The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell! Unfortunately, that fact is not very helpful in college. Unless you're a Biology major. And if you are, that phrase will be completely useless. Thankfully, I have learned things some things that are actually helpful in college. Even though I haven't even finished my first semester yet. Because college is a great time of learning new things, meeting new people, experiencing new adventures, and making awkward eye contact with that person sitting across from you in the library. So, here is a non-complete list of things college has taught me so far.

First of all, I've learned not to do homework in my bed. In fact, doing it in my room at all proves to be a problem. See, I always tell myself that I'm not going to fall asleep, and I always end up falling asleep. Or thinking about falling asleep. Or eating. Or, on the days when I really don't want to get any work done, organizing my life instead. So, I go to the library. Because there, I at least have the illusion of productivity, even if I am not actually being productive. Plus, the library has the coffee.

You know that weird half an hour you have between your last class and dinner where you feel like you can't get any work done? Yeah, you definitely can. In fact, you must at least start something. I am the type of person who likes to start something and finish it all at once, without taking breaks. Which means I never use that half an hour. But, I have had to learn to get over that. Because that doesn't work in college. You must use every available minute you have. That extra ten minutes you have before class starts? Read part of that chapter in the textbook. Even if you can't finish something. Start it.

Relationships are dumb, especially in the first semester. Just don't. You don't need that in your life. College is rough enough, especially first semester. Nobody needs to try to navigate both studying and a new relationship. Plus, guys are dumb anyway.

You'll have days when you have so much going on that you can't even begin to do any of it. All you can do is sit there and think about all the work you have to do, but you can never actually do any of it. So, you decide to take a break and do none of it. For hours. You hang out with friends, or drink some coffee, or read a book, or sit around and contemplate life. And, that's okay. Sometimes you need to do that too. Sometimes you have so much to do you have to do something else in order to take your mind off of it, and that's okay. As long as you get it done eventually.

Finding the balance between socialization and actually getting work done may be hard at first, but you'll figure it out. And, it may include less socializing and more work time than you want, but, priorities. And, eventually, you'll have become close enough friends with the people you have met that you don't feel you need to hang out with them all the time anyway.

Time is a construct. It does not actually matter. Except for when you have those midnight deadlines and its currently 11 pm. But, really it doesn't matter. 11 pm? Perfect time to go get milkshakes. 2 am? Make some easy mac because you forgot to eat dinner. As my friend would say, "Easy mac is always there for you," even at 2 am. (That's also why food is better than relationships. Because it's always there. Boys are not.) 6 am? Perfect time to go to sleep in order to wake up in time for your 9 am class. Seriously, you either eat dinner at 5 pm, or you forget to eat it at all and eat it at like midnight. There really is no in between. Time means nothing.

Coffee is literally a lifesaver. In high school, I thought I needed it. I would go to bed at 11 most nights, and wake up at 5:30, and I thought I would die without coffee. But, seriously, in college, it's even more necessary. If I"m going to go to bed at 2 or 3 in the morning and wake up at 7:30, and be able to make it through the entire day, I'll probably need at least one cup, probably two. Coffee saves lives.

Remember in high school how you would wait until the last minute to do things and still be able to get them done and done well? Yeah, no. Just, no. That doesn't actually work in college.

And, here's the last thing—you'll figure your life out eventually. And, everyone else is in the exact same place you are. Some days, your 75 percent sure you made the right decision about your major. The next day, your 99 percent. And, by the end of the week, your at about nine percent.

So, it may take some time to figure out exactly what you want in life. It may take some time to figure out how to balance your passions with your talents with your happiness with your logical ideas about what will actually give you a steady income later in life. But, don't worry so much about it. Discover yourself and your passions. You'll figure it out eventually. And, remember that, sometimes, being passionate and doing something you genuinely enjoy is more important than making money or "being successful." Because, hapiness and passion are the keys to true success.