College is so fun and perfect and exciting and new!

Except when it's not.

As kids, we looked up to college students as if they were on a pedestal. When we entered high school, we thought that college students were the absolute coolest. When we graduated as seniors, the countdown to moving into our first dorm, eating our first caf meal, joining clubs, and having fun 24/7 began.

Now, here we are, a month into four years we'll remember for the rest of our life. But is it really all it was cracked up to be?

If your answer is no, that's perfectly okay.

Here's a list of how to pick yourself back up again if your first month of college isn't super spectacular. Because, truth is, it rarely is.

1. So your first college exam didn't result in a 100%...

The thing about high level education is that it actually requires you to study. A lot. Some of us aren't used to that because despite staying in the "harder" classes in high school, nothing is like college and it's impossible to understand that until you're actually here. Getting used to that new studying habit and finding new ways to retain information is a journey we all have to take. Look back: we had to do that when we got our first bit of homework in elementary school, when we actually had papers in middle school, and when AP courses came into play in high school. You've done it before, you can do it again. Ask around for ideas or if you're stumped, try this website: http://tinyurl.com/85eurzk

2. QUICK REMINDER: this is your very FIRST month.

Do you know how many more months you have this semester? Three. That's about 90 days to get it all together and absolutely kill it. You have plenty of time. Sure, maybe this semester isn't your ish. That's fine, you've got seven more before you graduate (which is thirty-six months).

3. My mom always used to give me the following metaphor whenever I stopped believing in myself.

As corny as it is, I've thought more about it these past few weeks and it's surprisingly uplifting. Sure, you've been walking pretty easily for a while now and got confident. Then, you stubbed your toe. You may have completely fallen and let a few choice words out. You didn't break your toe, though. It's just a little sore, like your ego. It doesn't matter that you fell because we all are a little clumsy sometimes. What matters is what you do next. Sure, you could dramatically crawl across the floor. You could simply get up and walk it off. Or, you could stand up tall, and start sprinting without fear of stubbing your toe again. While it may happen again, that doesn't mean you should stop moving forward.

4. You may have been valedictorian in high school, gotten fifteen recommendation letters, been homecoming queen or king, and the captain of a sports team. Now you're here...

...back at the bottom of the totem pole, starting over with all new people. Don't look at this new start as a bad thing. This is a brand new adventure that is just waiting for you to take a bite out of. Make this year YOUR year. Remember how you felt when you succeeded before and hold on to that as a way to motivate you towards success once again. Trust me, you will thrive because 99% of the time, the outcome of a situation is what you want it to be.

5. Plan out everything.

Get your life down to a tee, it will make things so much easier. All of your classes gave you a syllabus so use those to your advantage. Tentatively plan out all of your assignments for the next month and even if the dates switch around, at least you'll have it all mapped out so you won't forget a thing. https://www.mystudylife.com is such an excellent resource for those who want an electronic calendar to keep track of it all (it'll remind you to do your homework, too!). If you're more of a paper person, then http://bloomplanners.com are for you. I have one and my life is literally all inside of that book.

6. HAVE A PITY PARTY!!!

Everyone needs to freak out sometimes and if you hold it in, you're not helping yourself. Pick a night that you're not going to go out and just turn off your phone, turn up that playlist you have on Spotify that makes you cry, get in some comfy clothes, and feel bad for yourself. BUT make sure you set a time limit for your pity party. Tell yourself that you'll feel bad that night, but when you wake up in the morning, you'll have the confidence to tackle the day.

7. Find something that inspires you and put it somewhere that you will see constantly.

I recently taped up a little piece of paper I found on the street that says "I overcome all of my challenges" on my desk and I see it every time I sit down to work, before I climb into bed, when I walk in my room, and when I get ready in the morning. Find your motivation and don't let it go.

I hope this list makes the next couple months a little easier than the first one may have been. Just remember that everyone around you genuinely wants you to succeed. If you need help, ask for it. Or maybe do what I do and call your mom.

College is about chasing your dreams, not being afraid of them.

GO GET EM!