Oh, freshman year. Countless days at the library, countless sleepless nights, and countless hours in class. We've learned so much in the classroom, but also an equal amount outside of the classroom, as well. From treating yourself to getting some sleep, some of the best lessons are learned outside of class.
1. Go to bed at a reasonable hour. Just do it.
2. Eat the extra cookie.
3. The freshman 15 is real. But don't be scared of it. You won't be your high school size forever.
4. You can't stay friends with your ex. It doesn't work.
5. Generic brands work just as well as brand names. Don't spend too much money trying to impress people. If they want to like you, they will.
6. Cut toxic relationships out of your life. You'll thank yourself later.
7. Your friends in the beginning won't be your friends in the end. And there's nothing wrong with that.
8. Be nice to everyone.
9. Go to the party. Because no fun stories began with "That one night I stayed home..."
10. But also stay in every once in a while. Your body will thank you.
11. Listen to your mom. She IS always right.
12. Call your mom.
13. Call your dad.
14. Call your grandma.
15. Tell people you love them every chance you get.
16, Chipped nail polish isn't the end of the world.
17. Everyone gets bad hair days sometimes.
18. You WILL make friends.
19. Take naps. Lots of them.
20. Stay up that extra hour to study. Even if it ends up not helping, it didn't hurt.
21. Don't put in effort for people who don't put it in back. If they wanted you in their life, they would try.
22. Don't cheat. On tests, on your significant other, just don't.
23. Take advantage of the free stuff on campus. That extra shirt will come in handy someday.
24. Treat yourself. The $10 at Chipotle isn't going to put THAT big of a dent in your bank account.
25. Don't gossip. This will only hurt you in the future.
26. Don't make cliques. This will also hurt you in the future.
27. A cracked phone really isn't the end of the world.
28. Keep in touch with your friends from home.
29. You may drift apart from some of them though, and that's ok.
30. Go home every once in a while, especially if it's a special occasion.
31. But stay at school mostly. You need to learn to live away from home and branch out.
32. Order the 2 AM pizza. Just do it.
33. Stick up for yourself.
34. Do things outside your comfort zone (If I hadn't, I wouldn't be writing this article right now).
35. Learn to let go.
36. Go to church. It really can't hurt.
37. Visit your friends at other schools. Have your friends from other schools visit you.
38. Hang out with that person you thought about rooming with back when you were a senior or your partner from your communications class. You can't get to know anyone if you don't spend time with them.
39. House rank doesn't matter. Hang out with who you want to hang out with.
40. Turning 19 isn't such a big deal after all. You still have three more years of college bar life.
41. Take study breaks. Take them often. Your brain needs to rest.
42. Take advantage of every sale you can.
43. Let your parents help you out with your financial situation while at college. That's what they're there for.
44. Get involved.
45. Be friends with people you may not usually be friends with.
46. Never delete a picture. You never know when they're going to come in handy.
47. Drink lots of water. Eat lots of vegetables.
48. Don't judge anyone. You don't know their life.
49. Mind your business.
50. Buy your friend the donut when she's upset.
51. Don't spend all your time with your boyfriend. Make time for your girls, too.
52. Go to sporting events at school. Even if you don't understand the sport.
53. The gym is your friend. Go visit him every once in a while.
54. Salads never killed anybody.
55. Believe it or not, you will miss the dorm life.
56. Even the dorm food.
57. Not everyone is going to like you.
58. Accept the fact that you can't be friends with everyone.
59. Have the Netflix-marathon days.
60. Don't judge anyone for their campus job. They're just trying to make some extra cash.
61. Keep a journal.
62. The frat guy from that one party probably does want only one thing from you.
63. You can't please everyone.
64. Wear a coat when you go out in the winter. You don't look lame, you look warm.
65. Take advantage of all the cool things your school offers. Jacuzzi, anyone?
66. Keep in touch with your college friends over the summer.
67. Three months isn't such a long time when your friends mean that much to you.
68. Be grateful for every second you spend on campus. Not everyone is lucky enough to do so.
