This is it, finally you are free of living under your parent’s roof—you are finally free to make your own decisions and live as an adult. You are preparing for college. Whether or not you chose to go to a community college or a university or even online, it is the time of the year where upcoming and current college students start getting ready for their next adventure. To prepare for this you have thought through several scenarios: what you will wear your first day, whether or not you will join any clubs, and even how you will get along with others on your floor. Your parents will start helping you pack and will be even more of a hot wreck than you are as they help get their baby ready to leave the nest whether it be for the first time, second time, or third time. They will start telling you their college experiences, what you need to do, and what you need to avoid as you set forth for college.

The last few weeks will fly by. Make sure you make the right decisions.

You are mentally preparing to leave the nest, you are working your butt off to save up money and you are trying your best to not forget anything. You try and schedule as much time with you friends as possible before you all go your own separate ways and things start to become real. It's time to shift gears from care-free summer to hard-working college student. You have a lot of decisions to make. You’re going to have to make them all on your own soon. What should you buy for your new comforter? Where can you find the best deal for books? What about the more serious decisions? The decision where you decide if you will remember your faith during college.

You can make new connections.

Not only will you continue to make your parents proud of you for remembering your religion but you will make new friends. Chances are you are not the only person of your religion at your college. Branch out! You never know how wonderful a friendship can be if you two believe in the same things. Sharing a religion may even bring you closer together! Branching out doesn't have to be weird either, you do not need to look specifically for friends that are just the same religion as you or limit who you can't and can be friends with based off of religion. Once you've made a friend, ask them their religion, they may even know a really cool church to go to in your new college town.

Having your rock.

College is where people go to find themselves and become who they are. Staying with your religion may help you. It can act as your rock, your go to for when times get tough. Transitioning from high school to college is hard, your religion will be something that will give you strength. Every student in college will struggle at one point in their college career. So, in your time of struggles look to your religion.

It isn't weird to tell people you're religious.

In college you meet people from everywhere whether they're a few states away or maybe even a different country. People will not judge you. In college every one understands the struggle. You see people studying everywhere, wearing pajamas, or even running to class because they overslept. I have even seen a few people sleeping in a chair in the middle of campus. There is no shame. No one will think it's weird that you shared that you're religious. Everyone in college is different in their own way. Sharing that you're religious is just fine.

You may stumble on your religion and that is okay.

There may be a night that you don't feel religious, that you don't believe. Everyone has their doubts. That is okay. Everyone is in their own stage and understanding in their beliefs. Some may be super educated, firm, and religious for years and some may be just learning and adapting. It is okay to be in a different stage of your religion than other's, it is your life to believe what you wish.

Stay true to who you are.

College is a beautiful experience, the best time of your life. You will start learning about your major, make new friends, experience college football, and maybe even a party or two. Your life is your own journey, make of it what you want. Your college experience depends on you and what you want your life to be. Just remember that you can make your own decisions and do not change yourself for anyone. Stay true to your beliefs and morals. College is a fun time.