I was probably more prepared for college than a lot of my friends were because I would constantly interrogate my older brother about it to make sure I had his “best advice” down to a T before my first day in the dorms. Sure, some of it was helpful, but without a doubt the best lessons learned are the ones that we teach ourselves. So, I’ve come up with some of the most important things that I learned and that I wish I would’ve known before starting college, and even during my senior year of high school.

1. High school teachers are so under-appreciated.

Nine times of 10, they were much better at doing their job than my professors are. With that being said, I am only still a freshman who has only experienced oh, probably around 10 teachers so far (and no, not all of them were terrible…but it’s pretty close to being a tie). Last semester I took a Calculus course that was almost identical to the AP Calc class I took in high school, give or take a few concepts. My professor was foreign, and I honestly couldn’t understand half of what he said in each lecture because his accent was so strong, and I’m pretty sure I caught some gibberish in there too. I know for a fact that I would not have been able to pass the class without my previous knowledge and notes from my high school class, so I made damn sure to send out a thank-you email to my teacher so he knew just how much I appreciated him.

2. Fifty-minute classes are a Godsend.

I have no idea how I ever managed to sit through 90-minute classes every single day. Really though, I thought having block scheduling was a beautiful thing in high school…little did I know the joys of short classes with nice, hour-long breaks in between. Usually, they’re filled with a quick trip to the gym, finishing last-minute homework, a nice little snooze or lunchtime. Ten out of 10 would recommend as many breaks throughout the day as you can fit in your schedule.

3. Don’t close your mind to one genre of music

There are so many types out there, and someone might just introduce you to a new one and you’ll fall in love. Speaking from personal experience, of course! I had never really been interested in venturing out and exploring different kinds of music until one of my best friends introduced me to hers. I’ve actually started looking deeper into music and finding new bands and artists who are really talented, and I have such a wide variety of music on my Spotify now.

4. College is without a doubt harder.

Mentally, scholarly, and emotionally. There’s a heck of a lot more studying that goes into each day’s work, and that’s something that I was not prepared for. Sure, I was told that there would be more homework, but I didn’t realize that it would include six or seven hours out of every day to study, write papers and take notes over the readings in the textbooks. (Yes, you actually have to read the books in college…it’s a waste of your money not to.) Mentally, the hardest part was adjusting to all of the independence I have, and how quickly I began having all of the power over my decisions, which also meant I have to take full responsibility for everything. At first, it was overwhelming, and honestly pretty weird, not having to report to anybody about where I’m going, what I’ll be doing with which friends, or what time I’d be coming back home. Throughout the semester, though, I’ve learned what good and bad decisions are, and some with bigger consequences than others. But, my theory is that every single thing I do is helping me to guide the direction I want my life to go, and consequences are essential for that. Since school started, I’ve had my fair share of tears, laughs and every emotion in between. I now understand why everyone complains about dead week and why everyone starts stressing about their finals before classes even begin. I’ve learned that most boys are stupid and you shouldn’t get attached to them before you truly get to know them, and that popcorn, girlfriends and movie nights are the best remedy for “those” nights. I’ve also had some pretty wonderful emotions, though, like that feeling when your abs actually hurt from laughing so hard at something one of your friends said, and that excitement when the dining hall has the exact food you’ve been craving for the past three days for dinner.

5. Your body will want to kill you.

Your brain, for how selfish you’ve been, cramming for all four chapters on the test the night before. Your heart, for how wide a range of emotions you’ve made it experience within the past week. Your liver, for that three-day weekend when you decided to be brutally evil to it with all that adult stuff. Your eyes, for the all the strain they’ve been through, staring at your computer day after day. Your stomach, for the excess amounts of ice cream and ramen you’ve exposed it to.

6. Whatever you do, go Greek.

Without a question, go Greek. I don’t know where I would be without my sisters surrounding me with their love and support day in and day out. I have never in my life been happier than I am this year, and I owe it all to the 100+ sisters of mine. I’m not bothered that people tease us Greeks for “paying” for our friends, because they’re a hell of a lot better friends than I ever would have found anyplace else, and I know that they’ll be there for me through anything and everything throughout the years.

7. Use the Rec Center.

Because you will gain weight—it’s pretty much impossible not to. For the most part, the dining hall has unlimited food and unlimited visits. Yikes. That’ll get ya. However, I’ve found that majority of the pounds you put on come from the late night study sessions with sugary energy drinks or sodas and the snack foods we eat to help keep our eyes open and our minds focused. But, The Rec is literally a free gym! Why would you not take use of a free gym?! You’ve gotta fight off those few extra pounds somehow. It’s also a great place to meet new people (especially muscular boys), and it can help release the stress from that not-so-easy Chem test earlier today.

8. People see you as you see yourself.

So learn to embrace every tiny detail and quirk about you, whether good or bad. I feel that subconsciously, we create bonds with others who have the same flaws as we do so that we don’t feel like we’re so alone in this big world. I know for sure that my friends are at least half as weird as I am, and I wouldn’t want it any other way, because I love being weird. I love being me, and I finally have other people to share my personality with who don’t look down on me for letting myself go every once and awhile. Train yourself to have a solid confidence in yourself and in your abilities. You are so much more talented and smart than you think you are!

College opens up so many new opportunities and experiences, but, ultimately, only you can decide the lessons that you’ve learned. It sure as hell has been the time of my life so far, and, regardless of the things that I’ve been through or that have happened to me, I wouldn’t change a thing.