Time to say goodbye to my last college summer.

I haven't hit the finish line yet, but I'm pretty darn close--and I've learned a lot in three years. I'm looking at you, incoming freshmen: enjoy year one, because it's new and scary and exciting in ways no other year will ever be.

It can also be stressful, so here, have a few tips that would've smoothed out my life a whole lot in those first few weeks.

1. Don't overpack.

I remember making lists, carefully placing everything I'd possibly need in Rubbermaid tubs.

Then I moved into the roofed equivalent of a cardboard box.

Don't do this to yourselves. Pack smart, but underpack. Check your room dimensions. Your TV might sound super cool, but if your freshman dorm is like mine, good luck finding anywhere to put it. I promise, you won't need everything and the kitchen sink. And hey, if find out you do, Target and Walmart often offer "Sunday Run" discounts on move-in weekend. Don't sweat it.

2. Explore the city.

Seriously. You won't believe how easy it is to get caught up in campus activities and classes--until you look up and realize you haven't left your school in days.

Get outside and find new places. Eat weird food. One of the coolest things about college? You're probably someplace new, and you're probably hanging out with new people. Make the most of it. Go somewhere.

3. ASK FOR DIRECTIONS.

There are multiple kinds of freshmen who don't know where they're going.

1. The Backpacker: stands in the middle of the sidewalk, staring at a map for the first week of classes.

Deep breaths. Just ask someone--we've all been there.

2. The Type B: thinks they can figure out where they're going on the fly. Doesn't scout classrooms, gets everywhere late on the first day.

Make a good impression with your professors and figure out what you're doing. That walk of shame to the one empty seat is not fun.

3. The Ferris Bueller: parties too hard on their first college weekend. Is too hung over to find the right building. Possibly a no-show, is too hung over to care.

How many weekends are there in four years? Don't do this.

4. Enjoy it.

You'll get used to things, so enjoy the new while it lasts.

I actually don't feel that different from my freshman self, but I look back on that person and--yeah, I've changed. I've grown. Freshman me wouldn't be able to handle half the things I've done this summer: riding the Metro, rocking blue hair, wandering around London solo, bartering for earrings in a street market. That's how growth happens! You don't notice it. Then you look back on your years-ago self and that person is a really embarrassing stranger.