Another year, another crop of freshmen stepping over the threshold to adulthood. Baby ducks, we are so excited you’re here. This is it – the best four (or five, maybe six) years of your life are before you. All the things you’ve known up until this point about yourself, your friends, your family and your worldview are about to be shaken up and put to the test. And to that end, here are a few things I’ve learned about adulthood in the past four years:

Budgeting is really hard. Get an app that allows you to keep track of every transaction (I recommend Dollarbird). You need to save money, you need to spend wisely, and you need to understand what you’re getting yourself into when it comes to credit cards, student loans and overdrawn accounts. Now that you’re 18, every credit company in the country will be offering you a shiny new card, and if you don’t know that a 36 percent APR is ridiculous (or even what APR stands for) then you’re in trouble. Find an adult you trust and ask them to explain what you need to know about your finances. Learn how to file your own taxes and stop letting your mom do them for you. Start building credit by paying your own phone bill. If nothing else, at least get a bank account in your own name – your parents should not be supporting you in Texan Bucks.

College, when taken seriously, is a breeze. I don’t mean you’ll never have a tough class or a 15-page research paper, but everything you could possibly need to be successful in school is right at your fingertips. You have a Residential Leader and hall-mates for fast friendships; you have healthy options in the dining hall and a pre-paid membership to the Rec Center to keep your body feeling fresh and capable; you have study rooms, a massive library and a desk in your room for homework; you have access to counseling sessions at no extra charge when you’re feeling alone or overwhelmed – use these things.

It’s okay to ask for help. Speaking of counseling, sign up for a session immediately. I went to the Counseling Center my first semester here, and it was more helpful than I could possibly explain. You will be scared, sad, angry, lonely, anxious and stressed out many times in the next few years. It’s a normal part of becoming an adult – we’re all miserable. But when those feelings become too much, you need to know that it’s okay to not be okay. Talk to somebody about it. Don’t shut out your friends and family, or your RL, or your professors. There is always someone willing to listen. In fact, you can even come to me in TSC Room 20 – just please, talk to somebody.

It’s time to start caring about the rest of the world. Now that you’re an adult, it is no longer acceptable to say, “I don’t care about politics” when asked what you thought of the last republican debate. You need to care about politics. You need to be concerned about our next president, the state of welfare and Medicaid in the United States, and how often sexual assault occurs in America (every 90 seconds). The future of this country is in our hands. We can’t afford to be checked out of current events. The majority of you will be able to vote in the next election, and if you’re uninformed, you could make the mistake of voting for Donald Trump simply because you think his “political incorrectness” is edgy and fresh instead of racist and misogynistic. Educate yourselves quickly, before a talking pile of toupee becomes our next president.

We’re pumped that you’re here, Tarleton ’19. Don’t worry too much about what comes after this – just focus on the next four years. Take some risks, find new passions, and above all, remember that God has a plan for you. Trust in Him, and know that I’m praying for you guys daily.

Adulthood is a wild ride – strap in tight.