This is something only people very close to me know, because I was too embarrassed and ashamed with myself to openly discuss it at the time. When I got to college, I had the mindset that it would be pretty easy as long as I studied. Wrong. Sometimes the struggle is really real, and boy did I really struggle for the first 3 months in every possible way that I could struggle.

Getting good grades is necessary, no doubt. As you go, you will learn what your top priorities need to be, number 1 should always be school, obviously. But wait, aren’t you forgetting something? Please don’t ever forget these top 4 essential things that are more important than your 4.0 GPA:

1. Sleep

This is a rookie mistake that you unfortunately will not grow out of after freshman year. Lack of sleep is not uncommon and is a hard issue to tackle. Most people think they will be fine with the recommended 8 hours because that’s what they’ve heard for a long time. Wrong. A study that I recently read stated that young adults our age need, at minimum, 10 hours of sleep to function properly in a day. That may sound impossible with everything you have going on at college, but if you set yourself up with a strict schedule, you can do it. If it’s truly impossible, maybe meet in the middle and shoot for 8.5-9 hours a night. Your energy is one of the main fuel-sources for your body, not 2 cups of Starbucks a day.

2. Taking care of yourself

Mentally, physically and emotionally. Do not freak yourself out over how much homework and studying you have to do, it WILL get done. When I’m sitting down at my desk really struggling to focus, I pause and say, “Tomorrow, this will be all over with.” Make time to exercise and eat properly, please. I know campus food is not the greatest and options are limited, so try to make the better choices with the snacking in between the bigger meals! Do not let a boy/girl wreck you emotionally after being there for 3 weeks, meeting them at one party, and never hearing from them again. Getting avoided at all costs around campus by this person means they are poop on a stick and not even worth a hello, it’s fine, everything is fine.

3. Getting involved on campus

I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. My freshman year I joined one club, and rarely showed up for the weekly meetings which didn’t even last an hour. Don’t say you don’t have time, because I promise you will have spare time. The school work will not consume you, if you have time to go out on the weekends and drink with your roommates, you have time for a club. Join something that follows your interests, or go out of your comfort zone and try something new and intriguing. You may be extremely surprised where it may lead you. It could change your life, and your career path, like it did for me!

4. Enjoying what you’re studying

The struggle and anxiety of choosing your future on one form. You think you have it all figured out, and you say you won’t switch, but you will. Probably about 2-3 times you may do this. That is completely okay. I highly recommend you have a solid idea by the time you are done with your general education courses however. Sometimes credits won’t fit in with another major and can put you on a setback from your original graduation date. As much as I’m sure you’d love to stay in college for way longer than needed, you don’t want to because time is money. Failing courses is not cool nor fun.

Don’t blink too much kid, otherwise you’ll be me; Entering senior year wondering how the hell I got here in NASCAR speed.