Freshman year is a wonderful yet scary adventure, full of new experiences and new friends. Freshman year of college is a time to explore who you are and exploring your new found freedom. It is also a time to learn independence and balancing school and socializing (and sleep).

1. Who your real friends are

Everyone graduates high school with the intention of keeping in touch, and only few do (love you, Carol and Kari). Those are your true friends, but your real friends are also those you meet when you are a mess in the library in the middle of the night or don’t want to eat alone in the dining hall. Your real friends are the ones who will pick you up (emotionally and physically) when you are a mess over some dumb boy (thank you, Gracie, Steph, and Maddie)

2. Who you are

I went into freshman year of college with a boyfriend, and when we broke up, I didn’t know who I was. My identity had included him for almost two years. I quickly learned to be independent again, but I didn’t know who I was. I surrounded myself with girls I wanted to be like and friends who had my back and I am starting to realize who I am had been inside me all along. I am a girl who likes to hike, and hammock around campus, and embarrasses herself at frat parties because she likes to dance but doesn’t have the skill (thank you all for enduring that with me).

3. How to do laundry

I’ve already had my laundry rant, you all witnessed that. I knew how to do laundry before coming to college but you figure out stuff when you are doing laundry in the middle of the night and can’t call your mom to ask her if you wash things on hot or cold or delicate or what.

4. How to handle money (and spend way too much)

I’m gonna be the first to admit that I spent WAYYY too much money this year, partly because I got a debit card, but also because I had freedom and no parents to make me dinner every night (and let's be honest, the dining hall is awful and you eat there less and less as the year goes on). But I worked on campus and got paid monthly so as long as I never spent more than I made, we’re good.

5. Frat boys (and all boys) are dumb and not worth your tears

I learned this lesson on more than one occasion. No frat boy, or any boy, or ANYONE is worth your tears. If the dumb frat boy you like wants to pick a fight while you are at a party, it’s not worth ruining your night. He isn’t worth ruining the memories you and your friends are making. Nights out with your girls are for your girls and he can’t take that away from you.

6. Always make time for your girl friends

Your roommate, your sorority sisters, any of your girlfriends will always be there for you when no one else is — so make time for them. Don’t push them to the side for anyone. Your ladies are your number one, since day one, for every day of the week. Make time for sleepovers filled with chick flicks, Disney movies, junk food and gossip, (basically how Gracie and I spend every Wednesday night). It makes you feel great.