Going into college I was rather nervous if I would survive away from home and away from everything I’ve known for my entire life. I know there are a lot of people out there like me who are scared about moving on from the last four years of their life, so I decided to make a list of things that I learned in my first year of college so maybe you will go into your new environment with less anxiety.

1. Your mom is really your best friend.

Don’t get me wrong, I knew long before I went to college that my mom is my #1. However, when I got to college, the knowledge only sunk in more. You will miss your mom, even on the best days. And there will be days where you don’t talk to her because you’re so busy, but the second you get on the phone with her, you will spend hours talking about everything that’s going on.

2. Finding communities and clubs on campus helps.

It sounds so cliche to say that being part of clubs is good, but it’s true. I was never the type of person to be in clubs when I was younger; the idea of clubs just repulsed me. I also went through life with very few friends. There are only three people from high school I still talk to. So making friends was a major stressor for me. Despite my wariness of clubs, I joined my schools Filipino American Student Association (FASA), and I made tons of friends. I also joined a living-learning community and that’s how I met the people I spend every day with. So, give clubs and communities a shot, you might be missing out on potential life-long friends.

3. You have to learn how to be independent.

No, I don’t mean doing your own laundry and staying on top of work. Well, not entirely. You do have to do those things, but I’m talking more about spending time by yourself. It’s important to remember that your schedule may not always match up with the schedule of your friends, and that’s okay! You can’t be scared to go eat by yourself or sit in the library by your lonesome. Being by yourself does not mean that your friends don’t love you, it means you’re coming into adulthood and you all are busy. Don’t let this discourage you! Use your alone time to reflect on your life and to get that laundry done!

4. You can change your major.

Yes, you can! I know many people have been stressing this lately, but I’m going to stress it once more. Your college education is for you and you only. Do not major in something you don’t absolutely love just because someone else is pressuring you to do so. Do not major in something you don’t love because of a fear of not having money. Your major should be something you adore and have fun doing. The ride may be hard, but in the end you will love yourself more for gaining knowledge in something you enjoy. And if you find yourself stuck in a major you hate, explore your options. And never, I mean never, let someone discourage you from changing your major to your passion.

5. You need to explore yourself.

College is a time for you to explore who you are without other external forces watching you. College is a time for you to soul search and become who you truly feel that you are. You need to become yourself and understand yourself. Look inside and figure out the inner workings of you. This doesn’t always come from a place of happiness either. You need to go through bad days and understand yourself there as well, because on bad days you are still you. And college is the time to begin to understand who you are as a whole.

6. This is the time for you and your friends.

Do not spend your time in college searching for a relationship. Spend your time in college understanding yourself and having amazing adventures and beautiful moments with those who are closest to you. Boyfriends and girlfriends will come and go, but your friends are the ones who will stick by you through everything and they are the ones you build memories with. This does not go to say you can’t date, because I think that is important as well, but do not chase love. Love is like a toddler in a game of hide and seek. It never wants to come out of hiding until you stop looking.

College is going to be an amazing experience. So do not enter with fear, only acceptance for the adventure that awaits you.