Being a freshman isn’t easy. For many, this is one of the most stressful times of their lives. When faced with new people, an unfamiliar location, challenging classes and the process of adjusting to college independence, it is easy to lose sight of what is truly important. Here are a few of my reflections from freshman year:

1. Don’t do anything you’re not 100% sure about. If you’re not positive, don’t agree to it.

Don’t say maybe and don’t let someone convince you to go against your gut. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the new surroundings and people that college brings, but don’t think that doing something that makes you uncomfortable will change that. No means no.

2. If you believe in gender equality and fairness, don’t let others shame you for your beliefs.

Gender equality is beneficial for men and women and anyone who ridicules you for supporting these tenets is not someone you need in your life.

3. You will encounter people who do not hold the same feminist beliefs as you, both male and female.

Often times, those people will think it is funny to belittle women and their potential. If someone says, “I’m not voting for Hillary Clinton because she isn’t hot” you do not need him or her in your life. Instead of verbally attacking these people, be sure to calmly walk them through why you’re a feminist. You attract more flies with honey after all.

4. In your first year of college, your perception of yourself will be put to the test.

New friends, new surroundings and new independence will cause you to doubt yourself and the characteristics of your personality that you were once secure about. It’s ok to discover new aspects of your personality, but remember to hold onto some of the old. If you find that you now like to go out, do it. If you find that staying in with friends is more your style, do that instead. Wear your favorite jeans from home, but don’t feel ashamed about buying a new top to wear out, and don’t let someone make you feel bad about

5. Sex isn’t as big of a deal as you’ve been told.

If you’ve had it, great. If you’ve had a lot of it, awesome. If you haven’t had it at all, that’s perfectly okay too. There will be people who judge you on the amount of sex you do or do not have, and that is wrong. Why should our perception of people, especially the new ones we meet in college, be based around how sexually active or not they are? Trivial matters like these do not define people.

College is a challenge. You will struggle with finding new friends, feeling comfortable in a new environment, accepting yourself in a new place, and many other factors. Despite it all, the one thing I have truly learned from freshman year is the importance of staying true to your beliefs. There are others out there searching for someone just like you.