When I packed up my car to the brim and drove hours away from home to start a life on my own for the first time I was terrified. There were so many unknown adventures ahead of me. There were so many blessings and curses in my first year of college. There are a few things that I wish people had told me before I embarked on the next step of my life. Here are a few words of advice on how to survive your first year of college.

1. Packing

First off, skip the luggage, regardless of how far away your school is. Pack everything in plastic bags and cardboard boxes. When I moved in and unpacked everything I just folded up the cardboard boxes, slid them under my bed, and then at the end of the year when it was time to move out, I just pulled them all back out. It saved me a lot of time and money.

Secondly, save space by wrapping the few fragile things you might be bringing in your clothes. T-shirts work great and you’re saving space by packing your clothes as well!

Thirdly, I highly recommend not bringing actual plates or silverware. I brought a few bowls and coffee mugs with me and just bought paper plates, solo cups, and plastic silverware when I got there. It worked out when friends came over for pizza and I spent far less time worrying about my dirty dishes piling up.

Here’s a little side note before we move on. Make sure to bring a couple decent extension cords. My side of the room only had two outlets and that can get tricky when you’ve got a fridge, pretty Christmas lights, a Keurig, and a lamp to plug in. Be prepared!

2. Get Ready For Your First Day

The first day of classes on an unfamiliar campus can be a little scary. I recommend finding a campus map and driving around to each building where your classes will be prior to classes starting. My school actually has an app that works as a GPS to help you get where you want to go, but I also go to a pretty big school. Also, play it safe and wear comfortable shoes. As you can see from the picture of my roommate and I, I didn't get that memo on my first day and it sucked. If you have a campus like mine then you’re going to be doing a lot of walking your first day, because you’ll probably get a little lost. If your schedule is as hectic as mine then you might want to bring along a couple snacks. I always had Cheez Itz and apple sauce pouches stashed somewhere in my book bag.

3. Wait to Buy the Books

Last year I thought I was such a smart little cookie for getting all of my books way ahead of classes starting. I was wrong. I honestly wouldn’t bother on buying the book until after at least attending the class once. I bought all my books then opened only about three of them all semester. I also got a few classes switched after my first day and had to buy brand new books for those new classes! Talk about frustrating. Also, you might not need the book for a class, but just some type of online access code. My best advice is to wait it out and see what your professor says.

4. Avoid the Freshman 15

Or should I say 50. I wasn’t extremely worried about the “Freshman 15” because I don’t drink alcohol, which most people say has a lot to do with it. I do, however, stress eat like a rabid Tyrannosaurus Rex. I’m talking potato chips, pasta, Chinese food, powdered donuts and lots and lots of hot pockets. Truly the only way I can say I skipped the “Freshman Fifteen” was because I couldn’t eat lunch on MWF due to classes straight through from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. I would usually just munch on fruits, crackers, and cheeses throughout the day since I didn’t actually get lunch. It was awful, but it probably saved me. Also, try to avoid soda. I know that after a long, hard day of schooling it’s nice to just lay back and chug a whole bottle of Dr. Pepper while Netflixing, but DON’T DO IT. Try to drink water throughout the day and avoid those pesky vending machines. Also, my last piece of advice for this; walk whenever possible. I’ll admit that when winter came around I kinda broke this rule, but when it got warm again I forced myself to walk to class everyday. It really helped and it actually kept me fit even though I didn’t go to the Rec. Although I will attempt to hit the Rec this fall!

5. Go to Bed

I have never been a huge fan of pulling all-nighters. I love sleep and sometimes wish I could make a profession out of it. Sleep is so important for our bodies and our minds. College is crazy enough as it is, don’t make it worse by suffocating your brain. You also never know when there’s going to be one of those pesky fire alarms that will keep you up even longer than you intended. Sleep makes our bodies happy and keeps us healthy so we can get our degree and get out! If you have trouble sleeping like I do then try Melatonin. It works wonders. I take the 10mg tablets. One every night and it usually does the trick. Oh, by the way, bring some ear plugs with you, because not everyone on your floor is going to believe in sleep like you do. I learned that quickly.

