Unless you’re from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, chances are you came to Penn State knowing only a few high school classmates — who you probably never talked to anyway — and a couple of randoms that you met on the Penn State University Class of 2020 page through an awkward phase of what seemed like online dating. And to be honest, that was scary.

I will be the first to admit, I was more nervous than excited when move in day snuck up from behind me. Before I knew it, I was at the Colonnade Boulevard Target pushing a cart full of laundry detergent and toiletries and the terrifying truth hit me — my parents were leaving in less than 24 hours and thereafter I would be forced to “adult” by myself in a foreign place full of foreign faces.

But if your experience was like mine, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and add as much as you can to the shopping cart – this may be the last time your parents will be paying for your essentials, and rest assured that everything will be OK. Here are a few things I wish someone had told me before starting Penn State...

1. Don't worry too much about making new friends.

Although there are a lot of Pennsylvanians who already know other Pennsylvanians, there are also a lot of out-of-staters — and for that matter, out-of-countryers. It’s normal to be scared to start off alone, but with that comes the beauty of a fresh start. It might be terrifying at first to have no one you’re comfortable around, but that will be sure to change with time. The best thing you can do is put yourself out there. Reach out to the girl who’s staring blankly at her GPS trying to find her way to the HUB, she might turn out to be your lifelong best friend.

2. Get season tickets to the football games.

My biggest regret of freshman year was not purchasing said tickets. Even if you don’t like football or don’t think it’s worth it — get them. I can not stress this enough. Football is such a big deal at Penn State that you will feel an intense case of FOMO (fear of missing out) if you don’t attend at least a couple of games. And if you somehow do end up beating FOMO, you can always sell them over Facebook to the thousands of football-hungry students who made the same mistake I did.

3. Download the CATA bus app.

I spent the first few months at college without knowing the wonders of the CATA bus system. Since it was nice outside most of the time and my classes were not too far away, I made the trek by foot every day. Unfortunately, the weather in state college does not stay warm forever. Fortunately, with one click of a “GET” button and password entrance, you can not only see every bus route offered, but also a live look at where the different buses are on that route at any time. It will save you so much precious time and stop you from getting hypothermia in the dead of the Pennsylvanian winter.

4. Read the syllabus and get organized.

In college, your syllabus will become your best friend and you’ll need to refer to it often. Within the first week of the semester, you will have your entire academic semester laid out for you, and that is a blessing. Unlike high school, none of your professors will be spoon feeding due dates to you. Take the time to organize, whether it’s through adding due dates to your mobile calendar or using apps such as Wunderlist. It’s important to know what you have to do and by when because there is little to no “busy work” and every assignment matters.

5. Figure out early what works academically for you.

Before I even came to university, I’d already heard “go to office hours and guided review sessions” so many times that it made my brain numb, so naturally I ignored it. So instead of telling you that, I’m going to tell you to find what works for you, but do it early. For me, guided review sessions were my savior, but it wasn’t until three months into the semester and several underperformed quizzes did I realize. If you’re struggling in a class, keep a look out early rather than later for all possible aid opportunities and snatch the ones that benefit you.

6. It's OK to have FOMO.

Ah, fear of missing out. The infamous FOMO has plagued so many of us freshmen and can be a direct threat to our well being and mental health. I’ve heard with time FOMO will die out, but until then, it’s important to remember that school comes first, always. You’re at Penn State to learn, first and foremost, but sometimes it might be tough when there are so many things happening around you. Let’s be honest, no one wants to spend a Friday night locked up at Pattee library, but sometimes it’s necessary and that’s OK. Don’t feel too bad, frat row will still be there next weekend.

7. Don't beat yourself up for not being perfect and put your mental health first.

On the other hand, don’t spend every day of your four years worried about school, or anything for that matter. It’s important to take breathers, even if you don’t think you deserve it, and take time for yourself and things that are important to you, even if it could mean sacrificing something academic. You may not get perfect marks on every exam and assignment, but that’s OK. Life is all about a balance. Ultimately your mental health is more important than any assignment will ever be.

8. Don't succumb to the Freshman 15.

Unfortunately, the freshman 15 is very real and very possible. Because there is so much junk food easily accessible, and stress eating is a thing, it can be easy to fall into the routine of sitting in your dorm room munching on a bag of chips as you cram for your exam. Don’t succumb, no matter how hard. Treat yourself, for sure, but it’s ultimately much more important to take care of your physical body. If you put junk into your body, that is how your body will feel.

9. No one else knows what they're doing either.

After all, we are all just college students. Despite how it might feel, you don’t have to have your whole life figured out just because your parents aren’t there to hold your hand. College is a crucial time of exploration, and that will not come without any bumps in the road. Don’t worry if you have to call your mom to ask how the laundry machine works, we’ve all been there, it’s going to be OK.