Freshman year of college notoriously comes with a ton of changes. Whether you go to a big university or a small college, or go to school near your hometown or a plane-ride away, you will definitely come across many changes during the first year of college. As I prepare to start my second year of college, I decided to reflect upon the things that I have learned in the past year.

1. Not everything will go as planned

Your college experience will not be just like your friend’s, or just like how you’ve seen it depicted on screen. There’s no true way to control everything that is going to happen in college, especially the first year, since everything is new, so it’s best to try to just go with the flow.

2. You’re not in high school anymore

This may seem obvious, but some people just don’t get it. Leave all your old high school drama in high school. The past is in the past.

3. Major changes will happen

Freshman year is the first chapter of the rest of your life. Let it happen. Don’t worry, it’s natural.

4. It’s what you make it

Your first year at college is the perfect time to let yet yourself have fun, try new things, and figure out what makes you happy. You can’t figure that out with a negative attitude, or if you spend every night locked away alone in your dorm room.

5. Put yourself out there and get involved

Going along with number four, get out and meet new people! Try to find your place; meet new people, and join new clubs, teams, and hobbies, etc.

6. Life is tough

Life can be hard. College is no exception. Classes can become overwhelming, homesickness can be painful, and friendships can get messy. You just have to bear with it and push through, and deal with the issues as they arise.

7. Everyone is not actually having as much fun as they make it seem online

I know that when I came home on break so many people said things like “it seems like you’re having so much fun at college based on your Snapchat/ Instagram/ etc.!” Of course I did have a ton of fun, but there were also some really tough moments, that they didn’t see. Like the saying goes, don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.

8. Pay attention to what you’re eating

The freshman 15 can be real. When you go from eating similar things your whole life, to being dropped in a totally new situation, it can be hard to think about what you’re consuming. Having workers mass-produce your food for you probably means it won’t exactly be the healthiest. That being said, you may also have to make sure you’re eating enough! When you have back-to-back classes across campus, and meetings, and really need a nap, it can be hard sometimes to remember to feed yourself.

9. You can’t make new old friends

The new people you meet and develop friendships with may turn out to be some of your best friends for life, but it’s important that you don’t forget about the friends who have been there for you all along.

10. Stay on top of all your responsibilities

Keeping up with all of your classes, homework, exams, meetings, clubs, events, and everything else can get a little overwhelming. It really helps to keep everything important down on a calendar or a planner of some sort, so you can plan everything out and visually see what you have to get done.