You'll probably have heard this advice quite a few times from your parents. Take it from someone who is just now about to graduate: they’re 100% right about everything they say. College is a lot of fun. It’s easy to get distracted and lose sight of the vision you had for yourself for when you graduate. You may get caught up in all of the freedom and fun you’re feeling right away, but trust your parents, it’s not worth it in the end.

1. Party when you can, study when you should

I cannot express enough how important your future is. You need to learn and understand that just because all of your friends are going out and drinking and partying every Friday and Saturday night, doesn’t mean you should follow in their footsteps.

You can tell a lot about how a person’s future is going to end up and how prepared for the world they will be, by how they treat their first few semesters in college. Sure, you can make efforts to reboot your future, but always remember: parties are temporary memories, but your GPA is forever.

It’s okay to go out and drink every Friday and Saturday night if you want. But the key is to never leave homework until Sunday. That’s when the “Sunday scaries” will hit you like a freight train, plowing you over the edge, and plummeting into the everlasting abyss of being labeled as an “average college student” looking for jobs or graduate schools when you finish your undergrad.

2. Keep meeting new people

Do not bail on your buds after you read this. This isn’t set in stone for you to follow along step by step. These are just warnings to calm you down if something smelly smacks the fan and blows up everywhere.

A lot of my friends knew who their friends were going to be for their entire college career during the first semester of school. They got lucky and found awesome people. They didn’t meet me until three years later, but I have a completely different friend group than I did when I first started college. I have a totally different friend group than all the people I became friends with right away after transferring to a new school.

Just remember to always be friendly and inclusive to everyone — you never know who could end up being one of your best friends. I met my best friend my first day at a new job. He introduced me to all of my other best friends, those that I will forever talk to even after I have graduated.

3. Find as much alone time as possible

Whether you’re living in the dorms, an apartment, or a house, always appreciate and cherish the little bit of alone time that will ultimately save your sanity later on in your college years. I don’t care how extroverted you are, everyone likes a little peace and quiet in their solitude.

Take some time to do homework alone or even just watch a few seasons of a T.V. show. You’re not going to miss anything by going off of the grid for a few hours. It’s okay. You don’t have to go to every party. You don’t have to go to every meet up for lunch or dinner with your group. Just take some time to relax and recuperate for yourself. Future you will thank past you.

4. Take the freshman 15 seriously

I cannot express this enough to any athlete that is currently reading this, ones that decided not to play sports collegiality: your days of being on a competitive team may be over, but your battle against gaining weight and losing your athletic gifts has begun, and you need to do whatever you can in order to maintain your health.

I’m 23, and the physical toll of eating horribly, not staying active, and drinking too much are finally catching up with me. I wouldn’t consider myself fat by any means, but I am not as energized and spunky as I was when I was 18. I used to be one of the most athletic kids out there and could compete with anyone at any level. I played football but decided to quit because I had trouble staying away from injuries. After I quit, I stopped being so active. I lost my speed, vertical leap, and strength. I would do a lot of things to be able to have that athleticism back.

Prolong your youth by being active and challenging your body to difficult workouts. You may be getting lazy, but stop your mind and body from doing that to you. Stay hungry. It’s a lot easier and more fun to add 6 pounds of lean muscle before spring break, than losing 6 pounds of fat.

5. Don't get too excitable for the first attraction — you're still young

Let me guess, you met someone you’re super infatuated with and you want something to come of it. I’m telling you right now, it’s best to friend zone that person for the time being, get to know them, then make your decision in a year or two. I’m not kidding either.

I’ve met quite a few people that start trying to pair off right away in college. In turn, they end up either being cheated on or left feeling like they’ve wasted a bunch of time and effort in the end. Save yourself from a heart break and wasted time, and just wait to find that special person until everyone matures a little bit after their first few years of college.

You have a lot of life lessons to learn yet. It’s okay to stay single and wait to mature. Sleeping around also isn't your best idea. Just make friends. That's what college is all about.