1. Venture Away From Home

It doesn’t have to be right away, or for long, but living outside of my small hometown and moving to Long Beach is an experience that I am loving every minute of.

2. Do Not Sign-Up For 8AMs

You think “I’ll have no problem waking up, I did it in high school all the time!” but in reality you will have a problem waking up and you will not take legible notes and you will most likely be wearing a messy bun to every class.

3. Call Your Family

I know it can be easy to get wrapped up with everything going on in your life, but it’s not hard to pick up the phone and I promise, it will mean the world to them.

4. It’s Okay to Not be Okay

This can take a while to accept. But sometimes, it’s okay to not be okay. As long as you recognize this you can work on bettering yourself.

5. Live With Your Best Friends

You will have the time of your life. Going out together every weekend, borrowing each others clothes, and coming home to people that make me genuinely happy is something I will always cherish.

6. Make Sure You Check the Weather Before Leaving the House

This seems pretty basic until you’re walking to class soaking wet in palazzo pants that are barely staying up and a now see-through tank top with wet frizzy hair (aka me).

7. Trust Your Gut

If you feel like maybe you shouldn’t walk down a sketchy street alone at midnight…maybe don’t do that. Or if you feel like maybe you shouldn’t give your number to the boy with a backwards hat at the party while singing “Down in the DM”…definitely don’t do that.

8. Take Pictures of Everything, Whenever You Can

I love looking back on pictures from high school and even my first year of college. It brings back so many good memories. And in 50 years from now, I’m sure your grandchildren will want to know what the style was “back in our day”.

9. Skip Class Every Once in a While

Yes I know education is important and no I’m not saying to skip EVERY class, but skipping class is a right of passage. Missing a 45-minute lecture to go to the beach with your friends is not going to kill you.

10. Chocolate and Ice Cream Can Cure Even the Worst of Heartbreaks

Chocolate covered strawberries. Cookie-dough ice cream. The Notebook. Enough said.

11. Trust Your Best Friend. Always.

There’s a reason she’s your best friend and you wouldn’t fight like sisters if she weren’t practically your own. Just remember that she always has your best interest in mind, even if you don’t see it.

12. Kill ‘Em With Kindness

My mom always told me this growing up and I cannot agree more. Don’t be a pushover, but do not allow snobby girls to ruin your day. Brush it off and continue to be sassy, yet classy.

13. Try Something You Never Imagined You Would Do

I cannot stress this one enough. I never ever, in a million years, ever, saw myself going through sorority recruitment. But somehow my freshman year roommate convinced me to do so and I thank her everyday for it. I found my home and 130 lovely sisters that make me proud to call myself a Delta Gamma.

14. You Will Never Find Easy Access to Water at a Frat House

Nope. Not ever going to happen. Might as well BYOWB (bring your own water bottle).

15. Take Spontaneous Trips

Some of my best memories are days that I didn’t plan out. You don’t wake up and think “Today, I’m gonna go on a road trip with my friends”, but if you’re lucky enough to do so, it wont be a memory you soon forget.

16. Talk to People in Your Classes

I usually went to class, made no human interaction, and left so I could take my daily nap before 4:00pm. But once I started making friends in classes, it makes class so much more fun and enjoyable. Not to mention studying for tests gets a whole lot easier.

17. Learn to Cook

I’m still trying to get this one down, but one day mom’s cooking and the dining hall won’t be accessible so I guess I have learn how to use to stove.

18. Make Your Voice Heard

If you’re shy, like me, sometimes this can be difficult. But stepping out of your comfort zone is a fulfilling reward that you will thank yourself for accomplishing.

19. Create Your Own Happiness

This is probably the hardest on this list to do, but once you learn how to find happiness within yourself, everything else will fall into place.