From reflecting on my own experience and asking other students, professionals and educators, here are 10 things I wish I knew before starting college.

1. It鈥檚 important to get involved.

I first came to 麻豆原创 in the spring of 2016 after receiving my associate degree at Valencia College. As an Orlando native, I always knew about 麻豆原创 but didn鈥檛 realize just how big the university is. I worried that since I was a junior upon arrival and didn鈥檛 live on campus, I wouldn鈥檛 be able to get involved in school without feeling like an outsider. Being a first-generation college student, I didn鈥檛 have a clue where to start. How was I supposed to find any friends if I couldn鈥檛 even find my classes?

Getting involved will be something that defines your college experience.

Luckily, the major I chose turned out to be a great fit for me. The classes I took in the allowed me to interact with my peers on a personal level and it only took a few weeks of stressing out over papers together to realize a lot of us were in the same situation and looking for ways to get involved. I joined the student ambassador program for my department and started getting to know and hang out with the people who were in my major. It鈥檚 amazing what a few events with free pizza can do to develop lifelong friendships.

麻豆原创 is full of incredible resources, but it鈥檚 up to you to find them. Whether it鈥檚 finding a yoga meetup, taking care of your mental health, joining a campus club, or attending a resume workshop听with career services, getting involved will be something that defines your college experience.

2. Seek out scholarships and apply. No seriously, just apply.

Millions of dollars of scholarship money goes unclaimed each year, even as student loan debt has reached a collective $1.5 trillion in the United States. In other words, there鈥檚 no reason to not apply for free money. Even though 麻豆原创 is a best-value university with [more than 60%] of students graduating debt-free, there are a multitude of scholarships available to students depending on your degree programs, academic record and future goals.

Millions of dollars of scholarship money goes unclaimed each year.

Spending my first two years at a state college saved me a lot of money on tuition, but so did the decision to live at home until graduation. To help with car and travel expenses to campus, I held a part-time job or paid internship during each semester. It was hard working throughout all four years of college, but it taught me how to balance multiple responsibilities and be aware of my financial decisions.

In that balance, I鈥檝e found that grades really do matter if you want to curb college expenses. Financial aid has been available to me every semester, but doing well in my classes has increased the amount of additional grant money available to me. Even if you don鈥檛 think you qualify, it never hurts to fill out an application for Federal Student Aid. You can also fill out a general application and see your matched scholarships through .

3. Focus on your plan instead of worrying about how you compare to others.

When I graduated from high school, I never pictured myself getting a four-year degree. My plan was to get a vocational degree in theatre tech so I could string some lights up at one of the theme parks in Orlando. After realizing the 听was a good fit for me, I ended up at 麻豆原创 without any regret for the journey that got me here.

One the most important things about college is that you will interact with people from all walks of life 鈥攄ifferent cultures, abilities, races, nationalities, aspirations and socio-economic backgrounds. Remember that every person has their own path, including you. While it will be tempting to think about the internship or job offers someone in your class has already gotten or the schools they鈥檝e been accepted to, the important thing to remember is that you are doing things the way they best fit your learning experience. The world won鈥檛 stop revolving if you aren鈥檛 elected president of a club, change your major or stay an extra semester.

What matters is being prepared for the future you choose to create.

4. Take advantage of tutoring, advising and office hours.

Sometimes the semester comes at you fast. It can be tough to ask for help, but you鈥檙e never alone in the asking. Everyone has that one subject or class that鈥檚 a struggle. For me, it was statistical methods. It took going to tutoring every day after my class had ended to sit down and attempt to piece together what I had just learned. Even though math was never my strong suit, with tutoring I ended up passing my statistical methods course with one of the highest class averages.

Everyone has that one subject or class that鈥檚 a struggle.

There are reasons 麻豆原创 has resources such as 听that help you with assignments ranging from introductory composition assignments to full-length dissertations. Even if you鈥檙e a pro at viewing your degree audit and figuring out what classes to sign up for, advisors are here to make sure you鈥檙e taking the steps that will most benefit you. If a professor invites you to tutoring or open office hours, consider stopping by. Not only can you gain assistance or advice, but you鈥檒l build rapport with them that will be memorable for future help and recommendation letters.

5. Explore your city.

There鈥檚 hardly ever been a better time to be in Orlando as a college student. The city is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States and is quickly becoming a destination city beyond the lure of theme parks. One of my favorite weekend things to do in Central Florida is to spend a day out at Wekiva Island 鈥攁 lively riverfront spot about 30 minutes west of campus where you can rent kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. The best part? It鈥檚 dog friendly.

