Your life is about to change quite a bit whether or not you're ready. Don’t be afraid of this change though, because it will be something that allows you a lot of opportunities for growth, and it will shape who you become as a person.

I don’t know where you’re going to school, it could be a small school or a big school. You could be excited about leaving home or you could be the most nervous you’ve ever felt.

Both of those are okay.

College is an amazing experience that will set you up for success in the rest of your life. I know that you will find out a lot about yourself during your freshman year and that is very exciting.

With that being said, here are a few pieces of advice that I learned from my freshman year of college that I hope will help you.

Whether you're excited about moving or you're not, it will be stressful. So, when your moving in don’t forget to take a break and de-stress a little bit, because you’re going to need it. While moving all of your stuff is a stressful process, meeting your roommate for the first time can also be very nerve-racking. My best advice would be to be nice to your roommate and give them a fair chance to get to know you. It’s great if you get to be best friends with your roommate, but it's also okay if you don’t become best friends.

Classes will be tough and you are going to meet a lot of new people. Don’t be afraid to go introduce yourself to your professors, it will go a long way in their eyes. I cannot stress this enough, go to office hours if you are struggling!!!!!! Most college professors are there to help you succeed and they actually want to have a relationship with you. This might be different from the experiences you had in high school.

Create study groups with the people in your classes, because it helps to study with others. Plus, they might be able to give you a new perspective on the material.

Oh and buy an alarm clock! This will ensure that you have the ability to get up and get to class on time. And most importantly, your life will be so much easier if you actually go to class.

Another important aspect of college is to get involved. Try out lots of organizations and get plugged in where you feel at home. Explore the passions that you’ve had all of your life and dive into new activities. You will find a college family that will love you for who you are and you will love them for who they are. Don’t wait for this community to find you, I encourage you to seek them out. The faster that you get plugged in, the sooner you will feel like your new college town is home. There are so many organizations out there that are doing so many good things that are looking for new members like you.

College is a scary and exciting time; you are going to change a lot over the course of this year.

Don’t be afraid to lean into this change.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10