1) You are not in high school anymore.
Everything that happened in high school does not matter anymore. All of the drama and hatred for the girl in your math class does not matter anymore. There is no such thing as bare minimum or 'just showing up' to class. You have to go to every class on time and actually do your assignments. Professors don't care that you're an athlete or the lead in a show, you get the work done or they'll fail you.
2) There will be people that still think they're in high school.
Don't try to be the class clown in college, and don't be friends with him either. Like I said before, it's hard, and if your professor hates that kid, they'll hate you too.
3) Your high school squad will be there forever.
Maintaining friendships in college is hard, especially when you're split up for the first time in four years. Make sure you keep up these friendships because they're truly the only people that will keep you in check. They know everything about you, from your awkward stage to your most embarrassing moments. They'll always know what to say and they'll always be a phone call away.
4) Your college friends are going to be the most lit set of people you've ever met.
It'll feel like these friends have been in your life since you were kids and it's weird when you look back and you've only been friends for 4-6 months. They'll be the friends that bring you coffee when you're having a bad day, or wait outside the bathroom door when you've had one too many. They'll also be your biggest supporters and drag you to the library when you really have to get your work done.
5) DO NOT EAT DISGUSTING FRIED FOOD EVERY DAY!!!!!!
Freshman 15 is real. It's so real and it's so scary. Hit the gym. Eat a salad. Take the stairs. I'M SERIOUS.
6) Reward yourself.
If you got a good grade on a test or paper, or you did your laundry for the first time in three weeks do something fun. College isn't only about partying but it also isn't only about studying.
7) Don't go back to visit your high school.
You might have younger friends, and your favorite teacher was your favorite person to gossip with. But you're either going to cry when you see your old locker or be nauseous the entire day.
8) FRESHMAN 15 IS REAL!
I repeated this one because you don't believe it until it happens.
9) FIGHT FOR YOUR GRADES.
You're paying thousands of dollars for your education. You're putting more work into these assignments than you did for the other 12 years that you were in school. Talk to your professor and fight for your grades.
10) You're going to be bored during January break.
It's going to be the first time in four months that you aren't down the hall from your friends and you're not going to feel guilty about watching TV all day. It's going to be weird and you're going to be counting down the days until you see your friends again.
