If you are attending college this fall, congratulations are in order! Whether you are living at home or on campus, this chapter in your life is a momentous occasion. You are meeting new people and learning new things, both in class and out. It doesn't seem scary because you are focused on making the best out of the experience.

The excitement may be perpetual—as someone who is used to change and adapting to it, you may find that the newly acquired independence is a step towards your freedom. The time you devote to your studies, friends, football games, etc. is made by you and not your parents. You have new responsibilities as a young adult that you must learn how to manage by yourself.

Going to college also means taking ownership of your emotions though because college is full of emotions that you may not have encountered before. You may experience anxiety over money, depression about having no friends, stress over juggling schoolwork and your personal life. It seems insurmountable in the first year. Like you can't breathe.

You could do what most students do and live for the time off from school you have. The mental challenge there though is just pushing through it. Just doing it for the sake of doing something. But life is not about being able to persevere all the time. It's also about acknowledging the feelings and challenges that it invokes.

College has transformed from a physical place into a rite of passage for adulthood. You learn in college what you need to know to succeed as an adult. That means all the emotions, stress, and challenges you go through are making you into an adult that may thrive and live their best life. As a result, preparing emotionally for it means preparing mentally. You have to be open to new experiences and people. A standard college campus is typically diverse in terms of people with different race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, etc. If you are not aware of what exactly college life looks like, of what becoming an adult means, you won't succeed at the rate you want to.

For me, when I started college, I was idealistic. I thought about all the friends I would finally have; that I would love all my classes. I didn't think there was anything wrong with that. But being idealistic is just as bad as being pessimistic. My high expectations seemed impossible to achieve sometimes unless I sacrificed something from my interpersonal, emotional, or mental health.

I didn't know what college really meant until my senior year. I was taking an advanced poetry class and working hard on my poetry because I enjoyed the craft immensely. But I was also spending time with my family because of how important they are to me. Knowing what your values are and how to honor them will help you become the person you are meant to be.

College will groom you. College will push you to the limits. But essentially, college is just one small phase in your life that will prepare you to be what you really want to be – happy.