Now that we are entering into the world of adulthood it is our responsibility to look towards the next best things. For some of us that is college and for others, it may be to enter the workforce. Where ever your path goes here are some tips to help you along the way just in case get a little stuck!

1. Get a Job

Now that you’ll be in college the financial burden of books, food, and our extracurricular activities are no longer our parents. Rather they are ours. So, get a job and work hard so that every opportunity that arises in college you can experience without calling home to ask for money. And remember to save, save, save!

2. Spend time with family

Remember that if you are going home for the summer that you spend time with your family. It has been a long time since they have gotten to see you and they are anxious to meet the person you have become at college. If you just graduated high school and will be going to college in the fall, this applies to you too. Don’t miss out on the precious moments of staying in with the family because they will be the memories that get you through the toughest times at college.

3. Make a bucket list

This can be to do over the summer or one to do during college. College is the time to experience every little thing we can before we have to enter the real world and work. So, do things with friends or go on adventures by yourself, it doesn’t matter as long as you are out there willing to experience everything you possibly can.

4. Make your appointments

I know this sounds silly, but you would be surprised how difficult it is when you are on your own trying to talk to someone who we have always known to be superior to us. So, learn how to talk to other adults as an adult so that way when the time comes you can rock it out!!

5. Get comfortable meeting new people

If you come from a small town like I do, make sure you are comfortable meeting new people. College is a whirlwind of new people coming at you left and right. Don’t let this intimidate you it is easier to say “hi” than it may seem.

6. Learn how to do your laundry

This may seem like another silly thing to learn over the summer, but you would be surprised how many college freshman boys will ask the girls to do their laundry. So sneak into the laundry room and watch how your mom does it that way you’re not going weeks on weeks without laundry or missing out on money you could be spending on something fun!

7. Learn how to say no

The small word no will save you in college your freshman year. If you know, you have an eight-page paper due the next day, or the exam of your life and a friend asks you to go “ball” it up you better be able to say no. Otherwise, you’re looking at a sleepless night and a dangerous addiction to coffee. This doesn’t mean you always have to say no, but learn a balance so that you can have fun with friends while maintaining the grades.