As we get back into the swing of the school year, Pinterest boards and Facebook pages blow up with various "how-to" guides and other helpful articles that will come in handy in your first year of school. What to bring on the first day, what to pack and what not to pack and even how to keep off the "freshman 15"-- these lists can be useful when you're just starting college.

Though I am a junior and a seasoned pro at the college thing at this point in my life, I still use these lists from time to time. They do have some really great stuff! However, I've noticed more and more articles explaining how to "not look like a freshman", and that truly bugs me.

If you've been in college for more than a year, you know how scary it can be to start fresh at a new place, completely out of your comfort zone. College is the precursor to actual adult life, which means you'll be trying new things, meeting new people and doing it all (well, almost all) on your own. That's terrifying! As an incoming freshman, the absolute last thing that was on my mind was how to not look like a freshman.

I was a freshman once.

I was scared and small and I wore my lanyard proudly around my neck.

I walked in massive packs with my other freshmen friends and sat at the biggest possible table in the dining hall.

I got lost on the first day and I asked multiple professors for help finding my way around.

I wore my orientation shirt and backpack until I found the college store to get new gear, which happened to be more than a few weeks into the semester.

I partied a little too hard and had to have people walk me home.

I talked about my high school friends and my high school teachers and my high school in general a little but more than I should have.

And somehow, despite doing exactly what these articles told me not to do, I made it out alive!

Sure, there are some things you definitely shouldn't do as a freshman, but the typical college newbie behavior is totally fine and absolutely normal. Instead of freshmen changing to fit the upperclassmen's weird, unspoken standards, there needs to be an understanding between the seasoned vets and the newcomers.

Everyone had to start somewhere, and I've always found it weird that freshmen are looked down on so harshly-- especially at the start of the year. When I started, I was paranoid and highly aware that older people just knew that I had just graduated high school. It absolutely terrified me.

Why are we still doing this? Freshmen year is hard enough!

So a little word to my fellow upperclassmen-- next time you see a freshman struggling, help them out. Take them under your wing. After all, it was only just a few years ago that we were the lanyard wearing, scared little freshies taking our first few steps into adulthood.

And to the freshmen-- live it up! You're only a freshman once (hopefully). College really is one of the most exciting times of your life, and it should not spent worrying about such trivial things like how big your backpack is or if you're still a little bit stuck in high school. Take your time, acclimate yourself and, as the kids say, "You do you, boo!"