College is full of learning and growth, both in the classroom and out. I’ve spent a lot of time in the classroom these past three semesters, but the biggest things I’ve learned in my first 18 months away from home came from outside the lecture hall.

1. It doesn’t matter who you were in high school

College is a clean slate, especially if you choose a larger school or a school that no one from your hometown attends. I chose the latter, and while my past doesn’t embarrass me by any means it was so refreshing to have that sense of starting over and knowing that my new peers had no prior opinions of me. If you felt held back in high school, use college as a time to branch out and explore your interests to find out who you really are.

2. It’s okay to not miss home

Sometimes it feels like there’s this pressure to miss home or miss high school or miss life before college. Even before I graduated, people told me “Oh, you’ll miss home! You’ll want to come home every weekend!” but that just wasn’t my experience. There’s nothing wrong with missing home or visiting often, but there’s also nothing wrong with loving your independence.

3. Some things aren’t worth your time

College is a time of growth and with that comes the realization that some battles aren’t worth fighting. From friend drama to joining every little club to stressing out about things out of your control, a lot of issues in college just aren’t worth the time and effort. Besides, the time you spend on pointless dramas or activities could be better spent studying (okay, better spent sleeping, but then studying). Spend the first couple of weeks exploring options, but once you find your path let it guide you to things that you’ll feel good about spending time on.

The best way to find yourself in the blur of books, late nights, and deadlines is to take a break to reflect on the changes and lessons you’ve gained in your college experience. We spend hours every day studying for classes, why not take a few minutes to study yourself? My first three semesters taught me more than I could have ever dreamed. I can’t wait to see what the next five have in store for me.