What do I wish I’d known about college before kicking off my freshman year?

A lot of things. Here are a few of them:

• Don’t buy new textbooks unless you have to. Try to purchase them from students, scour the campus bookstore for old ones or get them online, but don’t waste money on a shiny new book you’ll end up selling a few months later.

Some classes even list books you won’t crack open the entire semester, so check with an upperclassman to see if the “required” materials are really as required as the syllabus makes them out to be.

• Try to avoid romance your freshman year. You’re going to develop and mature the most in your first year of college, and chances are, you’ll still be figuring out who you are and what you want out of life.

Don’t cut yourself off from the great opportunities you have to create meaningful, platonic friendships in your first year. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to pursue dating later on.

• There are two extreme types of college students: the ones who take school too seriously, and the ones who don’t take it seriously enough. Find a balance.

Yes, you’re at college to grow academically, but don’t live in the library during the weekend and let your friends fall by the wayside. I still remember when I failed to reach out to one of my friends in need simply because I was so absorbed in my studies.

On the other hand, it will be difficult to maintain your friendships if you flunk out of school, so pace yourself. Get some accountability with a trusted friend to ensure you’re managing your time appropriately, spending some with friends and some on school work.

• Lastly, try not to worry too much about your future.

Trust me here.

I’ve done a lot of that in college, and it didn’t get me anywhere.

The most important thing to remember is that if you’re being faithful to your studies and actively pursuing your calling, you’ll make it through alright.

Yes, failure will meet you along the way sometimes, but it also will shape you into a better person and ultimately lead you to where you need to be.

Johnny Sikma is a senior marketing management major at Grove City College. He is the president and resident assistant of the Tri-Rho housing group, as well as an intern for the admissions and marketing offices at the college.