Dear College Freshman,

The time is finally here. It's officially the time where you go off to college. We all know you have been waiting for this week for a really long time. We have loved watching you grow up over the years and seeing how your personality has shown through different days and things. We cannot wait to see how successful you become and see how much more you grow over the years.

Now for the fun part. I have six pieces of advice.

1. Get to know the people on your floor.

These people could quickly become your close friends. They might have similar interests and it could help you become good friends. Make these the people to go on food and Wall-Mart runs with. You could also learn they do not live far from your house and don’t have a car on campus. When going home, see if they’re interested in tagging along (as long as they help chip in gas money).

2. Become organized if you are not already.

Make sure you keep your papers all semester. You never know if your professor will decide to do a cumulative final and you’ll want all those loose papers from day one. Not allowed to keep a test, even after graded? Take pictures of it. Make sure you type or write the test questions and be able to locate them when it comes time to study for your midterm or final.

3. Go to class.

I know having 8 a.m. classes are unbearable, but those could be the classes you like the most. My freshman year, I had a class at 8 a.m., Monday through Friday. I did not like that my class was that early, but it turned out to be my favorite class of my freshman year.

4. Balance school and fun.

Do not keep your nose in a book 24/7. School can be stressful, so make sure to have fun. Once you finish your homework, as long as it isn’t 3 a.m., do something fun, even if it’s just playing video games for a few hours. Make the most of these little memories and down time.

5. Contact home frequently.

Your parents may or may not admit it, but they will miss having you around the house. I’m not saying you need to call daily, but if you have a slow week and light homework load, call home and see how they’re doing. They’ll enjoy the time you take out of your busy college schedule to call them.

6. Don’t forget where you came from.

We may say that once you go away to school, you’ll be gone for good. Please don’t make that happen. Your family is going to love when you come home and utilize the time you are home. Remember that whether you admit it or not, where you came from will reflect in how you present yourself. You are going to catch yourself saying and doing things that your parents and/or family does and it will stop you in your tracks.

Finally, good luck in college!

Sincerely,

Someone who has been in your shoes