With midterms having come and gone and finals looming on the near horizon, it feels like this first semester of college has passed in the blink of an eye. I'm honestly not quite sure what I was expecting before the beginning of September but it most definitely was not the college experience I've had thus far.

What life handed me ended up being completely different than what I had in mind for myself, yet somehow it ended up being even better. Even having only been a college student for a little over two months, I've absorbed a lot of knowledge and, unsurprisingly, a very little percentage of this knowledge is actually related to my major.

Here are 7 things college has taught me thus far that, in my opinion, are way more useful and important than what will be on my next Intro to Journalism exam.

1. How to efficiently manage time

In high school I was so busy I didn't have much free time to manage. Coming to college and having a schedule where I have some days where I only have one class, was simultaneously very refreshing yet challenging in it's own ways. Living in New York City I had an overwhelming amount of options with which to fill this immense amount of newfound free time. Over the past couple of months I've found a system of balance between academics and adventure that has lent itself to a very satisfying and successful mix of fulfillment for my degree, yet still being able to take advantage of the opportunities this city provides.

2. How much I actually took my parents for granted in high school

Okay, this is too real. I wish I had appreciated the close geographic proximity of my parents a little more before I graduated. Yes, living under the same roof and living across the country are pretty extreme opposite ends of the spectrum but I wish I hadn't taken the time when we shared an address for granted. I realized this the first time I came across a spider in my dorm and didn't have my dad down the hall to come kill it for me. I've always been close with my parents but if I'm being honest, I spent less time than I should have in high school just talking with them for the sake of soaking in their wisdom or just simply spending time with them. Now I call my mom to tell her about the sandwich I ate for lunch or the professor who makes me want to drop out of school effectively immediately and all the little things in between.

3. Rest is not a waste of time

When I was much younger I used to tell my dad that naps were a waste of time. "There's too much living to do!", my twelve-year-old self would say to him. I laugh at that now because, honestly, how much "living" was I doing at 12? Not much, folks. Not much. However, I am now the greatest proponent of a good nap that you will ever meet. About a month ago, my roommate actually asked me if I was narcoleptic because she saw me sleeping so often. Obviously, the answer is no but I've realized that you cannot be a productive individual if your brain and body are drained of the energy you need in order to do the things you need to get done in a timely and well-completed manner. Naps are productive. The end.

4. Being in tune with yourself in order to properly cater to your well being is essential

Know yourself well enough to know what you need when you need it. On most days maybe that looks like eating well-balanced meals and hitting the gym but some days are not as fantastic as others. Those days might call for an entire afternoon spent in pajamas with a good book in hand and some chocolate close by. (I'm no medical professional but I wouldn't suggest making that an everyday occurrence, but every now and then it just feels necessary.) There's no shame in taking time away from the typical definition of productivity to do what you need to refresh your heart and soul and mind.

5. It's more than okay to not always be okay

Striving to make everyday wonderful doesn't always mean that it will turn out to be so. This is normal and okay and honestly, it's good. Because without the bad and not so perfect days, we wouldn't be able to appreciate the best days. Days full of little things that go wrong, enable us to be replenished by the little things. Pretending to have it together all the time isn't realistic and it isn't healthy. Bad days are allowed; you'll bounce back. Allow yourself to feel however you're truly feeling in the moment.

6. Relationships worth having are not deterred by a lack of close geographic proximity

We prioritize those who we hold dear. This might not realistically look like calling your best friend every day, but rather making the conscious effort to make your presence known in their life, whatever that looks like for that specific relationship. One of the best things about loving your people, is that you can do it from anywhere on earth.

7. How to come up with your own definition of success

Professors, peers, family and friends and the world at large all try to throw their definition of success at you and pin it as the gospel truth. And maybe it is their gospel truth but that doesn't mean that it has to be yours. We won't ever feel fulfilled as long as we are chasing after someone else's definition of a successful life. Determine what a truly productive and successful life looks like in your own personal frame and strive for that. It might be different from someone else, but that doesn't make it less valid.

Here's to hoping next semester is just as instructive both inside the classroom and out.

Go college!