Everyone is excited to go to college, but there are some things I wish I had known about it beforehand.

1. It will be the best and worst of times.

I made a lot of friends, but I also got hurt by a lot of people.

2. You won't be friends with people forever.

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I thought some people I was friends with would be there at my wedding. That's not the case.

3. Professors really do notice your absence.

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Some people say you can skip class and just show up for the tests. No, you can't. Professors notice who is there and who is not. If you're there and struggling to get a B, they'll probably help you out.

4. Being sick is a real excuse to not go to class.

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My freshman year, I wanted to never miss a day of class, but when I got tonsillitis, I realized my health was more important than risking everyone else's health.

5. You don't need to make it last.

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I went to college with the intention of being there for four years. I was there for three. I guess I really didn't want to be there as long as I thought. And that's okay. It's okay to be ready for adult life before your friends are.

6. You might not enjoy every moment of college.

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There were so many times when school stressed me out to the point of tears. There were so many times when boys hurt me to the point of tears. There were so many times when friends hurt me to the point of tears. It's okay to not enjoy every moment. Just don't wallow in it.

College will be fun, no doubt about it, but you should really consider that it's not going to be what you expected. And that's okay.