“The Class of 2011.” Those words sure do sound great, huh? Well, after enduring thirteen years of school, the time has finally come for the seniors to walk across a crowd of people to accept their high school diploma and begin the steps toward college.

      Being a freshman in college can be difficult and nerve-racking for some, but with these easy-to-remember tips, things will be easy breezy.

            Of course, stepping into the doors of college, some may already want to be popular but honestly, do not try to meet everyone all at once. Knowing too many people usually makes you end up being the talk of the town and the majority of the time that is not a good thing. Making friends too soon can usually have you ending up losing more friends than you began with.

            Remember, you are at an institution to get an education, not to party and end up having to skip the next day because of your painful headaches and you reek of scum. Realize that college is not like high school and ditching classes is not as “cool” as it once was. As much as parents and students would like it to be free, college is not, so skipping classes is like paying the professor thousands of dollars to talk and teach other people, which makes no sense.

            The temptation of getting a credit card is well, very tempting, but try to avoid it. Many students on campus have a tendency to look nice and want to do all sorts of things in order to stay up to par with others. Many will usually be at the mall spending away and then end up scattering through the bills late into the night. Instead, save money for food and books because scrounging down on Ramen Noodles and fast food is not the smartest choice.

            Moreover, leaving out crumbs, dirty dishes, or clothes will draw rodents and insects into the rooms. One of the dreadful things to do is having to chase around a giant roach at four o’clock in the morning. Never leave out food, toothpaste, or other tasty treats around for pests because if one room gets infested, other dorm rooms will be also.

            People from all over will probably be attending your college, so never give too many people your personal information. Be cautious about your surroundings and learn about the neighborhoods surrounding the school area. You may find some interesting neighbors or even a neighborhood that you may want to strongly avoid. Do not walk around campus by yourself late at night. Be alert and smart.

            Make your freshman year in college pleasant. Do not party too much, spend an enormous amount of money on unnecessary items, and be cautious and smart about your surroundings. Seniors 2011, congratulations!