Ahh, I will forever remember the days spent as an ambitious and eager high school junior: attempting to calm my jitters as I walked into the cold, unfamiliar classroom to take my SAT’s; the test that I was absolutely sure would be the sole factor in whether or not I’d get anywhere in life. After those agonizing weeks had passed, I finally got my score. Oh but wait, that’s not all! Now was time to start getting college lists together. Then went senior year, and between the endless college visits and running to my mailbox every day after school in hopes of another acceptance letter, I found myself accepted and enrolled as a full-time student at a four-year university.

College is one of those things that is constantly glamorized. The parties are big and extravagant with cute string lights everywhere, colorful bowls of punch, and some good music. The college goer usually has the time of their life all night and can still somehow make it for that math exam in the morning. There are large study groups at coffee shops. All of the dorms are nicely carpeted with pretty, white walls and shiny, wood furniture. You can go out with your friends whenever you want. You can even have a real job and really have a chance to create yourself. Man, who wouldn’t want to go to college?!

Well, it’s been a month now since I’ve embarked on the thrilling journey that is college. And there are a few things I’ve came to realize:

1. College is not exactly like it looks in movies, but in a way, it kind of is. Yeah, maybe it’s not as pretty as it looks in movies, but is anything portrayed correctly in film these days? Personally I am not a party-goer, but I can definitely speak for those who do when I say that whatever college party you venture off to will not be so neat and glamorous. On the other hand, study groups are a thing, and they are helpful!! Utilize them! Also, if your experience is anything like mine, your cafeteria food isn’t growing legs and walking off your plate. It’s not that bad!

2. The freshman 15 DOES NOT have to be real. It is not that hard to eat healthy in college. I realized this soon after I got to school. You will hear continuously, “Don’t gain the freshman 15!” I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve personally found it easier to eat healthy. Between having the healthy options right in front of you and utilizing the school gym, it’s all about willpower! Participating in school activities or club sports is a huge help as well. There are so many opportunities to be active on a college campus. If you’re not an active person, embrace college and take advantage of this freedom by trying something new!

3. I learned more in a week than I did in a semester in high school. I’m totally not kidding about this. But surprisingly, that wasn’t such a bad thing. Yeah, it’s a little more to remember, and you have a lot less time to dwell on things, but it is so refreshing to constantly be learning new information. And it’s all interesting information! Most of the information is useful and applies to things that will be of use you. In high school, you most likely dreaded spending a month in biology class staring at Punnett squares learning what percent of the peas will be green. Whereas in college you’ll spend a class period or two making Punnett squares to find out what must have happened in someone’s genetic code to cause them to have autism, or learn how to explain why someone with red hair could have two parents that have blonde or brown hair. You’re not exactly going by the book anymore, most of what you’re learning has some significance to the world around you- finally!

4. I needed to fit a bedroom, kitchen, and an office into my tiny little cinder block cube. This was interesting. Let me tell you one thing: this girl learned how to improvise. I learned so much about living and making things my own by living here at school. I couldn’t picture my room as it was when I moved in, all because my roommate and I have made it so home­-y! Making your room feel like home is important, considering this is the place you go to when you’re not at class or doing something. This is where you plop into bed after a long day, and it’s important that it’s comfortable for you! When your creativity just isn’t there, pinterest ideas are golden. Dorm life is pretty cool, but I do miss being able to have candles in my room. (PS. please clean your room, you don’t want to be that one with a stinky room.)

5. I didn’t need, feel the need, or even really want to drink. I know that alcohol seems to be part of the college package. Totally don’t mean to sound like a mom, but you really don’t need it to have an awesome college experience. The opportunity has, and will, present itself quite a few times, but don’t feel like you should just because everyone else is doing it. It’s really not all that great or healthy. If you want big things in your life, getting black­out drunk every weekend certainly isn’t going to help you get there.

6. You can just be. You’re on your own schedule now, what you do with your free time is completely up to you! I’ve realized that I can build my own schedule the way that works best for me, and it’s a beautiful thing. While homework and studying does (and should) take up a lot of the time you don’t spend in class, it’s also important to have some time to do things with your friends, making sure you eat enough, participating in activities, working, and of course, sleeping! Finding the balance of these is the biggest challenge, but slowly and surely, it will all get done. You will get there!

7. You don’t specifically need to do anything. If you don’t want to do something, (check this out) you don’t have to do it!! Now when I say this, I’m not saying it’s a wise idea to not do your homework if you don’t feel like it. I mean you could, but that wouldn’t benefit you too well. Yet, if you don’t feel like going out or seeing a guest speaker your school brings, you don’t have to. If you don’t feel like going to class, you don’t have to. You don’t really have to do anything, you just have to be responsible for any consequences that may come with your decision. You’re the boss now. This is the time where you truly learn to fend for yourself.

If there’s one piece of advice I could use to sum up this first month, it’s that college truly is what you make it. It can either be a tough experience, a mediocre one, or a great one. Take advantage of every opportunity, take care of yourself, and surround yourself with great people. We have many many months to go, but something tells me that if you can make it out of the most difficult one having learned all of these things, college is going to be a precious and life­-changing experience for you!