If you鈥檙e looking for local fun, try visiting one of Florida鈥檚 natural springs. Buy discount Disney tickets at the Student Union, eat at the delicious and creative , or feel the infectious energy coming from a wall of purple smoke at an Orlando City soccer game. The city has a lot to offer and there鈥檚 something for just about every interest.

6. Surround yourself with people who reflect who you want to be and how you want to feel.

Even though there鈥檚 fun to be had, college still requires time management and work.

It鈥檚 easier to focus on your own goals if your friends are taking their goals seriously. I had a friend from high school that I really cared about, but as I made my way through each semester, I could feel a sense of bitterness growing in our friendship because I started to become more involved in extracurricular activities at 麻豆原创. It was difficult to admit, but I knew things were changing for me, and my friend didn鈥檛 want to celebrate the things I was passionate about.

Sometimes it takes meeting new people to realize the ones you鈥檝e kept around are no longer growing with you. You鈥檒l want to hang out with people who encourage you to be your best self. Your friends won鈥檛 resent you if you have to say 鈥渘o鈥� to going out in order to study for an upcoming exam. Those who understand you will support you, and those who don鈥檛 aren鈥檛 really your friends.

7. Seek out advice from professionals in your field.

Finding a mentor can be highly beneficial to your professional development. If you鈥檙e unsure of what steps you should take after graduation, try asking your friends, family or professors to connect you with someone who is doing the kind of things you want to be doing. Someone who is new in their field can offer advice on how they got their start, which may give you ideas on where to begin, as well as be a contact within your network.

It鈥檚 never too early to get connected to the resources and people that will help your future.

Since starting at 麻豆原创, I always had an interest in how the fields of writing and public policy work together. In the spring of my senior semester, I participated in the 听program that sent me to live and work in Florida鈥檚 capital. Besides the incredible professional experience the program gave me, I also made lifelong friends and mentors. It鈥檚 never too early to get connected to the resources and people that will help your future.

8. Maintain your grades at the beginning to create a safety net for yourself later on.

GPA may not always be the defining factor in one鈥檚 career, but there鈥檚 little debate that the ability to get good grades and perform well in school reflects a strong work ethic and drive to learn. It can also lead to scholarships providing more money for your expenses.

At the beginning of each semester, strategically plan your time management so you get ahead for the term. If the material becomes more difficult later on, you鈥檒l have some room to breathe. One of the things I always make sure to do during the first week is scout all the freebies being handed out on campus and look for the student planner. Getting into the habit of writing in a planner has done wonders for my ability to actually remember when I have quizzes due. Webcourses is usually reliable, but I鈥檝e found that keeping physical notes about when things are due helps your grade more than you might imagine.

9. Enroll in one class you never thought you would take.听

If your program permits you the opportunity, you should take a course that challenges your beliefs or perspective. I鈥檒l never forget the semester when I signed up for Ethics of Law. I needed to fill a requirement for my legal studies minor and ended up enrolled in a course on the death penalty. My professor was a defense attorney in Orlando and had incredible connections in the field. She brought in guest speakers that included a homicide detective and state prosecutor Jeff Ashton, who served on the Casey Anthony trial. I never imagined that simply enrolling in that course would introduce me to experts in the legal field, and an entire new way of looking at capital punishment.

Taking classes outside of your comfort zone will also make you think critically.

Taking classes outside of your comfort zone will also make you think critically, developing a valuable skill set for potential employers. Ask your advisors about interesting or new classes that would complement your curriculum. You may end up in a psychology course focusing on human-animal interaction or even a literature studies class on Harry Potter.

10. Find your interests and follow them.

If I had never chosen to pursue writing, you would probably have never read this.

When I first started at 麻豆原创, I ran into a former middle school teacher of mine who was taking students on a tour. He asked me what I was majoring in, and I told him a little about the writing department. He looked at me with sympathy and said, 鈥淕ood luck finding a job.鈥� Little did he know, I never needed luck. College isn鈥檛 about being lucky. It鈥檚 about building upon the knowledge you learn every day to get a little closer to your goals.

Life is too short to not do the things that interest and inspire you.

One of the things that makes college such a unique, transformational experience is that there are so many ways to discover your goals and discover the world. Life is too short to not do the things that interest and inspire you. Start a club that plays Super Smash Brothers in front of the Chick-fil-a on campus. Take a Zumba class at the rec center. Skip a party to watch movies with your roommate. Take your roommate to a party. Get politically involved. Win a national championship. Take cooking classes. Jump in the Reflecting Pond. Prove that Pluto actually is a planet.

Whatever you choose, the experience is yours. And 麻豆原创 is a great place to start.

Melissa Mitchum is a writing and rhetoric major and legal studies minor at 麻豆原创, and works as an intern for 麻豆原创 Downtown. When she鈥檚 not creating content for social media, she spends her time exploring Orlando with her French bulldog, Frank.

