Benjamin Franklin, an important influence during the founding of America, was not only a brilliant early politician, but he also possessed great wisdom. I know that it's only the beginning of the semester, but I've learned a lot in the past few weeks.

Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator

Let's hear it for my boy Ben Frank and his wise words to help us through this next semester...

1. "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

So you might be thinking, "College is SO hard. I wanna drop out..." WRONG! Listen to Ben Frank! By investing in the knowledge you're going to gain, it's worth the "interest" you're going to gain in both experiences and future opportunities.

2. "Lost time is never found again."

If you're anything like me then you know all too well how easy it is to get distracted when you're trying to focus. This was a lesson that I learned multiple times last semester. Don't fall into the trap of distractions! Study in a quiet environment without your phone. If you have your phone, turn off your notifications. The time you waste on social media or playing games is time you're taking away from studying or doing homework. That time is lost and never found again.

3. "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."

This quote really hit me deep. It's kind of what inspired me to start writing for the Odyssey. I've always been a supporter of "one person can make a difference" and that it only takes one voice to change the way someone sees the world. Just remember, everything you say and do is influential whether you realize it or not. You're changing the world with each and every action you make and each and every word you say.

4. "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."

People will tell you not to take those 8am classes, but let me tell you...I have felt more awake and more productive since I've taken 8 o'clock classes. I feel like my day isn't wasted and that I have a ton of time do get things done. Don't be afraid to take 8am classes because I promise you will feel more awake than when you wake up at 10 or 11.

5. "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

Ben Frank...coming at you with some more words of wisdom. This is 100% true for both people in high school and college. If you don't study, then you are setting yourself up to fail. I thought that I could study like I did in high school for my college tests and that totally backfired. I ended up failing my first math test because I didn't study as hard as I should have. Study, study, study!

6. "Honesty is the best policy."

Just be honest people. The truth will always come out and it's better to tell the truth instead of building up lies after lies.

7. "When in doubt, don't."

If you're even a little bit hesitant about doing something then you probably shouldn't do it. Just speaking from experience, it's better to play it safe rather than sorry.

8. "It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them."

Trying to break a bad habit is one of the most challenging thing to do. Since I've been in school, setting up study times has been extremely helpful. My first semester, I would study when I felt like it (which was never really often) and my grades suffered. Get into a routine and stick with it! It will help you in the long run!

9. "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."

Procrastination will get you into sooooo much trouble. Falling behind and skipping class are the ingredients to flunking out. Get your homework done before it's due, read and review a little every night, and always be looking ahead to see what you can do to prepare before class.

10. "Fatigue is the best pillow."

Speaking primarily towards finals week, but every college student knows that feeling of waking up after a really great nap or a good night's sleep because of how tired they were. Naps in college are a necessity. Napping = life.