College means a lot of things. New places, new names, new people, and new experiences. It’s pretty much standard that after high school, you’re going to move off to college and embrace a higher level of learning. That’s what I was expecting these last few years: I’d find a college I liked, check the place out and hopefully get admitted, move up there, and start on a new part of my life.

I expected a few things out of Drake. I expected the welcoming faculty, and the low Des Moines humidity, and the shared bonding with peers over the struggle of not knowing where to go the first few days. But there were a few things that I didn’t expect, things that I wish I would have known heading into Welcome Weekend.

1. It’s more important than you think to get involved.

I knew that Welcome Weekend had a lot of activities scheduled. I figured that it’d be a lot of icebreakers, a lot of tours around campus, and a lot of figuring out where the hell anything actually was. What I didn’t realize was how many new people you actually end up meeting. The words “Hi, I’m Ren, what’s your major?” felt like something I said every five minutes. It was cool to meet new people, and interesting to see where everyone came from and what they were interested in. What I didn’t realize was that after the planned activities ended, there was a wide open space in my schedule just waiting to be filled.

Once you get involved in the planned activities, it’s so much easier to find things to do with brand new friends. You have something to talk about, and something to look forward to next, and (if nothing else) a shared experience. As tempting as it can be to just go back to your dorm and scroll through Facebook while missing home, it’s much more fun to talk to someone and do something new.

2. Get involved, but take time for yourself.

If I ever doubted that I was an introvert, those doubts evaporated in the last few days. It was fun getting to know everyone, but after a while, I couldn’t wait to have some alone time. While everyone else was getting ready to go to a concert on campus, I was internally rejoicing. Taking the time to stay in and practice a little well-needed self-care gave me the energy to get through the next couple of days without loading myself up with caffeine. If you’re living in a dorm, it can be hard to find time where you’re truly alone, without the presence of your roommate. However great of a person to live with they may be, it’s always refreshing to be able to feel completely by yourself.

3. Ask questions.

Whatever kind of high school you went to, you were probably encouraged to ask questions all the time. Colleges are the same, but these kinds of prompts usually happen in a classroom setting. When you’re walking around campus and everyone seems to know where they’re going or how to order lunch, it’s definitely intimidating. It feels like everyone knows what they’re doing except you, and who wants to be the clueless freshman asking all the dumb questions? Chances are, however, if you take the leap and ask, a ton of people will agree with you saying that they had no idea either. Whoever’s leading your group, whether it’s a faculty member or an upperclassman, they’ll be eager to help.

4. “E.T. phone home.” Really.

It’s tempting to get swept up into college life, into staying up late watching Netflix and eating granola bars on the way to class. It’s easy to want to just move on and be an adult already. It’s easy to just ignore whatever you miss about home- but don’t be afraid to acknowledge it. If you’re like me, then this is your first time being away from home (and your parents) for any longer than a day or so. You’ve kept in touch with them through texts, but haven’t yet found the time to make that long-distance call. Don’t forget--most of the time, your parents are part of that support system that is so important during any major life event. Don’t be afraid to admit that you miss home, or your parents, or your dog. Don’t let that loneliness and homesickness build up inside, because it’s going to hold you back.

Embrace where you came from, and embrace where you’re going. It’s gonna be great.