To say freshman year flew by is an understatement. I still remember the first day so clearly, moving into my dorm and wondering what my first year of college was going to be like. Looking back at that year I am so thankful for all the wonderful memories and people that contributed to making Elon my home away from home. My expectations for this year are high but I need to remember a couple things before the madness really begins.

1. I can’t sit in bed all day and do nothing.

My classes this year will most likely be more difficult as they are a higher level than last, so it’s important to remember that I need to have mostly productive days. I’m definitely a morning person, and get stressed out when I lose half of my day to sleep. This doesn’t necessarily mean I can jump out of bed as soon as my alarm goes off and be ready to take on that day; that would be a lie. However, starting my day too late makes me feel unproductive and leaves me wishing I had walked to get that coffee at nine rather than eleven.

2. I need to take time for myself.

Although it’s important to spend most of my time doing work for my classes, a little bit of Netflix every once in a while never hurt anybody. My GPA may be crying but a little “McDreamy” after class sometimes can be just what I need.

3. It’s okay to stay in.

Simply enough, if you don’t want to go out because you’re tired, have other things to do, or you just don’t want to, you don’t have to. People have different priorities and it’s important to respect them even if they are different from your own.

4. Failure is not always a bad thing.

You can’t always get what you want. But it’s safe to say that when you don’t get it, you definitely work harder to get the next.

5. Balancing everything can be tricky.

Having so much freedom at college can be both a blessing and a curse. Having classes early in the morning and late at night may allow for a lot of time to mess around in the middle but its important to keep your priorities straight and figure out how to balance your time. It’s safe to say I definitely struggled with doing so in the beginning.

6. I rely on my friends more than I think.

Looking back at freshman year, I didn't realize how big of a transition it actually was going to be. Going into sophomore year it’s important to remember that my friends are only a few feet away if I ever need anything. Special shout out to those involved in providing me endless gummy bears and ramen.

7. I can’t be everyone’s best friend.

Most people would agree, I’m a people pleaser. I just want to be friends with everyone, and I find it hard to understand why that’s so difficult. People have different personalities and interests and sometimes the closest you can get to them is an Instagram follow.

8. Google Hangout can be the perfect cure to homesickness.

Google Hangout, aka, homesickness saver, allowed me to video chat with all of my friends from home all at once. As a bonus, I could even draw on their faces, (until they realized they could block me from doing so). I realized that even when I thought I was too busy to even sit down, it’s important to catch a break and get some time to relax.

9. Don’t spend all your money in one week.

Last year I definitely got caught up in the fun of exploring good old Burlington, so much that I spent almost all of the money I made over the summer in the first couple months. Still trying to become good friends with Bill Gates but still having trouble sliding into his DM’s.

10. Working out benefits more than just your body.

Although I complain endlessly about running (unless its to the dining hall), it’s important to remember that exercising is good for you both physically and mentally. Don’t let, “I went to the gym,” actually mean you just walked past it.