Packing the car, hauling the stuff and spending your first night away from home is one of the most exciting and exhilarating days of your life. Please remember to enjoy this.

Through all of the emotions we shuffle through while moving away from our homes, families and friends, one emotion we forget too often is happiness! It is a sad and scary new thing to do, but I wish everyone knew how exciting and fun and life-changing going to college is before it's too late to enjoy it.

Through your tears and nerves, please take into consideration these things I'm about to tell you, and remember to always enjoy the ride you're about to embark on!

1. Let your mom help you set your room up.

2. Let your parents take you grocery shopping for the first time- trust me on this one.

3. Be optimistic about your first night alone.

4. Walk the halls and make friends on your floor.

5. Try new things.

6. Use your meal plan!

7. Try to find a new friend in each class to help each other out (this is a lifesaver).

8. Don't always sleep in.

9. Always pack a snack- you will forget to eat breakfast one, too many times!

10. Make a good relationship with your teachers.

11. Work on projects together with your classmates.

12. Make time for Netlfix binges- you'll need them to de-stress ("The Office" always helps).

13. Go out.

14. Have fun.

15. Don't always skip 8 a.m.'s.

16. But sleep in sometimes if you need to.

17. Tell your roommate how you really feel.

18. Go to football games.

19. Get to know and love your school.

20. Keep your family updated.

21. Focus on school. It's what you came for!

22. Hang out with new people.

23. Keep in touch with your old friends.

24. Eat out on student deals and discount nights. ($1 slice night, anyone?)

25. Make mistakes- they happen.

26. Have some cry sessions- they happen a lot.

27. Stress out a little bit.

28. Stay positive.

29. Be happy and appreciate the things around you.

30. Enjoy the ride. You will never get this opportunity again!

These thirty things I just explained are only some of many of the lessons I learned from my experience in my first years of college. This is such an exciting and crazy time in your life that you will always remember, but please just remember that there is no right or wrong way to do college. You will make mistakes and you will reach milestones. As scary as this time in your life is, always remember this list of the small things you may forget to do or say during the moment, and always remember to enjoy the ride!