College is frightening. You hope that it will be the best time of your life and every day will be an adventure. While I can't promise that you'll love every second of it, these are my five takeaway tips from my first year.

1. Leave your pride at home

Talk to everyone you see without fear. Everyone there is trying to make new friends and is feeling exactly the same way you do. You're at the bottom of the food chain again, the only way to go is up.

2. Be open-minded

You may have completely shut down the idea of joining a dance team in high school, but college is a new world. Try something new! Who knows, it may become your new passion.

3. You're there to learn, but not to completely destroy yourself mentally

Like you've heard a million times before, college is much harder than high school. The professors expect a lot more and there is, in general, more coursework to be done. However; it's important to make sure your mental health isn't at risk when trying to do your best in your studies. If your mental health is depleting, your ability to retain knowledge will be as well. Care for yourself.

4. Realize that college will go quickly and you need to enjoy it while you can

Before I knew it, the first year was over. I only have three more left and then I'm thrown into the real world. Enjoy being able to see your friends whenever. Enjoy your only focus being school. Enjoy the simple life!

5. Don't be afraid to ask for help

I have never had a professor (or even heard of one) that was frustrated by a student asking questions. At one point, I went to a professor's office hours and sat down and said, "I don't understand anything that you taught last lecture." The professor then gladly spent as much time as I needed to explain everything that I didn't get. The professors don't want to lecture for seventy-five minutes to not be understood. They love it when you ask questions to fully understand their points.

Don't be shy and be brave!