So you just moved in for your freshman year at college. You unloaded the car that was likely packed to the roof and out the window. For some of you who, like me, really suck at packing it probably took more than one car (to be fair, my car is a small hatchback unsuitable for packing a cabinet and a mini fridge AND all my other junk!) You got into your room, you're meeting your roommate and learning how to become the roomie dream team and you're about to take your first set of college classes...

Your feelings are probably ranging from excited to incredibly nervous, and both of those feelings are totally okay. Starting college is terrifying. For me, the first day was easy. Just like high school, for most teachers the first day is a 30 minute rundown of their syllabus and expectations. The days after that are the ones that scared me. I was terrified of turning in my first assignments, and I still am. I was terrified of the first test, and I still am. I was an anxious wreck who could barely function on the first oral presentation in front of the class, and I still am. The thing you need to know right now is that, while it might always be scary, it's not always going to be a failure. You will have some rough days and rough grades in college, welcome to the real world. You will not, however, ALWAYS have rough days and rough grades.

College is a lot of work. It's a lot of time management and prioritizing. It's a lot of giving up fun events to put your schoolwork first or choosing to let your schoolwork slip. It's also, however, a time when you have the opportunity to do a ton of fun things. Last year I was a freshman. I went rock climbing outside and learned how to top rope belay. I went to Scarowinds on Halloween and rode some awesome roller coasters while laughing at the scary costumes the staff was wearing. I went rafting down the Nantahala river and fell out while wearing a Go Pro. I went to see comedians and magicians and inspirational speakers that my college brought to campus. I went to career fairs and volunteer fairs and international fairs. There are things I wish I could have done. There's never enough time in the day or the week or the semester or your life. You won't be able to do everything. But everything I did I enjoyed, and I don't regret missing a few because I also enjoyed my GPA at the end of the year!

My point in telling you all of this is that in the days and weeks ahead, know that you're not alone. You have people all around you going through the same thing. Everyone was a freshman at some point. If you don't know where something is, find someone and ask them. If you need help, go see a tutor. If you procrastinated on your research project and it's due tomorrow, go ask the librarians where to find stuff. It's okay to be afraid. It's okay to be an anxious wreck. Just know that once that assignment is over, you can go on an amazing hike as a reward and life will move on.

College is a balancing act and sometimes it feels like you're standing on a seesaw while someone is throwing tomatoes at you. Just let karma worry about them and you worry about you. Learn to balance. Learn to enjoy the ride.

Welcome to college.