It’s hard to believe that all of us college freshman out there have already completed a quarter of our college careers. Looking back on the semester, it honestly feels like the insanity of move-in day was just yesterday, but here we are at the end of yet another academic year. In an attempt to reflect on my freshman experience, I have compiled a list of a few things that I’ve learned during my transition into college life.

1. Change is really, really hard.

Moving away to college has definitely been one of the hardest transitions that I have ever had to go through, and I still don’t think that you can ever truly prepare for the insane emotional and mental shock that you go through when you see your parents drive away without you. Maybe it’s because moving away is such a drastic change, but college honestly makes you stop and realize that adulthood is here and the clock is ticking. Time flies faster than you think, so do the things that you truly enjoy and surround yourself with people who will do them with you.

2. Time management is a lifelong experiment.

After just one year of college, I’ve made a million note cards, spent days studying and written a hundred essays. Also, after a year of college, I’ve stayed out until all hours of the night with friends, attended social events and made one too many late night ice cream runs. It’s all about finding a balance and knowing that there is always going to be something fun going on around campus, but you have to decide what activities deserve your time and energy.

3. Test scores aren’t everything.

Getting a scantron full of red lines is never an enjoyable experience, but it is important to remember that test scores do not define you as an individual or determine your future success. It’s easy to get discouraged by a bad test score, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s only one test.

4. Relationships are messy.

Let’s face it, your roommate is going to do things that irk you and you’re more than likely going to meet people who let you down, but relationships are messy because people are messy and that’s just a part of life.

5. Be authentic.

One of the greatest things about college is that no one knows the person who you were in high school and you have this incredibly opportunity to find your identity independent of any past mistakes or failure. Plus, during your freshman year of college, every other freshman on campus is going through the exact same struggle of developing their identity, so focus on being yourself!