BACK TO SCHOOL!

Its about that time for everyone to be heading back to school! (I hope you took advantage of tax free weekend with school shopping). I know a lot of people going away to college may be nervous, yet excited, about starting school and making new friends. I'll be going into my sophomore year at THEE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (GO NOLES). I just wanted to give some advice to students that will be going away to school in the fall from the perspective of a student that has already conquered their freshman year,

1. Don't forget what your parents taught you!
Everything that led up to this day was preparing you for being on your own!
2. DON'T forget what you went away for in the first place.
NO not to escape your parents, but to get a DEGREE! Avoid all petty drama at ALL costs, work hard and PARTY harder!
3. Be YOURSELF!
If you think peer pressure was hard in high school it will be on you more than ever now, because in college you can do WHATEVER you please without worrying what your parents would say. But always remember, if your parents didn't want you doing it at home, they probably don't want you to do it in colege.
4. STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!!
Yes, especially for the smart kids, you will FLUNK out of college if you do not study! (My rule is 2 hours for every hour of class) Most tests aren;t just "Common Sense" you actually have to learn the material!!
5. Pick a Major you LOVE, not one that your parents DO!
I know a lot of kids that are living vicariously though their parents even when they don't want to. Its a pretty sad sight to see. Major in something you are PASSIONATE about because, remember, if you love what you do you'll never have to work a day in your life :)
6. GIRLS! LEAVE YOUR BOYFRIEND AT HOME!!
This is a time to get out, make new friends, and experience new things on your own. I know its different strokes for different folks but from personal experience its probably best you and your boyfriend dont go to the same school. It causes unneeded stress and can become a major distraction when it comes to studying and socializing with other people!
7. Join Organizations!
You may get a little homesick, especially if you have no other relatives in the same town as you, so joining an organization can help you feel united to something again, and also research shows if you are involved on campus, you'll do better in your studies as well! You can't go wrong with that! Its a great way to make new friends and raise your grades as well!
8. Establish a relationship with your professor!
This may seem a little harder to do if you o to a larger college vs. a smaller one, but teachers in college have these things called Office Hours, in which you can talk to them about grades, you can even get personal one on one help, etc.! USE THEM! Its nothing worse than ending the class with a 69.6 D, and if the teacher knew you they may actually be lenient and give you the C, because they see that you were putting forth effort. 
9. To my girls, STAY AWAY FROM THE SHONE POLE!
I know, I know. Your in college. Your parents had you on a midnight curfew so other than that time you sneaked out you really didn't get to hit the club. When I refer to the shone pole I'm referring to the stripper pole. Its a shame seeing girls up there bending over shaking their ass for a crowd as if they have no more worth than that! Just letting you know you WILL BE JUDGED if you put yourself out like that!
10. STAY AWAY FROM GREEKS AND ATHLETES!
When I say Greeks and athletes, I mean 90% of them, There actually are some cool ones out there that aren't trying to get you drunk/high so they can sleep with you. But because you may be too young to know the difference, I say stay away from them your first year of college! Boys can be just like girls. And they LOVE to brag about getting numbers, who they had sex with, who they had doing this and that, etc. You DON'T want to make your face dirty because one thing I know is that people are watching you sometimes even when you don't know it! People will judge you for staying the night at the frat house (yes even if you didn't do anything there's NO explaining). So just make friends, they don't have to be a greek or a football player.
11. BUDGET YOUR MONEY!
If you don't plan on getting a job, you need to learn how to budget your income (whether its from your parents or financial aid) Nothing worse than seeing a person blow all their money on food, clothes, and the club, and when its time to pay their rent they have nothing left!