Living off-campus can be quite a joy especially if it's your first time. You are excited to live in your own place, to not worry about dorm food, to live with your best friends, to have a place to park, or what have you, but you need to know there's more to it. You have more responsibilities. You have a lot to learn.

1. You have to grow up

You might be living with your bestie roommates now, or living on your own, but this is your own place. Treat it like how it was when you rented it out.

2. You have to make your own food

The luxury of living in a dorm is that you basically get pre-paid food at the residence hall. But when you move off campus, you don't have that same access. You don't have a 'nanny' making your food anymore. Time to do it yourself.

3. Your parents don't live with you

When you were younger, it was more likely that your parents took the lead in doing things around the house. But now it's your turn to run the show.

4. You don't have a personal janitor

When you live in the dorms, there's a janitor on duty who cleans the bathrooms. You don't have that anymore so it's on you to keep it as clean as possible.

5. It's not all fun and games

You can throw as many parties as you want and enjoy yourself but you can't always be partying. You can't always be on Netflix or you'll fall behind on your schoolwork.

6. You're not just a student anymore

You're at school to be a student, but when you live off-campus, you have the responsibility essentially to be your own dad, to be your own mom, and to be your own self, plus being a brother to your best friends. You have to be four people at once.

7. You need to make money

Living off-campus requires you to pay rent. Of course, if your parents are financially stable enough to help you, you can have them assist in that, but most college students can't afford that. So they need to work sufficient hours on top of being a student to afford their living expenses and the other things they do.

8. It's important to keep your nose clean

Your future is always at stake. Don't blow it.

9. You still should go out every now and then

You're due for some time out every now and then. Again, you need to be careful not to go overboard with it, but don't be too much of a homeboy or homegirl by staying at home every weekend unless that's something you really enjoy doing. Go out on that girls' night out, or have some bromantic time with the boys. Even if you don't go out to the bars, at least you can do something with friends, or eat out so you're not at home all the time.

10. You do your own dishes

When you eat at the dining hall, there's always that one employee behind the scenes who's washing all the dishes, doing the dirty work. But since you live off-campus, you don't eat there anymore (or at least nowhere as often), so you don't have the luxury of being lazy about dishes. It's your turn to do the dirty work now.

11. You still have to respect your neighbors and roommates

Even if you live on your own, there are still others living around you. Do your best to keep the peace.

12. You have deadlines

Your deadlines aren't just academic anymore; they're also domestic.

13. You still need to go to the gym

Perhaps you have a gym nearby where you live, or you go to the one on campus, but you still need to go. Don't get lazy from working out just because you have your own place.

14. Adulting is challenging but worth it

You're learning that you need to act like a grown person, but understand too that you can still find a balance between acting your age and having fun. Don't forget to have fun while you grow as a person, because these will be some of the best years of your life if you make it so.