1. When you think you’re losing yourself, you’re actually finding yourself.

• Ok stay with me here. Freshman year you are completely submerged in an environment of pamphlets and fliers begging you to join their organization—from the Quidditch team to the cupcake club (I have friends in both!). It’s all fun and happy until you apply… Apply and don’t get accepted. Trusting in a higher purpose becomes super hard—how are you expected to find your place? It is in these times that I have experienced so much growth in my faith; choosing to rely on God rather than earthly things to extinguish any thoughts of loneliness. Easier said than done for sure. But I pinky promise God will always be there. Always.

2. Friends rock.

• Seriously though. The friends you make in college will set you up on blind dates, carry your skis up scary mountains, two-step with you to Taylor Swift songs, and say it’s ok to eat that extra cookie. Relationships are so so important. For some (*insert sassy girl emoji with her hand raised*), friendship means spending less time in the library, and more time investing in conversations and fellowship.

3. Frozen yogurt is always ok.

• Bad day? Boy problems? Study break? You haven’t left the dorm in a week and seriously need an excuse to go out? It’s healthy right?

4. Live each day how you want to live your life—a.k.a. the real meaning of YOLO (so 2012 I know).

• Ugh wow wish someone would have told me this earlier. So basically don’t go through life wishing for that test to be over, or willing it to be Friday so you can finally go out and post a pic on Insta. Rather take each day as an opportunity to make someone else smile, to spread some sunshine on a cloudy circumstance. Have a “Friday” attitude on a Monday. The thing about being on a college campus, you might cross paths with someone you will never see again. You have one chance to make an impression; one opportunity to make a stranger’s day a little better! How awesome is that?

5. Your Mom is so much stronger than you ever imagined.

• She makes you feel loved by liking every single one of your pictures on Facebook, and commenting on every instagram post of you and a guy (“who’s that???” *insert emoji with heart eyes*). Ring a bell? She is also the best cook on planet Earth, and sends pretty rad care packages. But even more than that, she is your best friend. She will be there through every heartbreak and bad test—reminding you that home is never too far away(or is she begging you to visit?). Tell your mom you love her today. Just do it.