Your first semester of college is something that you face with mixed emotions. On one hand, you're thrilled to be on your own for the first time and be an adult. On the other hand, you're terrified of what being in college means and about being away from your home. College is an amazing experience and there are many life lessons that you learn during your first semester that help you survive throughout your academic career.

1) Use a planner

As someone who is involved in a lot of extracurriculars and works multiple part-time jobs as a student, I live out of my planner. Even if you don't have jobs or think that you'll be able to manage everything in your head, invest in a planner. I use my planner to jot down everything from homework, deadlines, my work schedule and my club meetings. If you think a planner is outdated, there are tons of apps that you can use to record this and receive reminders on your phone or laptop.

2) Use your meal plan

At Mercer, freshmen get an unlimited meal plan with 10 meal swipes per week to use at Chick Fil A, Panda Express or Which Wich. You pay a lot of money for the meal plan, so make sure you use it. Even though the cafeteria may not have the greatest food, you have plenty of other options to choose from. Everyone needs to eat!

3) Get involved

One of the best ways to make friends and connections in college is to get involved. You greatly improve your chances of making good friends by hanging out with people who have similar interests to you. If you like cars, join the car club or create one. You'll surround yourself with people like you who probably have other similar interests to you. Getting involved is a great resume and friendship builder.

4) Talk to people

Talking to people seems scary. You're new to college and don't know anyone. One of the scariest things seems to be walking up to people and starting a conversation. If you feel uncomfortable doing that, start small. Start a conversation with someone who sits next to you in class. Tell the girl in the hallway that you like her shirt. By doing small things that make you appear friendly and open to conversation, others will talk to you. Remember, everyone else is probably just as terrified of being friendless as you are!

5) Talk to your family

I know that college makes you feel independent and adult but don't forget your family. You've lived with your family for years and have become part of each other's lives. Being apart for long periods of time can be stressful and hard on both you and your parents. Remember to call/text/email/video chat your family from time to time. Just because you're off at college doesn't mean that you should just forget about your family.

These are just some lessons that I learned in my first semester at Mercer University. Not everyone struggles from these issues but I know that I have. Just remember to be friendly and focused and you can conquer college!