You’ve survived the packing, the drive to campus, and the move-in. You already said your goodbyes, your dad has slipped you some crisp twenties, and you're suddenly on your own. What’s the first thing you do? Lie in your new bed? Walk (*sprint) over to your friend’s place? All of the above?

There’s a giddiness that takes over, and it’s not just for the freshman. Upperclassmen are not immune to the rush of adrenaline or the sudden surge of freedom. You’ve been cooped up in a too-familiar house all summer and are ready for some change... but where do you start?

If you’re a returning student, my bet’s on meeting up with your friends from last year. I suggest finding a cool spot to sit: you’ll be chatting for quite some time. If you’re a freshman, you may sit in your dorm for a little while, too scared to leave and still splotchy from crying, and that’s okay, too. You’ll get out there soon. Maybe attend the welcome week activities. It’s okay if you look like a freshman because, well, you are. (Just don’t wear your dorm key/lanyard around your neck. Then you’re that freshman.)

Classes don’t usually start for at least a few days after move-in, so you have some downtime to (re)adjust. Map out where your classes are, eat in the caf, and discover a new favorite spot to read and get work done. If you’re feeling up for it (and let’s be honest, most of you are), round up your friends and go to your first back-to-school party.

Chances are you’ll absentmindedly blow through those twenties your dad gave you within the first few nights of going out. Pro tip: limit how much cash you bring. You can’t buy what you can’t afford. It’s easy to get swept up in the independence, and wanting to go to the local bar or apartment party is all well and good until you make it rain. Extra cash equals an umbrella, so don’t bring one; look up, get soaked, and realize you don’t need to spend money to have fun. I say this because I care about you, and I’ve been there before. Okay, rant over.

Eventually, you’re hit with reality. Your first 8 a.m. is tomorrow. If you’re a freshman, you may panic a bit -- I certainly did. Not only are you faced with college homework, you’re faced with doing laundry, regularly taking out your trash, and living with another human being. That can be really daunting! So here’s a piece of advice: breathe. It may not seem like it, but everyone else is in the same boat, upperclassmen included. Chances are we haven’t done our own laundry since the spring semester ended, and we have even more pressure put on us by our parents to not screw up because we’re older and therefore (should be) wiser. Whether that’s true or not is TBD.

So if you've headed back to school, here are some pointers: allow yourself time to react emotionally, familiarize yourself with your surroundings, and smile because you’ve made it. You’re in college. First year or last, that feeling never changes.