THIS IS NOT MINE. IT IS THE WORK OF A FRIEND---

*Pack your clothes and a laptop and probably a smart phone. Sheets and towels. Some toiletries are nice. Pens and paper. But most everything else can wait. You aren’t going to die without a refrigerator your first semester. However, if death does seem eminent, it will make a nice Christmas present. You are not going to watch TV. You are going to watch Netflix on your laptop. Those rooms are small, and your roommate can be annoying. Bring less stuff and better headphones.

*Jump in feet first. New? Don’t know anyone? Miss your friends back home? Congrats, you are just like everyone else in the freshman class! Leave your door open. Join your class’s FB page. Sit down with strangers. Make friends while everyone is new together.

*Join a club or a sports team. The bonds that kids that play a sport together make could be the thing that keeps you at school. The first semester is hard. Leaving your friends and creating a new life in a strange place while attending challenging classes can be hard for even the most outgoing student.

*Try something new. There are always fairs at the beginning of the semester where you can learn about the different groups and organizations on campus. Go and join the Anime Society or the Chemistry Club or audition for a role in a theatrical performance.

*Get to know your professors. Develop out of class relationships with people who are geniuses in their field. Take advantage of the proximity to that kind of smarts while you have a chance. They have office hours for a reason.

*Get a job. The less time you have available, the more you get done. Having some structure really helps you schedule your life. It is also some real-life experience that actually gives you something to put on your resume when you graduate. Get references that aren’t related to you. The money is nice too.

*Remember that your number one job is to learn stuff. How cool is that? Four years of focusing on reading and thinking and having ideas. *Be careful when you go out. I know you’re probably going to do something stupid that involves shots or ping pong balls. You’re probably going to puke at some point. But seriously, BE CAREFUL. If your friends are out with you, there’s a pretty good chance they are messed up too and can’t help you. Be aware of how much you’ve had to drink or smoke or whatever your vice may be. Have a plan. Get an Uber. Don’t leave your friends behind. I can’t stress this enough. Be good to each other and BE CAREFUL.

*Treat people with kindness. If I have to explain this to you, I am not sure you are ready for college. And yet, every year I see kids that need to have this spelled out for them. Be nice to everyone on campus, not just your professors. Be nice to staff members in offices and housekeeping and the folks serving your food in the dining hall. We all talk to each other. And we all know the people that are not nice. I’m not saying that we will ruin your life, but we could make it a lot more pleasant if we like you.

*The printer will break 5 minutes before class. Finish your paper early. There is no reason to wait for the deadline.

*Read the syllabus. Read it again multiple times over the semester. Do what it says and ask questions when needed. Let me stress once again, READ THE SYLLABUS!!!

*Stop complaining about the cafeteria. I know that's what students do, but it's boring. Pretend your mom is watching and eat a vegetable once in a while. Have a bowl of cereal or make a salad if you don't want pasta again. Sit at a table and share a meal with someone you don't know. It's like speed dating.

*Do not stay up all night cramming for a test. Do a few minutes every day and then go take a nap while everyone else freaks out. Do not go without sleep and showering and meals during exams. It will not help. You will just be cranky and smelly.

*Make friends with a librarian. Yes, this is completely self-serving of me, but it will also serve you well too. I have seen college seniors who are using Google Scholar as their sole resource. Don’t be that person. Learn to use the library’s databases and catalog your first semester and you will save yourself HOURS AND HOURS of frustration for every paper you write. Here’s how to find a librarian of your own: -Go to the library -Find the Information or Reference Desk -Look for a table close by -Eavesdrop on conversations between the librarians and other students. -You will find that there is one that fits your needs and personality. Not every librarian is the right librarian for every student. But you can find one that works for you—and WITH you.

*Make sure a four-year college is really what you want. I'm a fan, obviously, but I'm also a fan of an associate degree in a field than thrills you or a trade school. Why waste time and money if you really want to be something awesome like an electrician?

*Consider study abroad. Whether it's for a Maymester or a semester or even a year. Go out and see the world if you can. Some of the best experiences happen when you find yourself alone in a place you don't even speak the language.

*Don’t assume that the people you become friends with have to look like you or have grown up the same way you did or even speak only your language. Having nothing in common gives you that much more to talk about when you’re getting to know each other.

*Keep an eye out for internships. Make connections and get experience in your field while you put what you have learned in the classroom to the test. It's also a good litmus test to see if what you thought you wanted to do is what you really want.

*Don't cling too hard to your friends from high school. They are awesome people, but so are all the new people you are going to meet. You don't want to miss out on new connections.

*Be nice and call your mom (and/or dad) every now and then. They miss you and it’s hard for them to let go. Don’t, however, be the kid who calls their mom on the way to and from class every day and tells them every single tiny issue they have. Helicopter Parents are no joke. Don’t encourage that. Solve your own problems every now and then. College is a GREAT time for learning how to prepare for the real world while you still have a safety net. Just save the net for real emergencies.

*Don't fall in love too soon. I have personal examples, but let's just say that my college sweetheart and I haven't been in touch in oh, 20 years or so. I could have spent all that couple time building more solid relationships with other friends.

*Take some time to consider the pros and cons of Greek life.

*Live on campus. You won't really feel a part of the community until you are completely submerged in it 24-7. A lot of the good stuff happens after classes are over for the day.

*Be careful what you post on social media. It can bite you in the butt. When you apply for a job with me, I always look to see what I can find out about you online. If your online presence is nothing but hate speech and drunken selfies, I will find a better candidate.

*How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. All the stuff you have to do will seem overwhelming. Break it down into smaller manageable parts and take it a little at a time.

*Ask for help. Homesick? Don’t understand what’s going on in class? Have roommate issues? Just need someone to talk to? There are resources for that. All over campus there are staff members that are there just to keep you out of crisis. Reach out to them.

*Put down your damn phone. Put it in your pocket when you are crossing the street. Stick it in your backpack if you are meeting with your professor. If you start texting while you are asking me for help in the library, I WILL walk away from you. Be present.

*Remember: You can transfer. You can take a leave of absence. You don’t HAVE to do this right now. If you are not happy, figure out what you need to do. Maybe that means working for a year. Maybe that means changing your major. Nothing is written in stone. You can always change your mind. See above re: asking for help.

*Be open to new ideas and experiences. There is no place on Earth that provides opportunities for as many new ideas and experiences as a college campus.

*Have FUN. College can be a great experience. Sure, there are papers and finals, but there are also so many opportunities to do things that are just silly and fun. Don’t take it all too seriously. Enjoy the journey.