Going away to school is always a very weird and scary thing at first. It isn't until you're a few months in that you start to realize it is the best thing that could have possibly ever happened to you. Between making your own decisions and being away from your parents for so long, it's all about adapting to the new lifestyle you have.

1. Flip-flops in the shower

At first glance, the showers don't seem too bad--until you realize how many people actuallyuse them. In this case, flip-flops are your go-to. A couple weeks in and the drains are already littered with hair, shampoo residue and a disgusting collection of bodily fluids. So gross. You learn to love showering at home once you come home for the first time that much more though.

2. Learning street names

Unfortunately for most freshman, access to transportation is very limited. As a result, you'll find yourself walking everywhere you go. In turn, you start to learn your way around. At the same time though, it's all very different from home. So you just have to learn to adjust accordingly so that you can make it to your math class on time.

3. People wiping out on their skateboards on the quad

It's a bright and sunny morning, and you're walking to your first class. All of a sudden, you see a passer-by on his skateboard whiz by you and... ouch. That looked like it hurt. A slight cringe goes through your body. If I had a dollar for every time I witnessed this, I could pay my tuition. Do you help? Do you continue on your way? It makes for an uncomfortable and (sometimes) funny situation.

4. Loud neighbors

No parents = no rules. That means having no one (other than your RA) to tell you to turn your music down. On Friday nights, everyone is getting ready to pre-game and that usually comes with the faint murmur of Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" from down the hall. A brief eye roll and headphones save the day. Just another typical weekend.

5. Mediocre foods

A lot of university dining centers have a lot to offer. You have your usual pizza, pasta, burgers, and salads, with a few rare exceptions. Yet, most universities have tens of thousands of kids to feed, so they are concerned with quantity, not quality. It's not all bad though. Sometimes you just need to add a little hot sauce to spice up those bland eggs for breakfast.

6. Being broke

Do I even have to explain? One minute you're riding high with $3,000 given to you from your academic scholarship, the next you have to make $5 last a week. Money goes fast while you're in school, and learning to budget is key. Sometimes that means making sacrifices. Is that $20 handle worth it when it could buy you food for a couple days?

7. Wearing the same clothes over and over again

If you walk out on to the quad in a "casual" outfit, most people are going to mistake you for going to a formal event. The usual attire of a college student consists of sweatpants and a free t-shirt they scored. When the washers and dryers are down though, sometimes this means wearing the same blue sweatpants and black sweatshirt a couple days in a row. Especially when you're too broke to pay for the machines that do work. No one is going to notice. Right?

8. Crazy protesters

The quad makes a wonderful place for congregate. While many events are held on the quad, many people also flock to these events to share their ideas. One day it may be the women's rights group, other days it may be the crazy old man advocating for marijuana legalization. I was in the middle of physics once when there was a commotion outside. Lone behold, it was a civil rights group marching right outside our building. Nothing new though, we just carry on.

9. Walking everywhere

The second you recognize your surroundings, planning out your path of least resistance comes right after. Sometimes your classes are 10 minutes apart, but your walk is 15 minutes. Now, it's just a matter of figuring out how to make the trek. While it can be annoying to have to walk literally everywhere, you start to appreciate the gains you make. Especially when the elevators stop working. 15 minute walk back to the dorm + 8 flights of stairs = sexy legs.

10. Weird noises

On weekdays, I like to sit by my window and do homework. Once it gets late though, and the crazies are finally released into the night, chaos is everywhere. Loud bangs come from the floor above me as people shuffle their room around in a hurry. The shrieks and howls of drunk students echo outside. People are congregating in the stairwells as they watch their peers mattress surf. Walking down the corridor of rooms provides even more weird noises on weekend nights. You would think they would hang a sock up on the doorknob or something.

11. Embracing different kinds of people

Blue hair. Stoners. Jocks. Nerds. Hipsters. You see it all though. At first,it's a little weird. You've heard of these types of people, but you may have never seen them. You never know though - sometimes that quiet stoner can be a valuable study buddy. Or that girl with the blue hair may become your best friend. Despite all these differences though, there a sense of security in knowing we're all here for the same reason - getting our educations. And it's a beautiful thing.