It seems like only yesterday that I was roaming the aisles of Target, buying any supply, dorm decoration, or piece of food that I thought I would need for college. Now, I just finished my last exams, packed up my room, and said goodbye to my freshman dorm forever.

When I arrived on my first day of freshman year, I was scared. The idea of college came with many tags including frat boys, nightlife, crazy roommates, ridiculously hard classes, professors that can’t be understood, gross food, and broke students. Everything that I had heard had built a pretty certain picture in my head.

On August 23^rd, I pulled up in front of my dorm. Music was blaring, and people were running all over the place. It was truly chaotic. My family and I unpacked my car as quickly as possible, and carried loads of my stuff up the two floors to my room. After moving in, my roommate appeared in the door. It was awkward and scary, and she definitely didn’t seem like the girl I had met through Facebook. I wanted to give her space, so I walked my parents out.

The hardest part was the goodbye. I had nineteen years that built up to this very moment, and I still wasn’t prepared. I looked at both of my parents, looking for tears in their eyes. I hugged them and then my little sister. I thanked them for everything and told them I’d see them soon. Then they did the thing I never thought they’d do: they left.

Soon enough, I was doing college like a pro. I learned the where-to-eat places and the right times I had to leave to make it to class on time. I found the best bars to go to, and learned that nightlife doesn’t even start until ten o’clock. I got involved in multiple groups and started finding real friends. At first, it was intimidating trying to be an adult. I had to schedule everything myself, and was responsible for every aspect of my life. Even though it was hard, I started to enjoy this new independence. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

My roommate and I ended up becoming best friends. We’d spend nights up late into the evening, sending each other snaps and laughing loud enough for the RA’s to knock on our door and tell us to quiet down. We’d do late night vending machine runs and also have designated poop times in the restroom. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.

In late spring, I joined a sorority. Rush was one of the hardest and most stressful things I’ve ever gone through in my life, but it was worth it. I found so many friends, and have already made so many memories.

College started to really become fun. I had my routine down, and knew what to do and when to do it. I started learning small life hacks and how to be an adult.

I guess college wasn’t so bad. Even though it did come with some of the things I had heard about, those things didn’t define it. College was so much more than I ever expected it to be. My first year of college changed me; it shaped me into someone different, someone way more unique. It made me stronger and taught me a lot about myself. I can’t wait for the next three years.