My first semester as a college student has come to an end and by no means am I an expert on this whole college thing (I don't think anyone is actually), but I have learned a few things in the past 18 weeks. While I have a lot more to go, here are some things I've learned in my first five months at college.

1. How to study. In high school I never really had to study — maybe I'd reread my notes a few times, but I never had to really study. Figuring out the best way for me to study has been a struggle, but it has also taught me a lot about how my brain works.

2. How to say no. College has presented me without a lot of opportunities. There's so much to do and normally I'm the first person to say yes to doing something, but I've learned that for my own mental health, bank account and GPA, it is sometimes just best to say no.

3. What Greek life really is. Before coming to college, going through recruitment and joining a sorority, I had a very negative connotation of Greek life. I swore it was never for me, but now I've seen just how wonderful Greek life can be. I have met some great men and women and have gotten so many opportunities to give back.

4. How to be a bit more responsible. Since coming to college, I've had to do a lot of things without the help of mom and dad. Having no parents around has forced me to become more responsible for myself.

5. That change is a good thing. I somehow tricked myself into thinking that my life wouldn't change that much once I got to college, but boy was I wrong. At first, I wasn't too sure I liked the change, but I love my life here and college has proven to me that change really is a good thing.

6. College is where you find your people. Don't get me wrong, I still love my friends from back home with all my heart, but college offers such a wider variety of people. The friends I have made here have come to understand me so well in such a short amount of time. They have been with me through the biggest change in my life and they understand who I have become in the past five months.

7. I've learned more about me. In high school, I thought I had myself all figured out. I knew exactly what I wanted from life and exactly who I was, but college has shown me that there is so much more to me than I thought. I've discovered so much more about myself in these past five months than I did in four years of high school.

I've only experienced a very small portion of college, but I can say it has taught me a lot and it has changed me. These past five months have brought me so much. I've gained friends, lost friends, laughed, cried, worked hard, played hard, and I've learned so much. I can't wait to experience the next three and a half years.