I just turned 18 this past Friday and boy have I learned a lot in only 18 years! Graduating high school, broken friendships, breakups, my first semester of college (!!!), and some crazy personality changes. I may not be old and wise, but there are certainly some lessons to be learned!

1. High school is not the best 4 years of your life

I mean really, if they are, I’m sorry. The constant pettiness, childish ways, and honestly just downright mean girls that you go to school with are just awful. That changes when you’re in college and living the ‘oh so adult life.’

2. Your grades never define you

I heard a quote once and it goes like this, “Just remember that your dog still loves you no matter what your GPA is” If that isn’t the greatest news you’ve ever heard, you’re lying.

3. If you aren't happy single, you won't be happy taken

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. If you decide that you can’t be okay sitting by yourself at a restaurant, you can’t binge watch Netflix for 8 hours on a Friday night by yourself, or you constantly complain about how being single sucks and you just need someone to cuddle, I’ll tell you right now that finding ‘a person’ will not make your life 100x easier. Your boyfriend/girlfriend will let you down, they are definitely not perfect, and you can’t waste their time just because you want someone RIGHT NOW.

4. Never find validation in your boyfriend/girlfriend

This so ties into the last point. Girls, if you can’t dress up for yourself, or you don’t feel like you slay without your boyfriend telling you that you look gorgeous, you are wrong. You always slay. You always look gorgeous, and you don’t need any man to tell you otherwise. Guys, you are just as amazing and a manly man as you think you are. You don’t have to be some girl’s ‘superhero’ or ‘knight in shining armor’ to be the perfect dude.

5. DO NOT take 8a.m. classes

Been there. Done that. It is the worst decision. When you’ve been up until 4a.m. studying and have to wake up in about 3-4 hours to take an hour and a half exam, yeah… no.

6. Read books every spare moment you have

Honestly, this is some really important advice because reading increases your vocabulary, and it really opens you up to new viewpoints in life.

7. Don't put God on the back-burner

You may think in high school that you’ve got it all and that you don’t need no God around to tell you what to do. Well, you’ll need Him to cry out to at 2a.m. while studying for finals your freshman year of college.

8. Your freshman college roommate might not be your 'best friend for life'

My first-semester freshman roommate was honestly not that great, and really never talked to me, but that’s okay! I found so many other friends on my floor and in my classrooms that were on the same path of life as me!

9. If you find a pair of jeans that fit your body perfectly, buy at least 3 pairs

Let me tell you, you will not regret this when your first pair gets worn out and you have to go jean shopping ALL OVER AGAIN. But wait, you read that one Odyssey article from that one

Odyssey girl a while back and you bought two other pairs so you won’t have to worry about the struggle of jean shopping for at least another six months!

10. Don't assume that the people you went to high school with will stay your friends

You guys are most likely not going to the same college, therefore things get difficult when you don’t see each other every day. You will learn that some people were only your friends because you saw them every single day.

11. Find a job

It doesn’t matter if you’re making minimum wage or way more than that, it builds character to be working with others that you don’t always get along with, and sometimes you have to go through some pretty tricky situations.

12. On another note, invest in an internship

Although these are usually unpaid, they look fantastic on a resume! They are also usually easy to find when it comes to choosing one in the specific field you are interested in.

13. Buy a watch

You will always be on time for interviews, and watches can make you look much more responsible! ;)

14. Don't drink and drive

For one, if you are under 21 you aren’t even supposed to be drinking anyway…but if you decide to, please be so responsible in not driving under the influence. There are too many teens out there who are killed every year because they are either driving under the influence, or one of their peers is.

15. NEVER take advantage of living with your parents

When you get to college you are going to miss the nagging of your parents telling you to do your homework or clean your room. Honestly, if you move away for college, you’re just going to miss hearing their voices no matter what. Take every last moment you can and appreciate all the years you get to spend under their roof.

16. Don't expect to spend the rest of your life with your high school sweetheart

Granted, some people are a major exception. My boyfriend and I ended up going to the same college after graduating high school together and we have been dating for over 2 years now. However, the seasons of life change so quickly and you guys will most likely be going on very different paths.

17. You don't have to have your major decided before you even graduate high school

I personally was very set on what I wanted to do in college, but you truly don’t know until you get there. I knew some people who changed their major FOUR TIMES just within their first semester of college. Your life will drastically change once you’re out on your own and making your own decisions.

18. Find yourself a workout routine

I know, I know, you always hear ‘oh, don’t gain the freshman 15.’ It. Is. A. Real. Thing. I did a lot of sports my whole high school career and was super active. That changes if you are not going to college to be an athlete. Your schedule will become SUPER busy and you will find yourself stress eating. Not to mention, you will be broke in college and that $1 pizza will be calling your name far too often.