We all head off to college as freshmen with certain expectations running wildly through our minds. We've heard it's supposed to be the best four years of our lives, but we don't know what that time is going to look like. It's a fresh start, and we know that we are about to embark on a journey that will shape us for the rest of our lives, so how do we do it right? These are a few of the most important items that I've learned from this year, and so freshmen, I now pass them on to you.

1. Don't be afraid to experience new things

Yes, yes, we’ve all heard it a thousand times and it sounds so cliche, but it can absolutely help you to have a more valuable and fulfilling college experience. Now, when I say “experience,” I’m not advocating that you go out to all the parties and experiment with every drink and drug known to man. What I’m saying is, don’t let fear hold you back from new experiences. Think about your favorite food. Would you know that you like it if you had never tried it? Of course not. So how do you know you won’t enjoy an activity, sport, club, or organization if you don’t give it a chance? Step outside of your comfort zone. I guarantee you won’t regret it. At the very least you will have a better idea of what you don’t like.

2. Remember the real reason you're in school: to graduate

I’m not saying that you aren’t supposed to have fun in college, in fact, you certainly are and should have fun and enjoy college, but in the process of doing so, don’t neglect your grades. All it takes is one rough semester to put a dent in your GPA, and that can really make a difference if you are in a highly competitive program. You could be the most charismatic and qualified student to apply, but for some programs, if your GPA isn’t up to par, they won’t even give you the time of day, let alone get to know you for who you really are. It’s important to take a step back and realign your priorities sometimes. Enjoy yourself, but don’t forget why you’re in school and please don’t let all that money go to waste.

3. Be ready to fight peer pressure

Peer pressure in college is much different than it is in high school. In college, you’re on your own and you have much more freedom, but with that freedom comes a lot of responsibility. You’re going to be surrounded by hundreds of new people that you haven’t met before and they’re going to invite you to do things that you’re not necessarily comfortable with. Just because it seems like everyone is doing it doesn’t mean that you have to be part of that crowd. Be bold, stand up for yourself. If you do, you’ll feel much better and you’ll be a lot more likely to avoid some serious and unnecessary consequences.

4. Take advantage of what you have available to you

You’ll only have those resources while you’re at school, so you should make use of them while you can. They could be the athletic fields, the gym, or even just the beautiful green grass. Play sports, join the backpacking club, throw a football around, sling up your hammock in the forest, and camp out behind your dorm. Use the space that you have available to you for fun activities, because it would be frowned upon for you to come back and use it when you’re 40. Check out the library, go to the tutoring center, and be attentive about your professors’ office hours. They are excellent resources that are there to help you succeed, so let them do their job.

5. Surround yourself with friends who are heading in the direction that you want to go

There’s no better way to get to where you want to be than to have your friends carry you there. When your friends share the same values and goals that you do, it becomes much easier to keep and accomplish your aspirations. If you don’t want to get involved in something that’s against your values, don’t give yourself the opportunity to get sucked in. Find true friends that you trust and that want the best for you, they’ll keep you out of the firefight and be there for you every step of the way.

6. Sleep is important

There will be times where your friends are having fun and going places and all you want to do is stay up until the crack of dawn and join them. You check your phone realize that it’s already 3 a.m. and you have class at 8 o’clock. It will happen, and don’t be fooled, the late hours of the night will sneak up on you before you know it. Now, this goes for staying up late playing video games and binge-watching Netflix with Cheetos on your fingers and a pint of ice cream in your lap, but it also goes for studying. It’s much more productive (although not easier) to split up your studying into small chunks, and to start well before the exam. Procrastination and lack of motivation will be impossible to completely avoid and you’ll find yourself awake with blood-shot eyes frantically studying at hours that you didn’t even know existed. At some point though, sleep is more important that learning that last bit of information. A refreshed mind can do more good than late-night cramming.

7. Don't sweat the small things

It’s college, it’s the time of our lives in which we learn from our successes and our mistakes. Your college career will not be perfect, there will be some poor choices, some regrets, some algebra blunders and some speeches gone wrong. In the grand scheme of life, most of these slip-ups will be completely insignificant, even if they don’t seem it at the time. That break up won’t be the end of your life, and yes, you can move on. That 60 percent on your chem exam will not cause your parents to kill you. They love you very much. The important part is that we don’t make the same mistake twice if we can avoid it. Stress usually only makes things worse, so find a way to relax and calm yourself down, you’re stronger than you think you are, and you’re capable of things beyond your imagination.