You just graduated from high school and are moving on to the next big step of your life: college. There is probably a mix of emotions you are feeling right now, from who your roommate will be to what you will major in. Don’t worry; you have nothing to worry about and plenty of time to figure it out. College is a time of growth. It’s a time when it’s okay to make mistakes and be unsure of yourself because that is the only way you will find out who you are. However, through this growth period of your life, don’t take anything for granted. These next four years will be a rollercoaster of events, but they’ll be over before you know it. Trust me.

You have so much to look forward to right now without even knowing it. You will make friends that will be in your life forever, you will have professors who will inspire you to be anything you want to be, and you will studying things that you love. Along the way, though, college can be tough. You will be faced with things you didn’t expect, you will meet people who weren’t who you thought they were, and you may become unsure of yourself. However, no matter what college throws at you, just remember that it is all part of a learning experience.

Here is a little advice from someone whose time in college is slowly coming to an end; take it for what it’s worth. When you first get to school, try and find something that you are interested in or have a passion for and get involved with it. Get involved from the very beginning. You will meet amazing people who like the same things you do, and it will help to make the large world of college a little bit smaller. Whether it’s Greek Life, a club, or a sports team, go for it. Put yourself out there and try something new. Believe me, everyone is a little nervous when going to college, so you will all be in a very similar boat. These are the people who will help you make the transition into college a little easier, and who knows, they also may end up being in your wedding one day.

Besides getting involved and meeting new friends, make school your number one priority. This isn’t high school anymore and you can’t get away with not studying or reading what was assigned. The grades you receive in your classes matter and your GPA is important. College is filled with fun experiences, but you are there to get an education. You most definitely can balance both, but make sure to work before you play. It’ll help you to develop good habits and will make your life a lot less stressful. Next to getting involved and doing well in school, make sure to put aside time for yourself. If you’re stressed, go somewhere alone and unwind. Don’t run yourself down too much. Take time to have fun and be young with your friends.

As cliché as it sounds, you only get to do this once, so make the most of it. Get your schoolwork done, go out with the group and dance on tables. Make memories you will never forget with people who mean the world to you. Don’t let the little moments slip away from you. Sometimes you need to dance with your best friend in a fraternity basement or take 2 a.m. trips to Wal-Mart. Trust me, those kinds of things will be what you look back on and laugh about. Be yourself. Don’t ever let people convince you otherwise. Learn from others and learn from yourself. Have fun. This is a time in your life when you can be whoever you want to be. So, be yourself, but be your best self.