We went from being the top dogs of our high schools to the bottom of the food chain in college. And boy, has it been an experience. As I’ve only been here for a little over two weeks, I obviously don’t know absolutely everything yet. And I probably won’t for quite a while. But based on my experiences so far, here’s what I do know.

1. Everything is about time management. No matter how hard you try, there will never be enough hours in the day to exercise, to eat, to finish all of your homework, to socialize, to get enough sleep, to stay on top of chores—all at once. Just in the first week, there have been times in which I’ve had to choose “do I want to take a nap or go get lunch in the hour I have before class starts?” I’ve learned that killing two birds with one stone is key. For example, instead of setting aside time to socialize AND eat, let your meal times be your times for socialization. Go to the dining hall when your friends are going so that you will have had enough social interaction to make it through the day.

2. Make new friends. This is going to sound shallow, but the more friends you have, and even acquaintances you have, really, really helps. You never know when you’ll need to hit up John for the notes you missed in class or ask Diana for help on that chemistry problem you didn’t get. The people around you not only are your family for the next four years, but very valuable resources, for both now and the future.

3. Get outside of yourself. Join different organizations. Try new things. Attend events that you never thought you'd go to. Talk to new people. Leave your dorm door open, so that the people walking by can stop and say hello. Believe me, I know that sometimes it sounds more appealing to stay in bed and watch Netflix on a Saturday but if you go out and explore, the results will be amazing.

4) Make good decisions. I was honestly surprised at how many people were partying and getting wasted on the very first day. And honestly, there are way better ways to have fun than doing things that are illegal and distasteful. My friends and I have done all types of things--from movie nights and late night study/coffee sessions at the library, to fountain hopping, or late night What-A-Burger runs and let me tell you, I have loved every second of it.

5. It’s OK to miss home. Homesickness has definitely been pretty strong at times. Missing the familiarity of your house, your neighborhood, your family, your friends, your school is something I’m sure most of us have experienced over the past couple of weeks. But we just have to remember that these years are the prime of our lives and that we’re here for a reason.

6. DO NOT TAKE COLLEGE FOR GRANTED. A lot of people would kill to be in our position, to receive the education that we’re receiving and to live the lifestyle we’re living. Whether you’re paying, your parents are paying, or your scholarships have you covered, someone is spilling money out of their pockets for you. Doing well in school, remembering why we’re here, and appreciating that we’re here is the most effective thing that you can do in your college experience.