I graduated from high school in 2010 and I'm still in college.

It's not as bad as it sounds.

Lately, I've been working on letting go of the timeline I've had in mind since high school: Graduate from college at 22, buy a house no more than six months after that, marry by 30 and be done having kids by 40.

Needless to say, none of these things have happened. As time went on, and my high school graduation day became a distant memory, I grew angrier and more disappointed. How was I supposed to compete with my high school classmates now?

It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that I wasn't and I never had been. I know it's ridiculous, but there's something about going to a small school with the same people for 12 years that makes you think you're supposed to accomplish everything at the same time, even six years later. I cringed seeing people I knew pull up in the drive-through at the McDonald's where I worked over breaks because I didn't want them to think that's all I've been doing since high school, or worse, that's all I planned on doing.

Sometime during the third greasy summer of miserable hiding out, I got sick of feeling disappointed, so I began to do more reflecting and less self-pitying. After all, you don't get through almost six years of college without learning some lessons.

So here they are, one lesson for each year I've spent in college, not necessarily in order.

1. Even if things don't go as planned and you have to reroute.
This works in many situations. It can be as small as something during a night out or deciding to change your major halfway through sophomore year. Don't be too busy mourning how things used to be to enjoy the new scenery.

2. Living with freshmen as an upperclassman is better than you would think.
Sure, you feel old, but you get to share your wisdom and they call you Mom. I call that worth it. Living in a dorm after having an apartment, however, is a very different story.

3. Leases are ironclad legal documents. Remember this when choosing roommates.

4. Get involved, but know your limits as well as what could help you down the road.
I highly recommend Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional women's music fraternity, but I am slightly biased.

5. Get to know your professors.
They open doors you never knew were there, introduce you to new passions, and aid you in networking, not to mention write those letters of recommendation.

6. Practice physical, mental and academic wellness. Here's a hint: they're all connected.
If you know you need a solid seven hours of sleep, don't skimp! Prioritize and plan accordingly or you'll soon find yourself in a vicious cycle. Go to the rec. The Freshman 15 is a reality, but not unavoidable. Know your learning style and capitalize on it. Know, too, that there's no shame in asking for help, including counseling.

There is also no shame in taking longer than anticipated to graduate, no matter what your parents, significant other, or drunk uncle at Christmas dinner tell you. You will come out older, yes, but wiser. These are hard-won lessons I learned the hard way, presented so that you don't have to. Go make your own mistakes!