I didn't really know what to expect prior to attending BYU. I had heard college was different, better even, than high school, but nobody explained to me how it differed. I had been vaguely enlightened by the comment that for every hour of class attended, you would have 2+ hours of homework. That was daunting. Still, I scheduled six classes and hoped for the best.

I feel like, in this moment, I am a sinner in a confession. My (imaginary) blog readers are my pastor equivalent. And I have a lot to confess concerning the reality of my university experience.

1. College actually feels almost identical to high school except for the fact that half the students are married and the other half are scouting out potential future spouses. Ugh.

2. I got really lucky this semester because my workload isn't an overload.

3. LearningSuite is frustrating, but without it I would be blindsided on MANY assignments.

4. There is a class I should be close to failing, but since the average student scores a low C grade, the class I should be most worried about seems to be a class I will be able to pass. #CurvesSaveYou

5. People hardly ever look--let alone smile--at you. That is probably one of my biggest pet peeves about the college atmosphere. Honestly, just because I made eye contact with you doesn't mean that I want to have your children. Simmer down, everybody.

6. At any given moment you could meet somebody who changes the course of your existence. Sounds cliche, but it's true. Merely taking a different route, offering a hello to the person sitting beside you in class, or attending an irregular event on campus can have a long-standing effect on your experience.

7. Being out on your own elicits extraordinary thoughts and ideals in everyday life. I've had a lot of time to walk and ponder and I've learned just how delicately balanced the reality of our lives are.

8. Grades are important, but just because you bomb a test doesn't mean you fail; failure is deemed only by refusing to gain knowledge. The true measure of success is proven when you apply lectures to your everyday life. If you feel educated, you have not failed.

9. Roommates are like family: be sure you make an effort to like them.

10.  When classes are 50 minutes long, it is incredibly easy to develop a shortened attention span.