College, oh college. They say it's the best four years of your life, but don't let them fool you: it's the most hectic, unimaginable, stressful and fun time of your life. It's crazy. You will be up until 5 AM on a weekend having an amazing time doing who knows what, but you'll also be up until 3 AM studying for a big exam at 8 AM the next day.
College does some wild things to people. Some people drink for the first time (and many times thereafter), some people do drugs for the first time, and some people are in the library for 10 hours straight nearly every night (especially around finals - that's not some people, that's every person).
You're going to gain weight. I came into college boasting because I was losing weight. Looking back, I'm positive it's because I was crazy nervous, stressed and excited, so my metabolism was probably through the roof. I've gained about eleven pounds since August (yikes) and I'm hitting the gym every day to try and knock 'em off.
College is all about time management and responsibility. Sure, you need to write a paper that will take four hours, but if you decide to watch the Bachelor instead (not a bad decision AT ALL), you need to realize that the paper didn't just disappear as we all want it to, but it still needs to be done. I recommend doing things in fun/not-fun intervals. Sit down and start your super long essay, but take a break by doing homework that you enjoy (hopefully something from your major)
You'll learn what a true friend is, but it might not be quickly. It took me over a semester to figure it out and that's okay, because right now, I couldn't be happier with my friends. You're going to have pain in college. You'll think your boyfriend is "the one" or that you and your current best friend will be close as ever for life, but people drift apart and people change. It's hard to adapt to an ever-changing environment, and it's nearly impossible. It's just sort of something you learn to accept.
Don't let these things scare you. College is a time for growth and self-fulfillment. College is a time for new experiences. I've done things I never would have thought possible because of the confidence that I've been given. I randomly applied one day to a camp in Texas, and I got the job. I knew it was a commitment going in, but I was fine with that. I thought it would be a cool adventure to fly down to Texas for a few months, and it's going to be amazing. Something I never thought I would do was join a sorority, but here I am - a proud Chi Omega. It's funny how things change you so quickly, just keep track of them, and make sure they're for the better.
