It's that time of the year again. And for some of us, that means new adventures and territory ahead. I have several friends that are going to be starting college this year, so I thought that I would write this article about everything that I wish that I had known when I was starting college.

I want to start off by saying that it's OK to not know what you want to do or who you want to be.

When I first started college, I thought that going in undeclared was this big bad. I thought it meant you didn't have your life together, but what I didn't realize was is that even if that's true, it's ok if you don't. When you're an 18-year-old freshman in college, you aren't supposed to have your life all figured out. That's the whole point. You're already feeling so many emotions: you're excited, nervous, anxious, and eager. It's your first time living away from home, so you have to figure out how to be independent of your parents and do things on your own.

You figure it out through experience. In your classes, you see what you do and don't like so that you know what you want to pursue a career in. You join clubs, church groups, and find mentors to help shape you into the person that you want to become.

Sometimes in all the discovering that you do, you'll even change schools! I changed schools after my first year, and it ended up being the best thing for me. It's a trial and error experience and it is ok to make mistakes.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." God will pick you up when you fall down and make mistakes and will embrace you with open arms if you find yourself going astray with all of these new opportunities and changes.

Next, I want to advise you to not be afraid to get involved.

Whether you're at a big SEC University or a small private college, getting involved will enhance your college experience so much! Intramurals, church groups, college ministries, greek life, clubs, whatever you enjoy, find it at your school and join it.

Surround yourself with people with the same values and priorities as you do, and you'll feel so much more at home. Don't try to fit into a mold, but instead just be yourself and you'll fit right in.

Another big lesson I learned my first year of college is that not everyone is going to like you, but that's ok.
Old friendships with high school friends may fade away as you make new friendships or that relationship that you had with your high school boyfriend may end.

As long as you be yourself, be kind, and cling to the Lord, your true friends will always be around. Put God first, and He will line everything else up for you.

Finally, enjoy each day and each moment because it flies by.

I feel like just yesterday I was moving into my college dorm starting my freshman year, and now I am entering my major and am about to start my junior year of college!

From hanging out with friends, to stressing over finals, cherish each and every moment. Don't wish the hard days away, but instead find the good in them.

These are just a few of the things that I learned my first year of college, and you'll probably learn so much more through your own experiences.

Just know that college is so fun, God is always with you, and it's ok to make mistakes.

I pray that your first years are everything that you hope for them to be and that you quickly discover who you want to be and what you want to do. I pray that you find your place in your new home.

Philippians 1:6, " And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."