6. Your Home Away From Home

Sometimes, at the end of the day it’s nice to just come back home and relax. Make sure that you make your dorm room look like more than a jail cell. I put up drawings, twinkling lights, and pictures of my friends and family. It really helped me feel more at home even though no one was there. I also had things from home like the same dryer sheets my mom uses so that my stuff always smelled like home too. The first few weeks were rough, but I learned to adapt to my new environment.

7. Get Organized

I cannot stress this enough! Try to stay as organized and clean as you can. You will have far less stress if you do so. Write down your assignments and the due dates. Don’t wait until the last minute to write a paper, because you never know what technology is going to throw at you and your professor isn’t gonna give a crap that your Microsoft Word kept crashing last night. Also, you never know when you’ll be running late for that 8AM because you overslept. Pack your bag the night before class to avoid the walk of shame into class when you’re ten minutes late. It’s going to happen, trust me. All you can do is prepare yourself by getting organized and staying organized.

8. Make New Friends

For someone like me, this was the scariest part. Although, I did pick a school where I knew a handful of people, I still felt like a little guppy in the sea. What I learned was that you just have to be yourself. This isn’t high school, although some people will act like it still is. These people don’t know your parents, or your family, and they haven’t known you since Kindergarten. They haven’t placed you into a stereotypical slot where you’ll stay for the next four years. This is your chance to show your true potential as a human being. Just smile and nod and that’s all you’ve got to do. Be prepared to meet some of the best people of your life and maybe the worst. All I can say is that I’ve already made several friendships that I know will last a lifetime.

9. Try Something New

I had always swore up and down that I would never be caught dead joining a fraternity or sorority. I was wrong. I decided to take a leap of faith and try something new. In the Spring semester I went to an informational meeting for a music fraternity called Sigma Alpha Iota and I fell in love. I was surprised with myself. At first I thought I should stick to my old guns, but decided that was silly. I went ahead and got in. I am now a member of SAI and couldn’t be happier! There is so much love and friendship within my fraternity and in some ways we’re like a family. I’m not saying you need to go soak up the Greek Life, but I am saying get out there and get out of your comfort zone. Join a club or something! Just go take a chance! You could end up loving it and meet some life long friends in the process.

10. Call Your Parents

This one is important. At first, I was going home every weekend to see my boyfriend. Gradually, it became harder and harder to go home. I made it a habit to call my parents every Wednesday because it worked well with my schedule. We would talk and I would miss them and then hang up and go on. Throughout time though, I started to just honestly forget. I would pass through the week and realize I haven’t talked to my parents. I could be dead for all they know. I’d send a text apologizing and promise to call when I had time. Always make a point to call your parents, because to them, you’re the whole world. You owe it to them.

11. Love Yourself

I cannot stress this enough. Sometimes life really gets down on us and we start to hate ourselves. Don’t compare yourself to those around you, whether it’s money, looks, or grades. You are beautiful for who you are and don’t ever doubt yourself. Don’t hold yourself back from all the beautiful possibilities of the world. Make sure to surround yourself with people who love you and won’t mistreat you. Life is so much brighter when you find your own song.

12. Prepare for Change

Change is good. I promise. It took me awhile to understand that. No one told me how much my first year would change me. I came from such a sheltered life and learned so much while I was on my own. My first year of school was filled with so much change and I almost couldn’t handle it. I was so terrified of change and kept trying to run from it, but the problem is you can’t. You must embrace change and just go with the flow of life. Don’t try to steer the course, just let it take you.

College can be scary, nerve racking, and life changing. I wish you all the best of luck with your college experience. Stay safe, stay smart, and stay healthy. Find amazing friends, overflowing knowledge, and reckless adventure. Just enjoy the life you’ve been given.