I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m a freshman at Arcadia University. I have learned a lot since starting college and wanted to share some of the most important things I learned that others can learn from. While reading this keep in mind that I attend Arcadia University and am a commuter so what I learned may not be true for everyone.

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1. No one is judging you.

Your classmates, peers, or friends really don’t judge your lifestyle or academics. Yes, you can wear the same outfit for a whole week and no one will really question you. Get that extra dessert - you deserve it. Have an assignment due in the morning? Hype yourself on coffee. Everyone is pretty much in the same boat. As long as you aren’t actively trying to ruin someone else’s life, you’re pretty much in the clear.

2. You can talk to anyone.

In all of my classes I have at least one person who I can talk and do group work with. That really helped ease my transition in. With most of my classmates I can strike up a conversation about anything really. The same is true with pretty much anybody on campus. As long as their headphones aren’t in and they aren’t on the phone, you can basically ask them any question you might have or just talk about college in general.

3. Find a balance.

Yes academics matter, but so does your sanity. You’ll probably spend the first month of college trying to find a balance between your social and academic life. You are spending a lot less time in class but you have to divide that extra time between sleeping, socializing, and doing homework. While you think that you can survive without sleep and just spend your weekend catching up on sleep, it’s not gonna work out. For your own good, try to divide your time evenly with sleeping and homework and spend about 8 to 10 hours per week being social even if that includes Facetiming someone.

4. Freshmen fifteen? More like freshmen fifty.

There is free food on campus almost once a week for some reason or another and you deserve that free food. Also, coffee becomes a necessity like water. The food at the dining areas is good but it also isn’t entirely healthy for you to eat on a daily basis. You may not actually be gaining weight but you sure as hell feel like it.

5. You’re going to be in pain.

That first week of college is literally going to be the worst for your body. Your legs will hurt from walking to and from class. Your back will hurt because of the weight of your book bag. Also, your hands are always going to be in pain from the amount of items you think you can fit in your hands at once. I have a dent in my finger from trying to hold two water bottles in one hand.

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These are just five of the wonderful things I've learned about college so far. And boy, do I have plenty of time to learn more.