During my senior year of high school, I was always on those college advice websites. I'd look up a variety of topics that would keep me up at night, including "How hard are college classes?", "What is it like to live in a dorm?" and the infamous "How do you make friends during school?". On move in day, I was sure that college would be nothing more than a collateral test that I have already studied for.

I told myself that I was ready for school. I'd take meeting new friends in bite-sized pieces by joining an early freshman volunteer group. I'd make a few close friends, and I'd find comfort in the fact that, for at least a moment, I had some people that I could go to when I felt lonely.

I can assure you that I was wrong. Google searches and practice fun facts about myself couldn't be my saving grace when I forgot how to speak to people. I didn't find solace in knowing that I was prepared. Instead, it worried me even more because I'd recognize when I'd make typical freshman mistakes.

On my first day at the university, I laughed a little bit with potential friends who I struggled to find a connection with. Despite the effort, I went to bed hopeful and a little disheartened.

The next day, I volunteered at a food bank with the volunteer group. Our group of 15 had busy hands but idle minds as we stuffed lunches. It wasn't long before a girl cracked a joke that I couldn't help but laugh at. In turn, another made an attempt at another, and soon we'd all join in. The ice was broken. Pretty soon, we all became quick friends.

In an instant, college was less terrifying.

I'd see people walking to classes by themselves. Before, I didn't know that it was more normal to be alone on the streets of campus towns than it was to be with someone else. I couldn't have known that a group of college-aged people could be intentionally stupid, making jokes that fifth graders would find moronic and genuinely find them funny. I had no clue that I'd be exchanging Snapchats with people that I've met less than a month and genuinely want to see them after we don't have to.

I couldn't prepare myself to know that I'd be okay, that college life may be different. And I'm certain that it will get harder. I'm not naive, but it's not consuming. I know that I can survive. I know that I was prepared before I decided to look up icebreakers and college hacks.

There's something innate about the group and I that made us look for friends. Everyone was aloof at first but, after volunteering, we were all a great deal more open. We shared a moment of untraditional fun that merged our friendship together. Everything fell into place in a way that I can't describe.

How could I have been prepared to know that this would come to me so easily?