Moving in your first year of college is one of the most exciting times of your life! You have grown up looking forward to the day you have your independence, can stay up as late as you want, and make the friends you will have for years to come. If you are anything like I am, you probably looked on Pinterest months in advance to pin all those "off to college" or "how to get ready for college" tags. But where there is college, there is also responsibility.

1. You have to take care of yourself

Let's face it. College is fun until you catch the stomach bug, flu, or give yourself a migraine from studying so much. This is the time in life where you learn to diagnose yourself and keep moving. You'll be really familiar with this tactic during finals week.

2. You create your own path

In college, some may want to lay low. They may want to be involved with their school as little as possible, and they may even choose to stay secluded. Others want to go out there and be in every group activity and organization under the sun. Either is okay, but just remember you choose your own path in college. If you want to make a name for yourself, good or bad, it depends on your actions, who you surround yourself with, and what you do. The choice is yours!

3. People will come and most will stay

People of all kinds will enter your life in college. They are there for a reason. Don't take the ones you love for granted, especially when they are there for you during the most emotional/fun/best time of your life: college. Continue to make them a priority as long as you keep up with yourself first.

4. Do your share

I know most of us really don't like homework or long papers to write, but college isn't high school where you can get away with not doing it. In college, the only person that is standing between accomplishing your dream major and the work that goes along with it, is you. Parents and whoever else may be there for support, but they cannot do college for you. The choice is yours to do your part and finish the race. Each semester will come new classes, new choices, new teachers, and new assignments - don't waste those away. They are here to make you smarter, tougher, and better when you walk out the door in four years and into your future job.

5. Be who you want to be

College can be stressful. You meet new people, you have new surroundings, and everything is different. The best part about college is you have the freedom to be whoever you want to be. If you want to change for the better, do it! If you want to stay the same you you have always been, be you! Take responsibility that who you are is up to you, and only you, but don't ever be afraid to explore and live and be happy and continue to impact lives.