If you are a senior in high school and preparing to go off to college, hold on for dear life. The next few months are going to be a bumpy and exciting ride. If you are anything like me when I was a senior, you are beyond ready to graduate, find new friends, and start a new chapter in life. However, if you are not, it is okay to be a little frightened for what is to come. We cannot predict the future, so who knows what will be in store for you. Just know that either way, this thing called college takes a bit of getting used to. Being a few weeks away from becoming a sophomore, I have some tips for you when it is time take off on this new adventure called college.

Take this new journey head on. If you are timid about the start of your first year, then it may start off rough. It is okay to be nervous. But be sure to make friends as soon as you get there. Preferably make friends during orientation so when it comes to move in day, you already know people! There is no doubt that you may be a little lonely during the first few weeks. This is only because you are missing your old group of friends from high school. It's important you find people to eat, study, and hangout with to quickly eliminate that feeling of having no one around you.

Now that we have friends covered, get involved with as many groups as possible. Okay, not that many because you don't want to distract yourself from your studies. But there are many clubs and organizations that you can be part of. If you are scared, you won't find your niche, but don't worry -- you will. There is a group for everybody. Go through Greek life recruitment, join intramural sport teams, religious clubs, student media, the list is endless! Joining these organizations is also a great way to meet people, and they will even have the same interests as you.

Become a better student. The reason we are all here is to get an education, right? So come into college knowing how you study. There will be times when the work load is overbearing and it seems like all odds are against you when trying to finish all 50 assignments. It can be very stressful, but making good grades is rewarding. Talk to your professors and advisors if you have trouble in classes. Also, be sure you use your school's resources such as the library, writing centers, and tutors. Doing well in your first semester will help you in the semesters to come, as the classes get harder. Make sure to maintain a good GPA so things will go smoothly in the long run.

Treat yourself right. This means stay healthy and love wisely. Your college will most likely have a gym available for you to work out in. Take advantage of it. The freshman 15 is only real if you make it become a reality. So eat healthy and hit the gym! Working out is also a good stress reliever, so if the books are becoming more and more unbearable, put the gym to use. If your body is happy, you are happy! This is going to sound cheesy and a little cliché, but in order to be loved, you have to love yourself first. After realizing your worth, make sure to find someone who will love you unconditionally. This may take a while as college is not an easy place to find a lasting relationship. If you do, know for sure that they are the one.

You may ignore all of my advice now, but these are things that I wish someone told me before I went off to college. It has taken me a few times to understand these tips, and I am still learning new ones as I type because, Lord knows, I am not a pro at this college thing yet. If you learn anything from this article, learn this: college will be the best years of your life. Don't spend them unhappy.