I went into college expecting the greatest year of my life. I pictured late nights in my room and eating cheap pizza with new friends. I thought I'd be involved with clubs that spoke to me on a level that high school didn't offer. My classes would be entirely insightful and eye-opening. I wouldn't miss home, but I would stay in touch with everyone from high school.

Things didn't exactly happen like that.

Here's the thing that no one tells you while you're dorm shopping and talking about the future with wide eyes at graduation parties: college is hard. It's not just the pictures you see on Instagram or the fun stories passed down by your high school's alumni or your older cousins.

Of course, some people go to college and find out exactly who they were always meant to be and find people two doors down the hall who fit into their lives like puzzle pieces that have been missing for the past 18 years. Some freshmen join 12 clubs and rush a sorority and get involved with everything. Others declare a second (or third) major and add on minors in these amazing subjects they've been exposed to.

But I was not one of those people.

Maybe it's because I set the bar too high or expected too much from people I didn't even remotely know. I left a small town where I had a large group of close friends, and things always seemed so easy. It was all effortless, and college wasn't. College is constant socializing, which wasn't the easiest thing for a self-proclaimed usually-anxious introvert like me.

It's a new world of endless freedom, but that kind of independence comes with a certain level of stress and a whole ton of big-picture choices.

I'm not saying that I didn't come to love college, but it took time. I wish someone had told me what to really expect, but I suppose it's different for everyone. If I could go back and tell myself a few things, here would be my top priorities.

1. It will take time to find the people you actually want to hang out with, but when you do, it'll be so worth it. You will have those nights when all you guys need is a crappy movie and kettle corn fresh out of the microwave.

2. You will miss your friends from home, but the time and distance can't be completely overcome. It's a fact of life that we miss the people we love, but it's important to remember that people change, too. Reach out and hold on, but don't take any cold shoulders personally. Everyone is finding themselves.

3. There are three more years to get involved. Don't force yourself into clubs that don't fit. They won't do you any good. Take your time to figure out what you truly love and then pursue it.

4. Don't block yourself off from people. Everyone is in the same boat, even if not everyone is talking about it. Embrace the awkward conversations when you're trying to figure out if there's friend potential.

5. Classes are tough. Don't underestimate the time needed to do well. Start studying at least a week before your exams and make lengthy study guides. They can only help you.

6. Do whatever you need to do to feel comfortable. I spent a lot of time hating myself for going home certain weekends or staying in some nights. No one really cares. Just do whatever you need to do to be happy and content.

7. College is a process, and it will take time to feel like you belong. Don't fight the process. Embrace the changes, the awkward encounters and the minor inconveniences.

8. Embrace the good moments. As one of my best friends said, "There's always going to be rough patches, but there's also going to be a ton of super amazing awesome times too and you just got to hold on to those and remember them whenever you feel down."

I think that people need to go into college with an open mind. Yes, it can be the best year of your life, but it might take some time. Once I started doing things in a way that made me comfortable and happy and secure, I felt so much better. Don't force yourself to do anything you don't want to.

Make your freshman year one of your happiest yet. Be a little selfish and figure out how you want your time at college to go. I promise you will find your way. In my second semester, I became close with some of the best people I've ever met. I declared a minor and really fell in love with my major. I did yoga with my roommate at midnight during finals week and ate amazing stir-fry outside on the grass. I made plans for the summer and next year. I went on a walk in the middle of the night with one of my best friends and remembered that sometimes, our person has been there all along.

And when the semester came to a close, I was desperately wishing I could get it all back. Embrace college - the ups, the downs and everything in between.