Before I left for school, I had an idea of what it might be like. I figured that if I could get a full ride to an awesome school that I was all set. I came to Ole Miss expecting school to be a piece of cake, because that’s how school had always been for me. Wrong. This is everything I wish I had known before I began my “college experience.”

1. You will make a lot of new friends.

If you go to a school that isn’t in your hometown, then you know what it can be like to be thrown into a new place full of all new faces. Everybody needs friends. So start talking to people sitting next to you in all of your classes. Small talk can soon turn into deep talk. Some of the best people you’ll ever meet will be in your first ever college class. Get to know your classmates.

2. You will lose a lot of those new friends.

Not everyone that you meet and bond with will stay in your life forever. Maybe they joined a sorority or fraternity and you didn’t. Maybe they didn’t have a class with you anymore so they stopped talking to you. Whatever the case may be, people leave. It isn’t your job to know who those forever friends are going to be. Don’t sweat it when one of your “best” friends decides to take a different life path than the one you’re currently on.

3. You will be thrown into a lot of uncomfortable situations.

This is the bible belt people. While not everyone who goes to Ole Miss is from this area, it can still be quite a culture shock. Everyone knows that Ole Miss is known for its parties. Hotty Toddy, am I right? Oxford is a college town, and in college towns, college things happen. You will be exposed to many things you have only heard of or seen in movies, but this is the real world. I used to think the more times I said “yes,” the more experienced I would be in the long run. Saying “yes” helped me to leap from my shell and become a bolder me, but it also got me into a lot of trouble. Please know when to turn down an invite.

4. Remember where you came from, but don’t let that define you.

I grew up in a very strict and religious home. There were a lot of places I couldn’t go and a lot of movies and shows I could never watch. One time I was even banned from my family’s Netflix account for watching a rated “R” movie by myself. If I wasn’t at home, I was at church or doing things with church friends. Coming to Ole Miss opened my eyes and my views on a lot of things.

I came from a place where I was told time and time again that homosexuality was wrong, and that being involved with non-Christians would only open the door for Satan to weasel his way in. I always had differing views. Being a Christian meant loving others regardless of how they chose to live their lives, so that’s what I did. One of my very best friends is a gay man. Had I listened to my background, I would have never known how great of a person he was.

5. Shit happens, move on.

Sometimes things don’t work out the way you wanted them to and that’s okay. At the end of the day what happened was supposed to happen. I know it can be one of the hardest things to do, but do what it takes for you to move on. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for how you choose to do that.

6. If you never had to study before, you will now.

There will be classes that you’ll have to take that prove that you cannot pass without studying. College material is not like high school material. You can’t convince professors to raise your grade by getting on their good side. You can cry in their office all you want, but more times than not it will be in vain. STUDY. Just put some time aside for no distractions: an hour a day, a few hours a week. No excuses.

7. Finding a routine is important.

You don’t have anyone making sure you wake up and go to class. Each semester comes with a different slew of classes. Give yourself enough time to get to each of them. Find shortcuts! Write things down in your planner, and once they’re written stick to them.

No matter how badly you want to hit snooze for the sixth time and just go back to sleep, don’t. You’ll feel a lot better knowing that you didn’t skip a single class this week.

8. Having a social life is also important, but school-work should always come first.

You need someone to get out of the dorm/apartment/house with. This is a must. Isolating yourself at all hours to study can actually be detrimental to your health. Give yourself ample time to complete assignments so that way you can go get that ice cream from sonic with Meredith at 1 am.. or attend that spring party this weekend that you’ve been excited about all month. Get your shit done, so you can have fun.

9. Find a hobby.

Find something that interests you. That can be anything from painting paper plates to kayaking in Lake Sardis to feeding the ants in your ant farm cool things, etc. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it’s semi-productive. Having a hobby also makes you more interesting.

10. It’s good to have a job, but don’t overwork yourself.

Having a job while going to school full time can be challenging. Most places will be flexible on scheduling college students. While you’re a student, any extra cash coming in helps.

11. Start putting yourself first.

It’s okay to be selfish. Don’t be blind to your own needs by trying to please everyone else. Start treating yourself like you do the people you care about. Buy yourself a manicure and take yourself on a date.

12. Delete numbers if you have to.

You will come across toxic people. Drop them from your life. Anyone who is bringing you down needs to be let go. Don’t let negative people cloud your judgment. Trust your gut and know when to walk away.

13. You will meet some of the most important people to you.

Yes! Some people you meet in college will be your forever friends. You will know when this happens. It took me five whole semesters, but I finally found mine. Small circles really are the best circles.

14. Whatever you need to do to better yourself, do it.

I am a firm believer in doing whatever it takes to be a better you. Just don’t pull anyone else down in the process. There are ways to climb the ladder without pushing someone out of your way. Never apologize for bettering yourself.

15. It’s your life, live it.

This is your time to enjoy life. College is all about thriving in your own skin and building your best future. Be completely and unapologetically yourself.