We don't realize that our parents gave us invaluable advice until we go away for college (or work). I have gathered the eight most important pieces of advice my mom had given me which I had completely brushed aside until I became a college student living away from the comfort of my home.

1) Know how to do your laundry properly

Trust me, you are going to regret it when you mix your red and white clothes and all your whites become pinks.

2) Eat those fruits and veggies

When it's midway through the semester and leftover Halloween candies have become your meals, you will actually crave a nice, filling salad with leafy greens.

3) Put on sunscreen

Just. Do. It.

4) Always use the bathroom before leaving home

Very, very important. You may think you will not need to pee, but believe me, once you hit the road, you will need to.

5) That one A- on that research paper is not going to matter

If you are like me, you probably freak out over the careless errors you make on papers or tests. But trust me, your parents are right when they say that a grade is a letter on a piece of paper and one A- will not be the end of the world.

6) Get enough sleep

Your health comes before everything because if you are not well, then you will not be able to do anything else. So, yes, it's vital that you get enough sleep.

7) In 10 years from now, you will not even remember your high school crush

In the long run, you will not think about your high school crush not reciprocating the feelings. Chances are, you probably don't even remember him/her that well now (unless he or she was a best friend; I am going to write a separate article on that case).

8) Tell your loved ones that you care about them

You won't realize how much you miss your friends and family until you leave them. So take your parents' advice and express how much you care about each of them.