Going into my first semester of college I had a lot of expectations and ideas as to how my first semester would be. Some of my expectations were met; others, however, were not. My first semester has been a roller coaster but here are 10 things that my first semester of college has taught me.

1. Expect the unexpected.

Honestly, things are crazy all the time. No matter how much you plan and organize something is always going to come up and plans are going to change. That's okay. You have to learn to just accept it and go with the flow.

2. SLEEP

I know that a night at the club, staying up late with friends, or even just staying up late watching Netflix might seem like a great idea but honestly you have to sacrifice fun sometimes for the simple fact to the maintain mental health you need to stay caught up on sleep.

3. Prioritize.

It's okay to be involved in multiple things but you have to make sure that your priorities are clear. You are in college first and foremost to get your degree. If you feel as if an activity or a job is taking time away from you being successful in your classes then you should be able to walk away from that activity. Also, you have to prioritize certain activities over others; there are going to be time conflicts and you have to learn how to manage and communicate with the others involved.

4. Communication is KEY.

Regardless of who it is, whether it's your teachers, your roommate, your boss, or anyone else, you have to be able to communicate about whatever is going on so that everyone is on the same page and it saves everyone from any confusion and extra stress.

5. It's okay to not look put together all the time.

Coming from someone who dresses up A LOT it's okay to have those days where sweats or leggings with t-shirts and messy buns are the best options.

6. The people that live in your dorm will become family.

Something about living in the same building for five months kinda forces you t become closer. It's inevitable that you become close to the people that live in your dorm. After all, they see your late night study sessions, the way you stress eat before exams, and then they also get to see how you are before a night out. However, they don't judge you for any of it. They understand.

7. You will become friends with the people you least expected.

This couldn't be truer. I have friends from all different backgrounds and all different walks of life and I wouldn't trade any of them for anything.

8. HAVE FUN.

For the sake of your mental state take time off and have fun. Go out. Live a little. Make memories.

9. Don't be afraid to try new things.

You have to be able to branch out and do things. Get involved and meet new people. However, don't get involved in so many things that you are spreading yourself too thin.

10. Stay true to yourself.

It's okay to be different and have little quirks. That's what makes college so much fun is that you have a of these people from all different walks of life and then you put them in one place and they mesh and things are great.

College thus far has taught me many things. It's been a crazy rollercoaster and it's only my first semester. I can't wait to see what the future has in store. Happy Winter Break!