In a few weeks, you will finally be an official freshman in college. Maybe you're excited to begin this new chapter of your life. Maybe you're absolutely terrified to leave home. Maybe, you're feeling a very intense mixture of both...I know I sure did! Just last year I was a dweeby little incoming freshman, and I felt so small when my parents and siblings finally left me and I had to go and face my orientation group and our two leaders. (Shoutout to Team Q!) Here are some pieces of advice I want to share with you.

1. Take as many morning classes as you can. Just do it.

I know. I know you don't want to. I know mornings suck, especially when you spend them in class. But make yourself take morning classes. I promise, it's better. The reason being is, if you can swing it, you want to be done with classes and labs by 12:30. (I know you do.) If you are done with all or most of your classes by the early afternoon, you can get a head start on homework. Which leads me to my next point...

2. Do not procrastinate anything. Ever.

Whether it's just a little bit of reading you have to do, a worksheet or a short paper, don't save it for later. If it's a big, mid/end of semester essay or project, start it as soon as you can. Look ahead on your syllabus. Professors usually warn you about the biggest assignments multiple times during the semester. In most cases too, they will give you the information you need to complete the more daunting tasks two or three weeks in advance. PSA: They do it for a reason. Take it from me, you really do not want to be cramming a big essay or presentation because it's due in a few days (or the next day!) and you haven't done anything with it yet. Instead, start it right away. Then you can have a peer tutor look over your work, give you their input and you can adjust things before sharing with your professor. Speaking of...

3. PROFESSORS ARE NOT AS SCARY AS THEY MIGHT SEEM.

Seriously. So, participate in class, whether you're called on or not. Volunteer to read a passage, offer your opinions, ask questions. And when you have an essay or other big project due, after you make the changes that your peer tutor suggests, take it to your professor. They are happy to sit down and offer you their input on your work, and they will appreciate that you took that extra step. This will help you get better grades than if you just work on it yourself, AND it will get you on your professor's good side. Sure, you might not like all of your professors. I know I definitely had my favorites, some got on my nerves more than others and I even had that one kinda annoying professor who loved to call me out in front of the class, jokingly pick on me and start debates with another student just so he could throw me into the middle of them. (Let's just say he really brought out my sarcastic, argumentative, sometimes downright snarky, dark humor side.) My point is, even if I didn't LOVE all my professors, I still learned a lot from each of them and they each bettered me in some way or another. That's their job. They want to see you succeed, so help them, help you get a GPA you'll be proud of.

4. Food is important.

Try not to live off of Ramen, Easy Mac, oatmeal and loaves of bread! Attempt to keep your meals balanced. But spend your meal plan wisely. Don't get a lot of extras unless you're above the average amount of money you should have for that week. Among my friends, some had a ton of money left on their cards at the end of each semester, and some ran out and had to start paying out of pocket or asking others to pay for them. So, just be mindful of how much you're spending each day and budget wisely.

5. Avoid meal rush hours if at all possible.

If your schedule will allow it, try not to go to the dining hall during meal rush hours. It will save you a lot of time, and possibly the awkwardness of almost walking into people every two seconds. (That happened to me a lot. In fact, one time I did that three times in one day, with the same guy. Now every time he sees me he gives me the "sup" nod. Talk about embarrassing). I know for me, right after I finished classes I would go to the dining hall and depending on how many people were also getting food, I would either grab lunch early and eat while I started my homework, or I would just camp out and do homework while I waited for the crowd to thin out. Time saver, I know. Plus you get stuff done while you're waiting.

6. Don't overwork yourself.

While you don't want to procrastinate doing work, you also don't want to overwork yourself to the point where your brain is fried. Take breaks according to how much you got done and how hard your task is. Whether it's a short break or a longer one, if you really need it, take it. Use that time to do something you love, or something that makes you feel good about yourself.

7. Don't isolate yourself.

This is why you should really get your work done as well and as efficiently as possible. Once you get your work done, then you'll have free time to get involved! Make some friends. Hang out in the common room, even if you're still finishing up some work. Go to sporting events, and the numerous free programs that the college hosts. Get involved in clubs and intramurals. Have fun!

8. Last but not least, stay true to yourself.

You do not have to prove yourself to anyone. College, more than any other time in your life, is when you will figure out who you are as a person. You will grow by leaps and bounds, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself, to defend your beliefs and to show your true colors. Don't fake who you are, or go-along-to-get-along. College life thrives on people just being themselves and sharing that with others confidently. So find that most confident version of you, and don't hide it. You'll be glad you did. After all, the best gift you can give to the world, is yourself.

Shine on friends.
~Alexis Grace