Heading off to college for the first time can be scary, especially if it's your first taste of being away from home. As a college freshman (and only child), it is different having to live with a roommate. P.S. they probably will not end up being your absolute best friend so don't try to force it. And privacy? It barely exists anymore unless you decide to take a semi-warm shower at 3 a.m. Other than that, be careful what you say and how you represent yourself in front of your peers. News spreads like the STDs (STIs?) you can learn about from the very informative bulletin boards in your dorm buildings.

Wait, what about space? You may have to share a dorm room with two or three other people. This means you need to leave some stuff at home. Not everything in your possession will fit in a cramped space when everyone needs to share. If only you were Ariel and had room for your collection of random objects, am I right? Well... I kind of broke my own rule since I brough my ENTIRE makeup collection with me.

I also learned that you may gain a little weight during your first couple months on campus. Unlimited dining hall plans are so tempting and I have fallen victim. Closing my jeans has become a little challenging but there's a gym on my floor! Plus, I burn a lot of calories walking up all of these Oneonta hills to class. There's a reason they call it the city of the hills.

Lastly, going out of your comfort zone is a must. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TRY NEW THINGS. Join an interesting club, squeeze in some volunteer hours, explore your college town, and chat up the people down the hall. You never know where it could lead!