Congratulations, you've finally made it to college!
The next four years of your life are going to be a fantastic experience. You control what you get out of your time, so get started! Put yourself out there and try something new, whether it's joining the knitting circle or taking up intramural soccer. It's a great way to make new friends, and a nice break from the academic grind.
It's okay if you have no idea what you want to do with your life. You've got plenty of time to find something you love and run with it. Keep an open mind. You never know what opportunities could fall into your lap.
Be nice to your roommate. You don't have to be best friends, but you do have share a space for the next year. It'll be a lot easier to do if you are civil.
Ask questions. You're new to the campus, so it's okay if you can't find the building where your German class meets. You're much better off asking for directions than wandering lost for ten minutes.
Take a class that is so unfamiliar it scares the ever-loving poop out of you. You may end up stirring a passion you never thought you had. But, be reasonable about it. Some people are never meant to take Advanced Organic Chemistry (don't sweat it, no one is meant to take advanced orgo).
That being said, don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. If something from the last class isn't quite clicking, go to your professor's office hours. Go to your TA review sessions. If you got a wrong answer on the last test, find the right answer, and know how to get to it.
Above all else, be courteous. Mind your pleases and thank yous, clean up after yourself, smile and say hello, and remember, while many people love Katy Perry, few want to hear your interpretation of "Firework" at three in the morning.
This is the start of something awesome, ENJOY IT!
Lesley Ryder wishes someone told her these things when she started college