I've been in college for less than a month, but it feels like so much longer. Everything is still very new, but I feel as though I have already learned some important lessons that are worth sharing.

1. Get To Know Your Roommates

Making friends is by far the hardest part of college that I've encountered thus far. Forget 8 am classes and mountains of homework, finding the people that I want to spend time with is a process that takes the most of my time and energy. What’s great though is that, if you’re lucky, you could have one or more built in friends living only feet away from you. Hanging out with my roommates has been one of the most enjoyable college experiences thus far, and being with the same people every day means that you get to know each other very well (maybe too well), and faster than you would think.

2. Talk To Your Advisor

At least for me, this was a mandatory part of my first week at college. My advisor set up appointments with all of us and we went and talked to her for about fifteen minutes about our classes, what clubs we may be interested in, and our potential major. My advisor offered extremely helpful insight on the course load I wanted to take, the best way to navigate the first semester, and made sure I knew the door was open if I ever had any issues. Within a week I went back again to have a casual conversation about scheduling, and it took away so much stress to have someone who had seen this process a million times. I urge all of you, if you have not already, set up an appointment with your advisor and just talk through your goals for this first semester. If you have any stress about your work or your classes, there is definitely someone available who can lend a hand.

3. Do Your Homework

Now, this was a lesson that I learned years ago in elementary school, but it is crucial in college. There is so much more responsibility in college, so much of the material is left for you to teach yourself outside of class, that it is essential that you do all of it. The 50 pages of reading that seems so tedious may not be essential in the next class discussion, but I am assured that it will show up on the final exam and if you blow it off, there’s no saving you. This scare method has helped me establish a routine of going to the library and staying a day ahead on my homework to reduce stress.

4. Take Time To Breathe

This one is very important. I have built in time between classes every day, but there is always something going on that can try to call me away from alone time. I am lucky in that my roommates and I have very different schedules so we are not often in the room at once (I love them, but quiet time is nice too!), so there is always an opportunity to take a quick nap or sit in my window seat and drink a cup of tea. It can be so easy to constantly be with other people, but it is important to also take half an hour a few times a week to collect your thoughts, and enjoy your own presence.

5. Eat (The Right) Food

For being such a basic human function, eating can be a tricky thing to manage in college. On the one hand, there is a plethora of food available only minutes away from your dorm, but on the other hand, you have to actually leave your room to get it. There are two types of people in college: the ones who don’t eat because they’re too lazy to get food, and the ones who go crazy because, unlimited buffet all day every day. Whichever one you are, it is so essential to find a balance. If you don’t like to leave your room, stock up on bananas and granola bars to snack on while you sit at your desk. If you find yourself swiping into dining hall more frequently than you would like, try to make a balanced plate (green things are key). It is completely up to you to stay healthy in college, and your body and mind will thank you for it.

6. Don’t Spend All Of Your Savings At Once

This one is harder than I thought. I assumed I could just stay on campus, use my meal plan, and keep extra expenses to a minimum. Three weeks, two trips to target, many coffees, and a few breakfasts later, I am down more money that I originally planned. This is due to the phenomenon of social spending, where everyone says, “lets go out for breakfast!” and suddenly you spend $20 on gourmet waffles. I plan to spend the next few weeks ON campus, for the sake of my wallet and my sanity.

7. Keep Your Space Clean(ish)

I have already been dubbed “the messy roommate”. In my triple there's the roommate who cleans all of her surfaces with disinfectant, the one who is clean, but doesn’t always make her bed, and then there's me. Very clean, somewhat clean, and apparently, messy. Now, I have been trying very hard to be neat and I think I have been doing a good job for the most part. My space may get a little untidy during the week when I am busy, but when I have a free moment it is straightened up and beautiful. The moral of this story is, clean up your space so you’re not "The Messy Roommate". It will be easier to find things and your roommates will love you for it.

8. Write Letters/Call/Skype Loved Ones From Home

It is so easy to get wrapped up in your schoolwork and social life, but it is important to remember that there are people at home who are missing you. A daily text to your parents, or a weekly call or Skype to your best friends, can make all the difference. Sometimes you don’t even realize how homesick you are until you hear your mom’s voice on the phone, but it will also make you feel so much better, more grounded, and confident in your decisions. Everyone loves to hear from the busy college student, so take a few minutes a week to write a short letter or pick up the phone.

9. Take Chances/Put Yourself Out There

Entering a new environment knowing virtually no one is a perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself. If there was something you always wanted to participate in in high school but felt judged for, now is the time to finally join. In college, everyone is very proud of the clubs and organizations they are associated with, and it is cool to pursue what you are passionate about. Whether that be the school newspaper, a DJ club, or even the Quidditch team, I would strongly recommend giving it a try. It is a great way to make friends, find out what you’re interested in, and build your resumé.

10. Be Yourself.

I know that this is the most cliché statement of all time, but it could not be more true. People will be drawn to you if you are authentic and kind, and stick to your morals. There will be people doing things that you don’t want to participate in, and that is okay. If you fall in with a group of people that make you uncomfortable, nothing is stopping you from finding other people more like you. Trying to act like someone you are not is exhausting and will only make you miserable. Now is the time to start being your most authentic self, and it will be so incredibly liberating.