The first year of college is a whirlwind. It's filled with many ups and many downs — inevitably making for the best times of your life and some of the worst. I am about 3/4 of the way through my freshman year, and it has definitely been a period of growth for me. I have learned a lot in my months away from home. It is hard to explain the experience to someone who hasn't been through it, but Michelle Tanner justifiably explains the first year of college better than I ever could. 

When you first arrive at college and you are finally on your own, you feel on top of the world! You knew this day was coming, and the excitement has built up. You are so eager to celebrate your newfound freedom, and when you first get to school, you are more than ready to go.

The first couple of nights that you go out in college are most likely going to be chaotic. Not only are you experiencing your freedom for the first time, but so are all the other freshman. You are so excited that you can do what you want, but you don't want to seem as eager as you are to everyone else so you play it cool. 

Then when Monday comes around, it hits you that you actually have classes to attend and responsibilities to take care of all on your own. This is quite the adjustment and you will most likely end up running (or at least speed walking like crazy) to your first couple of classes. 

There are so many opportunities available to you, and you want to try everything. It is a "new beginning" after all. 

You get that first breather and you realize you actually feel a little homesick and a bit lonely without your family.

You start noticing just how expensive the cost of living is and how fast you can go through your money.

When you go home for break, you indulge because you realize just how much you miss the comfort of home and homemade meals. 

Trying to balance school, your social life, and sleep can get to be overwhelming, and you end up struggling to keep your eyes open in your early morning classes. 

You go to the rec center that you've heard so much about and attempt to not gain the freshman 15 that you've also heard so much about. 

When second semester begins to roll around, you come to terms with the fact that you can't make every night extravagant, and sometimes it's better to just stay in for the night. 

You then start finding a good balance between everything, and you semi get a handle of the whole "college thing." 

Then you realize that your first year of college is almost over, and you can't believe it (me currently).