Dear friends in high school,

I am in no way trying to scare you, but college will be nothing like you imagine. There will be numerous expectations based off of what other people tell you college is about. Everyone's experience is different so do not pick a college based off of what your friends say about a school. Searching for a place to spend the next four years of your life is stressful, but it will all work out in the end.

Change happens in college. When you are away from home you no longer have different people influencing you to be a certain way. It is the first time in your life you can figure out what you like to do and who you want to become. Do not worry though; change is a good thing because it's apart of life. Telling someone that they've changed is not an insult because everyone has to. Clearly no one is the same person they were in middle school or high school, so don't freak out. The best thing to do is support your older friends with whatever transition they are going through.

I thought that I would have all the free time in the world due to the fact that I only have class twice a week. Little did I know, I was incredibly wrong. Part of this is due to the fact that I'm a college athlete, but I am involved in much more than that. The first week or two of school may be easy but once you start joining clubs and classes really start up, life will become complete and total chaos. Basically, what I am trying to get at here is try to be patient with your friends who are transitioning into college. We won't always be able to text you back or come home as much as you'd like.

One thing that you have probably heard that is true is that you will be broke, and good food is sacred. People actually do go home purely for some of mom's home cooking. There are ramen noodles and frozen pizza rolls in almost every single dorm room. That nasty buffet place that you despise will taste like heaven due to the caf food you eat every day.

Lastly, college is awesome. The amount of freedom you get is overwhelming at first but then you realize that there's no one telling you that you can't go to waffle house at 1 a.m. on a Tuesday night. Everyone knows with freedom comes responsibility. This new responsibility is what turns teenagers into adults. However, do enjoy the time you have left at home if you are a high school senior. Don't get mad at your mom when she gets overly emotional because she knows you're going to college soon. Hang out with the people you enjoy being friends with. Everything will change within the next year or so.