It's that time of year. People are making the jump to the next step of their life. I'm sure all of you new students have been hammered with advice as of late, but here are a few things that I have learned.

1. Invest in relationships.

College is a crazy adjustment. You are learning who you are on your own. Don't go through that journey alone. Find friends who challenge you, encourage you, enable you and allow you to grow. If you find those people, hold on to them. They will be a major part of the success of your college experience.

2. Leave your past in the past.

It is a new year. Fresh start. Clean slate. Spending so much time caught up on how you got here will not allow you to grow into what your future has. This also shows in how we treat other people. You will meet people of all different backgrounds. Don't let those determine your opinion.

3. Always try.

There will be a point in time were you are lost, confused and discouraged. My advice is to put one foot in front of the other and try. Accomplishing little things will create in you the confidence to do the big things.

4. Be a learner.

You will soon find out that you don't know as much as you thought. That means there is room for learning and improvement. College is a chance to learn educationally, but it also allows you to learn about all different cultures and ideas at once. Embrace knowledge.

5. Don't take everything so seriously.

College will be an ultimate failure if you do not have fun doing it. In the moments where you fail a test or do something stupid, remember that college is a learning experience. Pick yourself up, put a smile on your face and attack the day.