As a sophomore in college, who just recently kind-of became a junior, I've been reflecting on the last two years of my college career with bittersweetness. There are so many things I would do differently now, and I can see how much I've grown in almost two years. It astounds me that I even was the way I was. I hope some of the following lessons I learned can help you in your journey, as you venture off to college in the fall, gifs provided by the hilarious "Bridesmaids."

1. Your parents are right: don't immediately trust everyone you meet in first week.

College is a fantastic place to meet life-long friends, and chances are, you probably won't meet all of them in your first week, or even your first few months. When I started college I immediately became friends with a group of girls, who I loved, but didn't always feel connected with. It probably took until October before I started branching out and hanging out with other people on my floor and found some new friends; and I didn't keep all of them either. Some of them, after knowing them for over a year, started showing their true colors and we went our separate ways. It wasn't until the end of sophomore year that I realized the girl I thought was weird freshman year was actually one of my greatest friends. I know now who my real friends are: the people I miss about mid-July and make me want to scream when I see them again in August. These are people I can't imagine never talking to again after graduation. Don't trust everyone so easily, and don't be afraid to move away from people.

2. Some of your roommates will be amazing, and some of them won't be.

It happens to everyone. My first roommate was a dream. She was sweet, caring, gave me my space, didn't get on me about my messes, communicated with me, had regular hours and had a great family and friend circle. The worst thing that ever really happened between us was her leaving cute sticky notes on the mirror when I got makeup in the sink. A dream. Other roommate were not so good. I've seen roommates that never cook or clean, roommates that get black-out drunk and have to be taken care of, roommates that don't care about your personal space or belongings and even roommates that deal drugs. Chances are, you'll have a shitty roommate at some point, but life goes on and everyone moves out eventually. More importantly, try not to BE that shitty roommate.

3. Don't go in with the expectation that you're going to meet your future husband or wife.

I know I was excited to go to college and be an adult. Be in charge of my own expenses, have loans, cook and clean for myself, drive myself around, live on my own and maybe, just maybe, meet my future husband. This is tricky. Going through my first two years I've realized something: go in with no expectations. Some of the guys, many at my school, are gay, some are already in relationships and quite a few just don't want to be in serious relationships during college. Don't make the same mistake I did and try to turn your first college crush into a serious relationship -- or even your second. At this point, I don't expect to have another boyfriend during college and I certainly don't expect to meet my husband for years. You can't force it, and like they say: once you stop looking, you'll find them.

4. University classes are different than high school classes, even AP classes.

Depending on where you go and what your individual professors are like, your teachers will either notice you're gone and not care, or not notice at all. Your professors just give you an academic alert when you miss class, they don't email you about missing assignments, and most of them don't give extra credit. You can show up or not show up, but keep track of your absences as most professors give you a certain amount of days before your grade will be docked. The workload will be different too. You could probably write papers the day before they were due in high school, like I've tried to do a few times, but it's a lot harder to do in college. There are fewer assignments given in college, so every one counts more in the grand scheme of your grade which honestly sucks.

5. At the same time, failure does not mean YOU are a failure.

Adjusting to college, taking a higher level class, or taking a class outside your major are all reasons you could slip up in college. I can count on both my hands the amount of friends I had that switched majors because of their grades, received a GPA too low to stay in the honors program and even left school because of their grades. Everyone will falter at some point, but PLEASE remember that it isn't a reflection of you.

6. Not all of your friends are going to stay where you are; you might not stay where you are.

Sometimes it's just not right. I can't even count on both my hands the amount of people I know that go to different schools now. There are people that changed majors and went to other schools, people who decided to go to community college and people who decided to work and take a break from school. YOU might become this person in a year or two. Life is a journey and if these people are really important to you, you can keep in contact. They can come visit the University or you can get together over summer break so don't be afraid of friends moving on or moving on yourself.

7. Don't be afraid to experiment a little, but don't feel like you have to.

This goes back to going into college with no expectations. If you go in thinking "I'm not going to party" or "I'm definitely going to party", don't be afraid to change your mind. If you get into a situation you don't want to be in, then get out. Don't force yourself to feel a certain way. I know some people who came in thinking they were going to be 'cool' and party like they never did in high school and ended up with their head in the toilet and more academic alerts every Sunday. Some people said they'd never party and now they casually drink. DON'T BE AFRAID to try smoking, drinking, going to a party or having fun with boys. Or don't. You do you.

8. Take lots of pictures.

Trust me when I say you'll want to write everything down and get as many pictures as possible. College is a time you'll want to cherish forever. I have lists on my memo pad in my phone of everything I thought I'd want to remember, to keep for years to come. Everything from my drunken friend running down the hall in his boxers and a captain's hat saying "Look at me, I'm the captain now", to the Moon Hooch and Sidewalk Chalk concerts we attended, to my $120 speeding ticket last summer. Take pictures and make albums. You may remember some of this stuff next week, but not in a year, or ten. It's always hilarious and delightful going back through my lists and having memories I couldn't recall on my own.

9. Try to do as much as you can on your own.

Get your own checkbook and debit card. Get a job and try to manage your own money. It's going to be difficult--it's going to be REALLY difficult, but you have to have the courage to jump out of the nest at some point and learn to be an adult. Learn to cook. Call your parents for recipes, look up your own. Try new things. Burn a couple of things. Try grocery shopping, filling your gas and going to the doctor by yourself. Learn to clean. Not just learning how to vacuum your room, but how to clean an oven and clean out a shower. More importantly, encourage your roommates to do the same, or you might end up being the only responsible person in the place.

I hope your first year is great, and that this advice can help in some way or another as you journey into the unknown this fall.