My first semester has already flown by and we're already into February of the second. Already, almost a fourth of my college experience is over, and already, I've learned a lot about myself that I never knew before.

1. I wasn't prepared to live on my own

I passed out my first semester. I would get up, go to class and skip breakfast, go to the library and skip lunch until later, and mostly I was only eating dinner. I didn't try to do this at all. My plan wasn't to starve myself or neglect to eat. I just wasn't used to independently making time to go eat, and I really didn't have the appetite. Stress was getting to me and nobody else was really eating either. Make sure you eat in college, before all other things.

2. I don't want to be friends with who I thought I did

I'm not a party person and I'm definitely not someone who loves watching other people suffer or get their feelings hurt. I realized that I didn't want to flock to the people I thought I did and that I'm actually happier with a few close friends and a lot of acquaintances. My first semester was a trial and error experience for me and I realized that I wasn't obligated to put up with a lot of things I had subjected myself to.

3. I don't have to do sports

After Cross Country, I longed to be on a team where I was forced to keep up with my routine exercises and water intake. I realized that I don't need an entire team to do that, especially in Charleston. I recently took time off of the rowing team because of time conflicts, but that may be a permanent thing for me. I'm just not as passionate about sports anymore and instead want to focus on other things. It's not for everyone.

4. I miss my home, both of them

I realized that I don't have a long-term home right now, and I'm actually okay with that. If i felt like I was too far from 'home home', I'd be miserable. If I felt like I was away from my school home for too long, I'd be miserable as well. Right now, I have a good balance. I may miss my 'home home' but I can always visit whenever, and vice versa.

5. I'm an adult.

Them finally growing and prospering into a young adult who strives for a good education, a day job, and the ability to take care of myself. I'm planning out my first apartment with two new friends, and I'm at a good place in my life where I'm making big decisions on my own like whether or not to add a "scary" express class to my schedule.

College used to be a scary but exciting experience to look forward to, and it was actually very beneficial for my development as I transition into some very significant years of my life. I'm very thankful for my friends and family who have helped me when I needed them, and especially my mom, for answering all my unnecessary, random calls and zooming down here without a second thought when I was having my health problems last semester. College is a wild and crazy time, but so far I've loved my experience and can't wait to see what the next three years will show me.