As I conclude the first of some of the “best years of my life," I find it fitting to impart some newfound wisdom to the graduating class of 2016. The next 12 months will forever alter who you are and where you go from here. I’ve seen more growth and struggle, from both myself and my friends, than ever before and although the experiences you are about to have can be scary and overwhelming, they will change your life.

1. Be Open to New Ideas: College is perhaps one of the most diverse and unique environments you will ever find yourself in. Thousands of individuals with different stories and aspirations join together around a mutual appreciation for education. You will meet people who challenge you, who inspire you, who disagree with you to the point of utter frustration. Good. These people are only augmenting your ability to debate, to adapt and to engage and they represent the vast number of opinions that you will encounter throughout your life. Treat each as an opportunity to learn about a new perspective and to defend your own.
2. Don’t study where you sleep. Trust me on this one. Your dorm room will be the most unproductive place on campus. Pack your backpack for the day and try not to come home until you’re done with classes. Find a library corner, a Starbucks table or a comfy lounge to do your work. You’ll meet more people, get more done and watch a lot less Netflix- I promise. Find a routine that works for you and stick to it.
3. It’s not cool to not take care of your body. There will still be those who think that pulling an all nighter makes you awesome, that getting 3 hours of sleep and partying on a Tuesday somehow makes you much cooler than everyone else. I promise that’s not true. Getting a cold away from your mom, your real bed and a school that lets you call in sick to miss class is awful. Get enough sleep. Wake up early-you’ll be surprised at how much more you get done in the morning. Go out, party- but be rational. Know your limits and stop when you’ve had enough. Listening to your body is the most important thing you can do throughout your freshman year. Feeling rested, healthy and eager makes all the difference.
4. Everyone has the right to be stressed out. Whether you’re an English major, a pre-med student or in 5 classes you have every right to be stressed and so does each and every one of your peers. College is entirely different and there’s many things about the academic process that high school could never have prepared you for. Be kind because everyone is adjusting.
5. Call your mom: Being away from home, no matter how much you want to get away from it right now, will be a major transition. You will learn to do many things for yourself that you didn’t anticipate. Be grateful for your family every day because they are your biggest fans. Check in with your mom frequently because she may be desperately trying to let you find your way but she is worried sick that her child is scared and alone. Letting her know that you’re having a blast and figuring things out goes such a long way.
6. Get involved. Pick a club, a sorority, a intramural sports team or a job offer and put yourself out there. Everyone makes friends in a different place but you have to get out of the dorm to meet people. Form a study group after class or ask your hall-mate to grab dinner together. You never know where your future best friends are hiding but I promise you’ll find them if you take the opportunities given to you.
7. Learn when to say no. Say yes more often than no. Take calculated risks and yearn for opportunities. But if I could stress any one piece of advice- it would be to learn when to step back. It’s okay to stay in sometimes, to eat a meal alone. We all need our space from time to time. Peer pressure will be more real than ever before and understanding when enough is enough is crucial.

Live your first year to the fullest and experience it with joy. Nothing will be as transformative as these first months away from home. Good luck graduates!