studying a night will be necessary in order to pass the course. Time management is key! Also, when your professor tells you to read a chapter in the text, you actually have to read it to know what's going on in class.

2. Your high school friendships will only survive if you want them to.

This is a tough pill to swallow for most freshmen, especially those students who choose to go to school away from their hometown. It is a difficult transition from seeing the same faces every day for 13 years to hardly seeing them at all. You figure out what weekends you'll all be home, and get together over breaks. But the sad truth is that most high school friendships falter by the spring semester. This is not to say that all high school friendships end after graduation. College is the time that you figure out what your friendships were based on in the first place: proximity or genuine connections. Lasting friendships take effort and a desire to maintain the relationship.

3. You may not find the love of your life (and that's OK!).

As a former idealist who took fortune cookies way too seriously, I stepped onto campus with the goal of finding "my person." However, I soon learned that college is about meeting new people and sharing new experiences. Even if you go to a small school, you're still going to meet so many different people. I think it is a good thing to date and get to know more than one person. How else are you supposed to find "the one"? I also came to know for certain that heartbreak is not the end of the world and that the soul heals if you let it. I have come out of bad situations a stronger person, and I have been at my happiest in college totally single.

4. Education is not a spectator sport.

Be present, prepared, and engaged during your classes. If you are struggling, go to your professor and take advantage of his or her office hours. Sit in the front and be involved during class. Going into freshman year, I thought that the appropriate course of action was to sit towards the back of the classroom and fight to remain invisible. I could not be more wrong! I figured this out quickly and once I did, I put forth all of my efforts into not just getting by, but being an exceptional student.

5. Enjoy time with friends.

After a long week of school, there is nothing better than unwinding with friends on the weekend. This is especially important during particularly grueling and stressful weeks.I tend to be on the introverted side, so when I first started college, I was nervous about making friends. However, I am happy to say that I made awesome friends that I have shared the best memories with. I would encourage incoming freshman to take advantage of the campus activities and places in town. Get out of your dorm for awhile and enjoy yourself!

6. Get involved, but at your own pace.

There are so many ways to get involved on campus, be it through clubs and organizations, or through volunteer opportunities. Going into college, I knew that I wanted to be an involved student, but in my own time. In high school, I was overly involved and I had a leadership position in all of my activities. I was busy and stressed the majority of my high school career. So, I chose not to participate in any organizations during my first semester of college in order to adjust to college life and figure out what I would eventually want to be a part of. I am now a member of the Student Activities Board, the University Choir, and the Catholic club, Cal ROCKS. I am interested in becoming more and more involved, and I am even considering Greek Life. Getting involved is a great way to make friends and memories, as well as build up your resumé.

7. It is OK to miss home.

Luckily for me, I live a half hour away from my school, so I am able to see my family whenever I wish to. However, I know that not every student has that luxury, and while all of the newfound freedom may seem fantastic, it is normal to miss home and your family. No matter how close to home you are, it is different to go from seeing your parents and siblings every day to only seeing them every few weekends. I call my mother every day and talk to my family regularly to ensure that I am an involved family member and to maintain our close bonds.

8. Remember why you are there.

It is easy to get caught up in college life and forget the real reason you are at your university in the first place: to further your education with the ultimate goal of getting a job. It is important to enjoy college but to keep your priorities in line. I learned that a class with no attendance policy is a death trap. While there may be no tangible penalty for missing the class, you are only cheating yourself out of money (you are paying to be there, after all) and your education.

Freshman year of college is about finding out who you are and who you are going to become. The lessons you learn along the way are the ones that shape your future. Incoming freshman, enjoy this next chapter and take it all in! These will be some of the best years of your life, but they will be what you make them.