1. Moving away from home stinks.
Sure, you are no longer under mom and dad's rules and you're finally away from your annoying younger sibling(s) with more freedom than you can imagine, but there is still plenty that you will miss. First, you will (I repeat, will) miss your home-cooked meals. The school cafeteria only gets worse as the year goes on, trust me. You will also miss your bed, not to mention your bathroom. Showering with flip flops on gets old fast, really fast. You'll learn how to maneuver around the tiny cube to shave your legs, though, so that's a plus, right? Lastly, you will miss your pets and all you will want on those rough days when nothing goes right is to just cuddle them and take a nap. Teddy bears help, though. They can't cuddle back, but they help.
2. Having a car on campus is important and also extremely convenient.
Most schools allow freshmen to have cars on campus. If you are attending one of those schools, be grateful. Having a car on campus may not seem like a big deal at first, but once you step back and realize how often you need to get off campus to clear your head or visit the mall for some retail therapy, you will understand the importance of a car on campus. Not to mention, who wants to be stuck on campus for fall and spring breaks? I highly recommend having a car on campus, if you are able.
3. Student flex dollars will save your life.
Broke college students love eating for "free." Now, of course, the flex dollars or student bucks aren't free (you're paying for it in your lovely tuition bill), but when you don't feel like making that drive to the local McDonald's or Chick-Fil-A, you'll be glad you have those flex dollars. The only problem, though, is to be frugal with how you spend them. By the end of the semester, you're still going to have three weeks of classes left and no more flex dollars. Yes, that means that you have to use real money. Gasp!
4. Call your dad, too.
One thing that is constantly said when a student is going off to college is "don't forget to call your mom!" Now I am saying, don't forget to call your dad! He misses you too, and if you're like me, he can't stand to not talk to his baby girl for more than a day. You don't have to talk for hours, but a simple call to check in and let him know what's going on in your life will definitely not hurt; it will actually help with the homesickness issue.
5. And your grandparents.
I think that most college students are forgetting we're not the only ones growing older. As someone who lost a grandparent this year, I can say that you can never talk to your grandparents enough. Grandparents are a special breed of people. Make sure you call them too. You could even try to teach them how to FaceTime or Skype!
6. Keep your phone charged.
I feel like this is pretty self-explanatory. Before moving on campus, stop by a TJMaxx or Marshall's and pick up a portable charger. You'll thank me later.
7. "Me" days are totally and completely necessary.
College is stressful. Don't forget to take a moment to do something for yourself. Everyone has those days. It doesn't matter if that means shopping, getting your nails done or throwing on your favorite pair of sweats and eating a tub of ice cream. Do whatever helps you.
8. Sleep.
I cannot stress enough how important sleep is. You may laugh that this is even a bullet point, but you will soon realize its importance. Being a student-athlete, I had to wake up every morning at 5:30 a.m. for a lifting session and then proceed to have a full day of classes. I normally squeezed in a nap between lifting and my first class. Also, take as many naps as you can, but don't forget about homework and assignments!
9. Campus squirrels.
There are squirrels everywhere and they're important, but we don't really know why. It's just science.
10. Rainy days are great for catch up.
Rainy days are great days to lock yourself in your room with hot chocolate or coffee and just get stuff done. Finish that homework a few days early. Watch a movie with your roommate or hall-mates. Catch up on sleep. Clean your room. Rainy days can make for extremely productive days.
11. The best day to do laundry is Tuesday or Wednesday.
Do not ever do laundry on a Sunday night. If you choose to do so, may the odds be ever in your favor. Literally everyone in your dorm will probably be trying to do laundry at that same time. Just save yourself the frustration and wait an extra day or two. Also, make sure you set a timer for your machines. If you leave clothes in over the time, your clothes will magically make their way out of the machines and have the potential to get stolen. Doing your laundry while everyone else is in class is seriously the best bet.
12. You will miss your school friends more than you realize.
Once you hit the road for summer, you realize just how heartbreakingly much you will miss your school friends. Being able to walk to your best friend's dorm and just chat is over until August. You won't see your friends or team all summer, but that is why we have group texts, SnapChat, and FaceTime! It's only three months, and then you and your squad will be reunited!
