As I am finishing my first year of college, I realize that I have learned a lot of things that have not been taught in class. Many of these things are from mistakes that I have made this year that I will now share.

1. Don't wear your lanyard with all of your keys around your neck.

This was a mistake I never made and thought that this fact was common knowledge. It apparently is not. It looks stupid. Don't do it.

2. Don't trust the dining hall food.

Seriously. Don't. If you have to eat at the dining hall, stick to the salads and fruit. You'll avoid food poisoning and eating gross food, as well as mitigating the famous "freshman 15."

3. When moving in, don't bring everything that you own.

Dorm rooms are often tiny, so only bring the essentials. I brought way more stuff than I needed and as a result my tiny room was crowded. Only bring what you need.

4. Skimping on required class materials.

If a professor tells you that you need a textbook, then you need that textbook. Even if there are no readings assigned from it, read the textbook. Sometimes a professor's lecture isn't helpful to the class at all, so the textbook may be your saving grace.

5. Paying full price for textbooks.

If possible, buy your textbooks used. This saves tons of $$$, and a used textbook works just as well as a new one. If you need the newest edition of a book and cannot find anything used, buy the online version. It works just as well.

6. Getting 'campus fever.'

If you are a dorm dweller, you may get a disease known as 'campus fever.' Symptoms include: restlessness, boredom and emotional irritation. The cure is to get off of campus. Take an adventure, go out to eat, etc. Just get off of campus for a bit.

7. Being on bad terms with your roommate.

I don't care how awful your roommate is. Get on good terms with them ASAP. It makes your whole year better and may have an impact on your future. Google Ted Cruz's roommate, you won't be disappointed.

8. Having no extracurriculars.

Get involved in something other than class and get some hobbies. Drinking does not count as a hobby. Join a club or team or a general activity. College can be boring if you only go to class and do your homework. Find what interests you and pursue it.

9. Skipping class.

It does not matter if attendance is not part of your grade. It does not matter if lecture is useless to you and everything you learn comes from the book. Whatever excuse you can come up with does not matter. You pay tuition for those classes, and they should be your first priority.

10. Wasting your time.

If you're gonna bail, bail early. This goes for friendships, your major and whatever else you can think of. If you get to college and you realize your major isn't for you, bail early. Don't waste your time and energy. This also applies to romantic relationships. If you're not feeling it, don't waste your time. End of story.