I started college when I was 17 years old, and from that, I have learned a few exciting things. Some of these things have been told to me and others I have picked up from the three months I have been here, but nonetheless, the past few months have shaped me, and for the better.

EXPECT A LOT OF WALKING

People told me multiple times that there would be a lot of walking, and that makes sense, but I underestimated how much walking I would have to do every day. My Fitbit has tracked between 8,000 to 16,000 steps every day o9f the week. Yes, even during the weekends. There are days where I wished someone could carry me to my next class, or I had a Segway that would glide me down the hill to my dorm room.

DINING HALL FOOD BECOMES VERY BORING VERY FAST

I do not expect gourmet food at a college campus, but having the same meal every day can become very dull, very fast. And if it is not the same meal, then it is the same version of every meal. I have a somewhat restricted diet because of my food allergies, and due to this, I find myself eating my specialty meal: A burger and fries with a side of fruit. Eating this meal almost every day packs on the pounds and is causing me to reach the notorious "Freshman 15." The dining hall I go to serves various forms of chicken for lunch, and then dinner is usually something I cannot eat, such as pork, or something I do not like, such as steak. The mediocre dining hall food forces me to spend my money elsewhere, which is problematic because, as a college student, I do not have any money.

JOINING STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS IS A MUST

As an out-of-state student, I am coming to college alone. The closest person to me is my roommate, and even then, we still do not know much about each other. I am a military dependent, otherwise known as military brat, so relocating is nothing new to me; however, college has been a struggle. Everyone has their cliques and exclusive groups, leaving no room for newcomers. I thought we moved all of that behind in high school. So when people tell you to join student organizations, they are not kidding. Joining student organizations has allowed me to meet new people and form more friends than my roommate.

HAVE FUN

My first semester of college went by super fast. It feels like I just moved in and started saying goodbye to my family. The cliche saying applies: "Time goes by when you're having fun." Through these three short months, I have conquered my fear of stage fright by performing spoken word poetry. I have met Drake Bell and took a picture with him, along with getting a signed poster. I have been published in the college newspaper. I have done so much, and yet, I know my journey is not over.

I cannot wait to see which lessons I will learn in the upcoming semester, or better yet, the following few years of this college experience.