Your freshman year can prove to be a challenge on many different levels. It's also a year of firsts for any number of things. Living on your own, meeting new people, discovering yourself, getting used to what college is all about. By the end of your first semester you are sure to have at least a few things figured out, and although some realizations may hit harder than others, you are bound to come out a better person from it.

1. College Is A Lot Of Work

This is nothing you haven't heard before. Going through 4 years of high school, you were bound to hear your teachers say "this is nothing like college." However, you never actually believed them until this point. Where you once would never be seen in the library, you can now consider that to basically be your second home.

2. Coffee Is Essential

I have always been an avid coffee lover, so for me this has just increased from about one cup in the morning to about all day long. Many people I know never drank coffee and now they find themselves drinking it more often than not. Whether it's to get you going for that 8am, or trying to pull an all nighter in preparation for finals, you find that coffee becomes a necessity in your everyday life.

3. Your Bank Account Is Sacred

You used to be able to go out whenever, buy items in stores, or online. Maybe you even had your credit card information saved to certain websites, however, this is ancient history. As the semester gets further and further along you find yourself checking your bank account more often. Where exactly your money is going? You probably don't even know, all you know is that DIY crafts are going to be your best friend when it comes to Christmas gifts this year.

4. Freshman 15 Is A Thing

The first week of school can be overwhelming for many as you decide exactly what you want to eat for all 3 meals, or more (if you have unlimited dining swipes) who knows. The point is that it's entirely up to you. With that being said, the dining hall has tempting options. After about the first couple of weeks of loading up on fries, pizza, and ice-cream you begin to realize your clothes are becoming a little more snug. Maybe a salad every now and then isn't so bad after all, or at least the gym membership comes in the tuition.

5. Naps Are More Valuable Than All Nighters

It may have been that first term paper you had to right where you thought it'd be a good idea to load up on caffeine and pull an all nighter, or perhaps just studying diligently for an important test. However, you quickly realize that taking naps are way more valuable then pulling those dreadful all-nighters.

6. You Don't Know What To Do With Yourself Once Football Season Is Over

Maybe you cried when the last home game of the season was over, maybe you rejoiced, maybe you just went back to your dorm sulking wondering what you would possibly fill your Saturday's with now. Football season is the most wonderful time of the year, with no more home games you're now just getting closer and closer to the dreadful week called finals.

7. Dead Week Is Real

Maybe you have heard of this through older siblings, friends or relatives. Thinking how dramatic they were being and trying to decide for yourself what exactly dead week means. Once you have gone through this week you will know that it is not called dead week simply because there is little left to do besides study for finals, but because all the stress and last minute papers, projects and tests will literally make you feel dead inside.

8. Finals Is The Most Stressful Week Of Your Life

You don't know what the worst week of your life feels like until finals week hits. There is nothing in this world that could compare to the level of stress among fellow classmates and peers that you can just feel when walking around campus. The only thing you have time for besides stressing over what to study next is hating the people who have take home exams or have the option to exempt the final.

9. It's OK To Have Mental Breakdowns

There's nothing wrong with letting the emotions all out. Sometimes a good cry is all you need before you're back to focusing on that paper or studying for that test that is literally making you go insane. Call your mom, talk to a friend, grab a spoon and eat that Ben & Jerry's like a champ.

10. Your Future Is Up to You

All that effort you put into that paper you stayed up all night writing has payed off when you receive that grade you were aiming for. Putting in the effort proves just how great you can be and what you can achieve while you are here. You don't have people in the background telling you what to do and when to do it. Everything from this point forward is all on you.

11. People Change You/ You Start To Find Yourself

Even only being in college for one semester, you begin to find yourself. It's the beginning of this hopefully memorable journey to discovering who exactly it is that you want to be. Being on campus you come meet people that come from all different kinds of backgrounds and begin to mold yourself based on who and how they have impacted your first few months here.

12. You Don't Keep In Touch With Everyone You Thought You Would

As the summer came to an end, and friends started moving to college, you all hugged and took as many pictures as possible promising to keep in touch. This quickly changed as everyone got into the groove of college, made new friends, and slowly lost touch with certain people. This is okay, some people aren't meant to be apart of your life forever, but the memories will always be with each and everyone of you.

13. You Didn't Thank Your Mom Enough

It may have been when you mixed your whites and colors in the laundry. Or when you realized you needed a shoulder to cry on. Regardless you know you never thanked your mom enough for everything she has done for you. You never realized how truly magical her hugs could be. Instead you think about how great one of them would be as you're sitting in the library at 2am on finals week stressing about everything imaginable.

14. Your Hometown Isn't As Bad As You Thought

You wanted to escape this place for so long and finally have reached that chance, however there have been nights where you have thought about how much you miss your dog, your bed, and your mom's cooking. You find yourself missing the days you and your friends would sit around a fire, trying to think of things to do and instead end up talking about anything and everything You go home and suddenly this place doesn't seem so bad anymore. This is where you are comfortable, and it's okay to want to be in your comfort zone every once in a while.

15. This Is Where You Belong

You may have only been here for a semester, but a semester is all you need to know that this is truly where you belong. Calling your college your second home is how it is supposed to be. The second you leave this place you think of how you can't wait to be back. This is your home, this is where you belong, and on that last day of Christmas Break all you will be able to think about is how you get to go home.