With high school graduations just around the corner and college graduations just ending, it has me thinking back about what it was like to graduate high school versus what it will be like when I graduate college. Here are some things I wish someone had told me (and maybe some someone did but I wished I listened) when I was graduating high school.

1. Don't be scared.

It may be easier said than done but don't fear leaving your friends and family and going away to college. Embrace it because it will be some of the best days of your life if you live it out to its fullest.

2. Don't fall into the college stereotype.

No you don't have to join a sorority or fraternity to make friends, yes you can go out and party if you aren't in one of them. No you don't have to sign up for every single club or intramural sport and be a jock. No you won't fail if you go out and party. No you won't gain the freshman 15, but it's okay if you do. No you don't have to go out and party every single night if you don't want too. You can make college whatever you choose to make it. There isn't one of doing college so choose whichever path makes you the happiest.

3. Grow up a little.

No you don't have to become an adult right away and you can still be a kid at heart but grow up a little. High school is over so it's time to drop the high school attitude and drama. College is way, WAY, different and no one wants to be dealing with "typical high school drama" while they are in college. So everything that has happened or still affects you, leave it in high school. You graduated now let it go and start fresh.

4. It's okay to lose some friends.

You may or may not lose some of your high school friends when you all move off to college and you may even stay closer with some that you never thought you would. Don't overthink it too much. You are about to meet so many people so open them up to your lives and start new friendships. Sometimes people just grow differently and choose different paths, don't let it bring you down personally.

5. College will be harder work but you will have so much more time.

The work may not get easier but the time you have does. No more 8am-3pm (sometimes 5 or 6pm if you play sports days), now you have one or two classes a day for 1-3 hours only twice a week. Yes the workload can be really tough and challenging but you will find yourself having so much more time to work on it and get it done than you did in high school.

6. Try everything.

College is the time to try everything you never had the chance to do before. Baking club, outdoors club, ultimate frisbee, kickboxing, equestrian team, outdoors club, quidditch, habitat for humanity, anything that ever peaked your interest try it. College is about gaining experiences and you can do that through clubs, sports, greek life, and or volunteer work and make a bunch of friends along the way.

7. Think about your future.

Don't wait until junior year to start thinking about life after college. Do internships, do volunteer work, get a campus job, and start building your resume right away. Don't miss out on four years of experience that you could've had to just "chill" the first two years. Be a part of something bigger than yourself. The job markets are tough so the more experience you have the better you are to finding a job right away.

8. Save up to study abroad.

Whether it's graduation money or just money you've been saving for college use it to study abroad. This is the only time you have to study abroad in another country for a long time with meals for the prices they offer. Plus, you can use financial aid and there won't be a loan to travel once you graduate. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and you won't regret it. Whether you can go for a whole semester or even just a couple weeks, definitely save your money and take the chance to study abroad.

10. Have fun and don't stop yourself from doing whatever you want.

College goes by so quickly and just when you thought high school was the best four years wait until you look back at your four years of college. Cherish every moment, do as much as you can, don't be afraid to try new things, go out of your comfort zone, and always keep chasing your dreams because if you work hard enough college is where they all start becoming true.