Freshman year of college is a year of chaos, lessons, memories, discoveries, and a whole new world of the unknown. Advice aside, I believe in having no regrets. I’m so grateful to have had the college experience that I did. Every freshman year is unique, so my advice isn’t universal, but there is something to be said about the universality of being a freshman in college.

There’s no ultimate guide to starting college that will make the hard times disappear, or things go exactly as you’d hope them to go. The beauty of this new journey is that there are going to be hard times that will teach you valuable lessons. Things won’t go as you’d hoped them to because there is a different reality waiting for you that is more than you could have ever dreamed of. So, amongst the lists of first-year tips you find yourself reading, know that your unique journey is going to unfold exactly as it should, and the world is your oyster if you dream big.

21 Things I’d Tell My Freshman Year Self:

Everything I do now is for the girl I used to be, and I’d rather give her a big hug than a list of advice. However, if I had to share some of the cents I’ve accumulated from the rest of my college years, these are some things I would tell her. College was a long road filled with self-discovery, but overall, the hassle was definitely worth the tassel.

1. You won’t meet your best friends by pretending to be someone or something you are not.
2. Work smarter, not harder. Stop studying after midnight.
3. Leave it at home. Lighten up the luggage load because the identity crisis will come either way.
4. You have ADHD.
5. Exercise helps your brain, and there’s no right way to move your body.
6. Crying is ok; try journaling about what you’re crying about.
7. Eating a salad in the dining hall every day doesn’t make all of the junk food you’re eating any healthier.
8. Hookup culture is going to mess with your head. Talk to your friends about it.
9. Getting more sleep will fix half of your problems.
10. Don’t make plans with people that make you feel uncomfortable.
11. Chase what you’re passionate about.
12. School is supposed to be hard, but what you’re studying shouldn’t kill your spirit.
13. Call home; you’re gonna regret ghosting your family.
14. If you think you’ll never see them again, think again.
15. Don’t let anyone yuck your yum; find people who share the same interests.
16. Don’t just go to class; get the most out of class while you’re there.
17. Love yourself.
18. Get off your phone. 
19. Eat before drinking.
20. Comparison is the thief of joy. You’re on the right path because it’s yours, and it’s all happening for a reason.
21. You are capable of anything you set your mind to.

Follow along on Instagram for more college content. I’m always finding my way back to Ann Arbor to see friends and sometimes football:)

Drop what advice you would give to your freshman self in the comments!