Beginning college is tough. Moving away from home, being responsible for yourself, and having to quickly grow up, are all really hard adjustments. 

I was lost for my first year and a half in college. I had no idea who I was or who I wanted to be. 

I almost moved home after my first semester, and there have been countless days where I wondered if college was right for me. However, I will say that my time in college has been some of the best years I have had. 

I have grown as a person more than I could have ever imagined, and I have matured in ways that I would not have without college.

 If you are a freshman or even an upperclassman, here are three pieces of advice I have for you, that will make your college experience that much better. 

Be present. When I say be present, I mean to be in the moment! Get off your phone, get rid of all other distractions, and just enjoy the time. Whether that be in class, or getting coffee with a friend, make it a point to spend time without distractions, soaking in the information, or truly listening to whoever it is you are speaking to. Your four years of college will fly by. You will blink, and the time will be gone. Don’t waste time being on your phone worried about things that will be there later on. Make memories, have fun, and make the most of every moment. 

Be intentional with everything you do. Have a clear purpose for the things you do, and only involve yourself in things that are going to create a life you want to live. Rather than worrying about what everyone else thinks, and depending on what everyone else says, stay focused on your end goal, and do all things with the intention of making that happen. 

Find your people. It took me two or three times to get this right, I have had many different friends during my time in college, all of which I cherish very much. 

However, when I found my group of people that I have been friends with for a while now, I began to be able to see a purpose in my college journey. Friends that support you, motivate you and encourage your personal growth are so important to your time in college. 

These are the people that make you a better person when you are around them. They are the people you can cry to, laugh with, and study with at 2:00 AM. 

When you find this group, don’t let them go. Having a good support system is crucial. I would refer to this as a community, surround yourself with people who have similar interests to you and have your best interest at heart. Cherish these people, and keep them around, it will make a difference and you will see it.

I could have told you to do things like study, don’t procrastinate, get involved, or get to know your professors. But you already know all of that. I wanted to give you things with a little more substance, things that truly matter when it comes to your personal growth during your time in college. If you do all of these things, I promise you it will make a huge difference. If you don’t, you may look back in three or four years wondering how you could have made your experience worthwhile. So, be present, be intentional, and find your people. You got this.