College is a new and exciting time! Everyone creates their own unique college experience, but these are a few things I wish someone would've told me before my first day of school
Eating alone is okay.
You often hear that you’ll have a lot more independence in college, but you may not realize what that means until you get there. As Dr. Seuss wrote in Oh, the Places You’ll Go, “All Alone! Whether you like it or not, Alone is something you’ll be quite a lot.” I’m not here to scare you, I’m here to tell you it’s okay to be alone! The first couple days/weeks of school you may feel weird if you don’t have a lunch buddy. Don’t let that stop you from hitting up the dining hall. Everyone is so in their own little world that they won’t even think twice about you sitting by yourself. Be sure to take care of your own needs, and pick healthy options like fish with lots of veggies for dinner.
You can sit anywhere and I mean anywhere.
People get very creative when it comes to finding a seat on campus. You wanna climb a tree on campus? Go for it. Want a nice view on the roof of the student center? See you up there. Does that guy not realize he’s putting his laptop on top of a pile of snow? I guess not. College is not like high school with hall monitors walking around saying “GET OFF OF THAT!” Think it looks comfy, take a seat.
Watch out for skater dudes.
This may be the most important item on the list. Watch out for skater dudes! They’re like Troy Bolton “soarin’, flyin’” down hills and around corners, so be aware of your surroundings, especially around campus hotspots. Or don’t, and maybe you'll find the movie-like romance by colliding with a dreamy sk8er boy.
Student discounts, though!
TONS of stores, restaurants, and movie theaters offer student discounts, you just have to ask about them! Chipotle offers a free soft drink when you present your student I.D. Now you can afford chips and guac! The Limited and Banana Republic both offer 15% your purchase when you show your student I.D. Depending on your local theater, AMC, Cinemark, and various Regal movie theaters offer student discounts. You’re already paying for tuition, housing, and textbooks, so saving money at any of these locations will be life saving. 
YOU have to go for it.
Let's get serious for this last one. From now on in life, opportunities are not handed to you. If you need help in a class, go to the professor's office hours or attend a tutoring session. If you want an on-campus job, apply for it. If you want that cute frat guy to notice you, GO TALK TO HIM! There are so many amazing academic, employment, and social opportunities in college, but YOU have to go after them. Be bold because even if you fail, college is a big place and it can be very unlikely that you'll ever see that frat guy again.
Good luck out there. You're gonna do great!
