It is now May and all the seniors in high school are graduating and getting ready to move on with life. It’s a big change and some people have a hard time with change. Some seniors are ready to move forward to bigger and better things, everyone is different. Going into college, I wasn’t sure what to expect since I heard so many different stories. You can’t truly know until you experience it. Here are ten things I wish I was told before going away to college.

1. Be careful with who you hang out with the first week.The people you hang out with the first week usually become your friends for the next four years. You want to be careful in picking and make sure they are the right group for you. Otherwise, some not so great things may happen and it may leave you at a dead end.
2. Don’t be afraid to go out there and make new friends! No one is forcing you to stick with the same group of friends 24/7. Go out there and meet as many people as you can. Find people you can trust as quickly as possible, you have no idea what may happen.
3. Don’t be scared to say no. When you go to a new place, people tend to try to fit in and have a higher possibility to say yes to everything someone may ask you to do. If you always say yes, it could get you in trouble.
4. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and what you believe. People will try to pressure you to do things you would have never done by yourself if you had the choice. There are so many new people, if one person does not respect your decision there will be someone else at your school that will. Be yourself.
5. Sign up for as many things as you would like to be a part of. There are so many clubs, sororities, fraternities, etc. that you can be a part of. If something interests you, go and try it out! This is also a great way to make new friends. Be careful not to overwhelm your load. Remember you want some down time with friends and time for homework.
6. Don’t put homework off to the last minute. Yeah, this one should be obvious, but let's be honest, something better comes up that you would rather be doing. You want to have a balance of everything and find something that works for you. If you get stuck behind, it's really hard to get back from it, especially if you get extremely sick and can’t go to class for two weeks. Do your homework!
7. Napping is golden. With all the late nights hanging out with friends, doing homework, and morning classes, napping becomes essential to everyday life. Also, when you have enough sleep it keeps you healthy.
8. You will miss your pets. I don’t know about you, but I love my two dogs so dearly. Leaving my babies behind while I go away to college is really difficult. They are always there for me to cuddle and now I don’t have them anymore. Don’t worry, though, it is all worth it in the end, and seeing their reaction when you come home is priceless.
9. The Freshman 15 is real. Gaining weight as a freshman is almost inevitable, unless you have an amazing metabolism and work out every day. Don’t worry, though, almost everyone gains weight their freshman year, so you won't be alone.
10. Home cooked meals are like heaven in your mouth. After eating the same food everyday, it gets kind of boring. Let’s be honest, the food at college is usually not the best, but it keeps you alive. Going home and eating a nice meal cooked by your momma will make you appreciate home cooked meals.

College is a great experience! Take in as much as you can. Being away from what you are used to may be difficult, but don’t give up! It really is a huge change. I know I was more than ready for it. As everyone knows, college kids tend to be broke, so save up as much money as you can now! Here is to the class of 2016, waiting to move on to a new experience. Good luck! You will do great!