The beginning semester is always going to be difficult, especially if you're a freshman. You realize a lot of things — good or bad. You have found out things like what it is like to live with someone you've never met (if you live on campus), you figure out how to budget yourself with your meal plans — like saying no to Starbucks — and you find out how much of a procrastinator you truly are. Whatever else you have realized you know that it is A LOT.

School is harder than it ever was and fall '17 was a semester filled with trial and error. The transition from high school to college is HUGE. It seemed so much easier to find answers online or coordinate study groups for finals. Now it is even harder to make friends and attempt to actually be social.

You have to know what to do with all this freedom you have been given away from home and you figure out how to discipline yourself. Fall '17 taught you a lot, and hopefully, you'll carry those lessons on to spring '18.

Now that we move into spring '18, it is like you get a fresh start. You have been through it already that you now know what to do in order to have a better semester. Work hard to play hard. You are better prepared and more focused than ever. The goal is to always outdo yourself from the previous semester. You got this.

If you're struggling to find things you want or need to get better at, here are my top 3 things you could improve on for a successful spring semester!

1. Eat breakfast!

This one is for the people who eat a granola bar to-go, or believe that their two cups of coffee is actually breakfast. Make time in the morning to make sure you're eating all the right foods for the energy you'll need that day. Something simple could be like eggs, oatmeal, fruits and yogurt. This will ensure you're not feeling like crap at your 2 p.m. class, or struggling to focus. It will also make sure your stomach isn't grumbling during a large lecture when it's dead silent!

2. Prepare your things the night before.

If you get all your things ready the night before school you will wake up feeling less stressed. Preparing things like the notebooks you'll need for tomorrow's classes or the snacks you'd like to have during the day. Choosing out what clothes you are going to wear the next day is also a major time saver. Another tip to feel less stressed in the morning is to tidy up your sleeping area. Make sure everything is in place and that there is nothing you'll have to pick up in the morning. All you need to worry about is brushing your teeth, getting dressed, and eating a healthy breakfast.

3. Go to sleep at a consistent time.

This is a tough one for a lot of people. Either you're one to nap extremely long during the day so you can't fall asleep when you're supposed to, or your sleeping schedules are always messed up at night for whatever reason. If you're feeling sleepy throughout the day and you need a nap, try to limit yourself to 15 minutes, or it is said that if you're feeling tired, to exercise to wake up your muscles and give you a boost of energy. If you're the type to never go to bed at the right time because of little things you probably could've got done ahead of time, set up a scheduled day. At one time you will complete this and at another time you will complete that. Sleep is extremely important and affects your performance throughout the day, do not neglect it!