1.Do not go to Seymour’s or the Fresh around lunch when you’re pressed for time!

Seymour's is home to the campus Chick-Fil-A and Subway, both of which always have ridiculous lines during the daily 12-1 lunch rush. For you rebellious, risky rascals, you’ll be lucky to be at the front of the line before you next class begins. "Well, I planned on going to the Fresh anyway," you say? Well, unfortunately, the lunch rush doesn’t just affect Seymour’s, it affects the Fresh as well. This harsh reality leaves those of you with limited lunch breaks with two options: a) Eat a big breakfast that will hold you over until your next break. b) Stop at one of the POD stores located throughout the campus and grab some something quick. If you have more time, they have sushi, fruit, deli sandwiches, and other goodies. Yes, you can use your bonus bucks as payment!

2. While we’re on the subject of food, freshman fifteen is actually a real thing.

I just knew it couldn't happen to me because, “I have a crazy high metabolism,” but twenty pounds later I realized, not only was it real, but it was my worst nightmare.

Weight gain stems from a sedentary lifestyle with the assistance frequently consumed junk food and snacks. Starch is my vice. I love it fried, baked, and mashed! I just really have a thing for potatoes. My coworkers at Chick-Fil-A know! Remember, you guys, even though Welch’s fruit snacks are gluten and fat free, they are NOT fruit. Just try to consume a fruit or vegetable at some point during the semester.

Though diet and exercise are major factors in weight levels, stress can act as a major influencer. College students are always talking about how stressed they are, but rarely do they treat stress as a serious issue. According to the Mayo Clinic, which I frequently use for self diagnosis, stress can cause headaches, muscle tension or pain, chest pain, fatigue, change in sex drive, upset stomach, and sleep problems. Whether you're not eating or eating way too much, the counseling services in Bond Hall can help you deal with the stress of being away from your family, relationship issues, or coping with your intense longing to become a potato. If counseling “just isn’t for you,” the Payne Center has weekly yoga classes to help you relax and realign your chakras (where are the Naruto fans?!) , and a lot of workout equipment to ward off those extra pounds.

3. Looking to make friends the first weeks of classes? Just go hang outside your dorm.

You'll start to recognize the same people lying on blankets as if they are carefree, art majors staring at flower and rock subjects for hours at a time as well as those avid smokers doing what they do best: making cancer look so fun! By hanging outside, I made so many acquaintances, and I even briefly became “one of the guys” after showcasing my advanced football and catching skills during a game of Jackpot.

For those of you allergic to virtually everything outside or those of you that just don’t like nature, bugs, and Mississippi heat, join a group. You don’t have to join a billion. Just join one. I promise you won’t die. You won’t even be a dork, unless you were already one… JK JK.

4. Always check the weather-- for the whole day.

I cannot stress how important this is! The worst thing is getting caught in a surprise shower on the way to or from class. Oh, you’re not afraid of a little rain? Well, your brand new laptop your parent(s) just bought is! Checking the weather will save you so much time and maybe even some money! During my first semester, I scurried down the stairs of my dorm countless times, only to be met by a surprise monsoon! My negligence cost me precious walking time and a pair of khakis. No matter what, on the first day bring a light jacket or sweater. The classrooms can either be really chilly or feel lit, literally (like the wall furnace at your great-grandma’s house.)

5. Make sure you're parking in the designated areas.

They will find you!

I will never ever forget the first week of school I parked late at night on the first floor of the parking garage. Like two days later, I went to grab my car, but it wasn’t there. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I called University Police and everything. Long story short, my car was towed because I parked in a reserved area. Pay attention, please! Learn from my $200 mistake. If you want to make your own mistakes, you could always apply for an appeal. Good luck with that.

"How will I pay this fine? I have no money."

6. Dorm parking is serious, especially at Century Park North.

I suggest scheduling all grocery shopping and food runs before 10 p.m. If you leave afterwards, you'll have to play the most intense game of car Pac Man ever. Sometimes you will win, but if you're afraid of killing people like I am, then you will lose most of the time. The losers of parking wars are shamed to the parking garage. Always check parking at the 3-D Art Studio before doing the drive of shame. I apologize to all of the people that actually had class there. I parked there regularly.

7. Bonus bucks don't last forever.

(bonus bucks of course)

At the beginning of the semester, you feel on top of the world. You can just go to any place within Eagle Dining and swipe your card loaded with seemingly unlimited funds! By all means, use your bonus bucks, but ration them. Don't be that person showing off in Starbucks yelling, "Drinks on me everyone!" You can buy that cute chick (or guy) from HIS101 a bagel, but that's it! Don't be a hero. Most places on campus print your balance on the receipt, but Chick-Fil-A and the PODs display your balance on the total screen.

8. Study group doesn't work 90 percent of the time.

Somehow studying always turns into the most interesting conversation you've had in your life. If you have the attention span of a squirrel, you might want to try studying alone. It may not sounds as cool as "study group," but your GPA will thank you.

9. Eating alone doesn't make you a loser.

If you eat alone in highschool, you are deemed an "outcast," but in college you are simply a person eating their food alone. Nothing more. Nothing less. As we discussed earlier, sometimes you'll be pressed for time in between classes, and you won't have time for extended meet ups.

If the idea of eating alone bothers you, I have some suggestions. You can always chow down in the left side of the cafeteria. It's typically less crowded and you can look out the window at all the weird things people do. If that's still not enough, you can do the I-don't-have-enough-time-to-even-take-off-my-backpack

look. It's pretty self explanatory. Leaving your backpack on alerts all of the people staring at you (no one is staring) that you indeed do have friends, but you're simply in a rush, so you chose to eat alone. (No, it doesn't. This is just a tool used to comfort you. You'll be fine.) Just eat your food!

10. Don't take forever going across the crosswalk.

. . . We've all tried (and failed).

Like, are you trying to be run over? Don't answer that. When and only when you're in the driver's seat will you understand the pain associated with negligent pedestrians. Just imagine, you have two minutes to get to class and the only things standing (literally) between you and the parking garage is a slow walking Mac-wearing diva. Let that sink it. Walk fast. Look both ways.

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Freshman, treasure this advice, hold it close and most of all, use it. {Insert clichéd statements about making the most of college and not procrastinating.} Everything gets 10x better after orientation, I promise! Don't worry, I won't abandon you guys. Look out for Finals Survival Guide: For the Procrastinator later in the semester.