Dear incoming freshman,

You never thought today would come, did you? Well it’s here! College is what you make of it, and you’ll meet all kinds of new people. You’re in a place that will help shape and mold you into the adult (or semi-adult) you will be in the future. I’ve loved every aspect of my college experience so far, but there are some things I wish someone would’ve told me coming in, like:

1. You actually have to study here.

Yeah, I know you’ve probably heard this in high school, but a test in college covers roughly the same information your final does, depending on the class.

2. It's OK to fail.

You're in this place to learn. You can't learn if you don't fail.

3. You’ll make friends in the weirdest places.

I ended up making one of my best friends in the Miller laundry room.

4. Look at your stack of T-shirts. Now pack half of those.

You’ll get so many free T-shirts from different events on campus you won’t have enough room for them.

5. Capitalize on your meal plan!

As someone who lives off campus, I know the struggle of buying groceries with my own money. I miss being able to go to The 459 and literally eat whatever I want for only one swipe, or getting cheese sticks from Outtakes with my roommate at midnight.

6. Go to every sporting event possible.

I went to an all-girls high school, so I made sure I was going to a college that had a great football program, and LSU doesn’t disappoint. Make sure to go to every game possible, even the ones when it rains (but it never rains in Tiger Stadium). But don't stop at football! Make sure to go to a volleyball game or a gymnastics meet.

7. Get involved.

I signed up to be a reporter for LSU’s news station, Tiger TV, on a whim and ended up loving it so much that I changed my major.

8. Go to STRIPES.

Stripes is the best way to kick off your freshman year. It helps you feel at home, and you already have all these new friends when the school year starts.

9. Go through recruitment.

I’m biased here. I love my sorority, and I love everything Greek life stands for. Sure there’s always some kids that ruin the fun, but Greek life at the core is an amazing system. I’ve met lifelong friends from down the row and have had experiences I wouldn’t be able to experience if I hadn’t been in a sorority. Recruitment week is long and tiring but it’s worth it when you’re running to your new home at the end of the week.

August is almost here. You’ll be moving in before you know it. You’ll be thrown into a world of freedom and responsibility you never experienced before. Love every minute of it, because you’re only a freshman once.