Unpack those moving boxes, kiss mom and dad goodbye and bid your long-distance partner farewell, because you’re back at college! I want to be among the first to welcome all incoming freshmen to the very green Binghamton University, where either your dependence on others ends or your personal hell begins. You can decide which.

I’m a sophomore now, so I clearly remember being new to the campus and college life last year. I can’t tell you everything there is to know, simply because I don’t know it all, but I can give you some pretty good insight on what I have learned in the past year and what I wished I had known when I was a freshman.

So how about a deal? I’ll tell you what I know and everything else you can experience for yourself. Sound good? Excellent.

My first piece of advice is as simple as can be.

We’ve all been told that college is not high school and that you can’t get away with half-assing your work. Well, I’m going to tell you one more time and hope it sticks. College is not high school and you can’t get away with half-assing your work.

Please, get involved.

Imagine a board game where there was only one path to follow and seeing as you didn’t have much of a choice, you followed that one path wherever it went. That was high school. However, suddenly, that one path breaks into infinite possibilities. If you like to write, write. If you like to sing, sing. I spent the first semester of my freshman year club-hopping until I finally decided I wanted to write for Pipe Dream. Find your yellow brick road. Find your Emerald City.

I also cannot stress how painfully important time management is. Courses are demanding, clubs are demanding. Even frat parties are demanding. If it helps, get a planner. Every date on my calendar practically had my life scribbled out on paper, but that’s what worked for me.

Being freshmen, you probably do not enjoy the luxury of knowing who your roommate is prior to moving in. Many people will say that your first roommate will end up being your best friend throughout your college experience, but maybe it won’t work out that way for you. It is perfectly OK to hate your roommate. Swallow your pride, clean up your side and make it work.

The world is full of annoying, pompous assholes but a large part of life is finding out how to deal with them, and dorm life is just the place to learn.

I know a few people who are entering college already in a relationship with someone far away, just as I was my first year here. Good luck. In fact, finding water in the Sahara would probably be a more achievable task than maintaining a long-distance girlfriend or boyfriend. However, if you’re looking for some optimism, my girlfriend and I did make it through the first year without too much drama. Maybe you can, too.

Whether it’s in academics, activities or relationships, just remember to be smart. There’s an advantage to having been you all these years and that is knowing yourself better than anyone else. Stay sane, smart and out of trouble.

I hope my advice will be of some help to you. With that being said, have a fun and eventful semester. Here’s to the beginning!