Ode to My College Freshman Self

The last group of [high school-aged] young-ins I knew at Prairie just embarked on their college journeys and all of their expected-yet-kind-of-cliched statuses about majors, life paths, campuses, food, etc., really got me thinking. What would I have told my college freshman self, had I had the chance?

Alright alright, I know what a TON of you are thinking right now, and no, this isn't going to be a "don't go to Texas and don't be in a long distance relationship" post, so quit thinking that. I'm a true believer of everything happens for a reason and I have learned and am learning a LOT from the choices I've made (or ended up being force to make). No regrets here, notta one. Anyways, here's my list. I doubt any of the formerly mentioned now college freshmen will read this, but if you do, hopefully it sheds some light on things.

1. You will change your major. Whether it's literally, like with documentation (four times), or only a mindset thing (seven times), it will happen. 
1. Note - You will still graduate in four years. Well, hopefully. 
2. With that in mind, do not take 2039580 classes for the same subject the first (or second) semester of college. Or the third or fourth semesters. Particularly, do not take Psychology of Personality and Cognitive Psychology and Basic Stats for Psych Majors the spring semester of your sophomore year. You will die, and it will be for a major you drop. DO NOT DO IT. 
3. Try and take as many "kill-two-birds-with-one-stone" classes as you can. For example, don't take a class only because it's a communications requirement. Take it because it's a communications requirement AND it's for your major. It will make life a lot easier (and a lot less busy).
4. Don't be afraid of change. If something doesn't feel right, then it doesn't feel right. It's not your fault and it's no one else's fault. Go with it. 
5. On that note, maybe try to wait it out. Things always seem way worse when you are "alone," or without your normal friends and family to be your crutch. There is always someone there who feels the same way you do, so if nothing else, take comfort in that until you absolutely can't take it anymore. 
6. There will be setbacks. There will be times you think you can't get through something, be it studying for a final, waiting to go home, waiting to go back to school, or a breakup, but you will get through it. I'm not saying it will be easy, in fact, I should probably tell you that it might be some of the hardest times you will experience. But you will get out only slightly scratched and entirely changed. And it will be good for you. 
7. Long distance works. Don't listen to all the bullshit people tell you. If you have the two right people and they are both able and willing to work at it, it works out great. 
8. ...but bear in mind, people change. And whether or not you think it for the better, it happens, and you need to deal with it. It's not about you.
9. Take the amount of things you want to bring and cut it in half. That sewing kit you had to buy because "what if my jeans rip and I magically learn to sew?" You won't use it. Stop buying random shit. 
10. Be open-minded. You will meet entirely different people who have had so many different life experiences than you have. Don't judge them superficially; wait until you know who they actually are and where they come from before you make a decision. It's okay to not like people; just do it with reason. 
11. Do all the seemingly dumb college traditions. Go sledding on cafeteria trays, jump in the school fountain, climb the school statues...whatever it is, do it. You'll feel dumb, but also a weird sense of accomplishment. 
12. You are not the same person you will be in three years, so even though you were afraid to leave then, leaving now is a different story. Do it. Try. 
13. BREATHE. and nap. As much as you can. 

I know a lot of these were just as cliched as those aforementioned statuses, but they all come from experience. 

Peace ouuuuut.