Jan. 1 鈥� 听After 麻豆原创 completed their first perfect football season and a 34-27 defeat over Auburn at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, former 麻豆原创 linebacker听Shaquem Griffin 鈥�16听admires the championship trophy. Shaquem made history in April when he became the first one-handed player to be drafted in the NFL, joining his brother听Shaquill Griffin 鈥�16听on the Seattle Seahawks’ team.

Jan. 21 – A student takes some time between classes to stretch out on Memory Mall.

Feb. 23 鈥撎鼸ngineering graduate student Estefania Bohorquez ’17 shows off her aerial acrobatic skills.

March 14 鈥� Studio art major John Currie ’18 works on a special portrait of John C. Hitt to honor his 26 years of service as 麻豆原创’s fourth president.

April 5 鈥� Singer Jesse McCartney performs at CFE Arena during 麻豆原创estival’s concert night.

April 7 鈥� This year, 麻豆原创 raised more than $1.5 million for Knight-Thon, an annual dance marathon that benefits Children’s Miracle Network.

April 13 鈥� Director of jazz studies and Pegasus Professor Jeff Rupert conducts a performance during 麻豆原创 Celebrates the Arts.

May 1 鈥� After a six-month closure, a cute pup takes a dip in the newly renovated Reflecting Pond, which now has a new foundation and color-changing LED lights. *Note: Dogs are not allowed in the water, so don’t try this on your own.

May 3 鈥� During his final commencement ceremonies, former 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt conferred degrees to more than 8,100 students. In October of last year,听Hitt announced he would be stepping down from the presidency on June 30, 2018. Former 麻豆原创 provost Dale Whittaker became the university’s fifth president on July 1.

June 5 鈥� Senior studio art major Jenna Chastain works with clay during an art class in the Visual Arts building.

June 5 鈥� 听While in a lab, a听student works on a project involving display screens and motorcycle helmets.

June 20 鈥� Two students raced to the top of the Climbing Tower located in the .

June 29 鈥� Construction on the new 麻豆原创 Downtown campus is underway and on schedule to open Fall 2019.

Aug. 2 鈥� After partnering with two other institutions to manage the Arecibo Observatory earlier this year, 麻豆原创 President Dale Whittaker traveled to Puerto Rico for a visit to the facility.

July 27听鈥� An instructor at the demonstrates how to put out a fire during a cooking class.

Aug. 21 鈥� Afternoon Florida storm clouds cover campus as students make their return during the first week of fall classes.

Sept. 5 – The sun rises over the Charging Knight statue outside of听Spectrum Stadium.

Sept. 5 鈥� Campus on a quiet morning.

Sept. 19 鈥撎�After more than a year of waiting, popular local taco spot Gringos Locos opened its 麻豆原创 location in Knights Plaza.

Sept. 21听鈥� The get ready to perform on the football field during half-time at the game against Florida Atlantic University.

Sept. 29 鈥� Knightro and the cheer team entertain a packed stadium during 麻豆原创’s game against Pittsburg, which ended in a 45 – 14 win for the Knights.

Oct. 2 鈥� During the evening, the Pegasus on the lights up the building.

Oct. 3 鈥� After serving as 麻豆原创’s interim provost since April, Elizabeth A. Dooley has become the university’s provost and vice president for .

Oct. 30 鈥� In August, 麻豆原创 partnered with the Nemours Children Hospital to create PEDS Academy, a program that provides specialized STEM education to children hospitalized at the facility.

Nov. 8 鈥� Students light up CFE Arena during Homecoming 2018‘s Concert Knight, which featured performances from rapper A$AP Ferg and singer Ella Mai.

Nov. 9 鈥� Students show off their excitement as they prepare to take part in 麻豆原创’s biggest Homecoming tradition 鈥� .

Nov. 9 鈥� During this year’s Spirit Splash, 麻豆原创 President Dale Whittaker jumped into the Reflecting Pond alongside students. He promised take part in the tradition if 50,000 students would attend the first five home football games of the 2018 season 鈥� more than 55,000 students took on the challenge.

Dec. 1 鈥� 听After joining Knight Nation this football season, makes an appearance at the American Athletic Conference Championship game, during which fans wore leis to show their support for injured quarterback McKenzie Milton. 麻豆原创 Athletics gave out 40,000 leis to fans in the spirit of #10hana, a movement that started in the local community and on social media.

Dec. 1 鈥� During the听American Athletic Conference title game against Memphis,听45,176 fans packed the stands as 麻豆原创 secured a 56 -41 victory, extending their undefeated streak to 25 games and advancing them to the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2019.

The Reflecting Pond was drained in October after Spirit Splash and has been undergoing an extensive renovation ever since. Work has progressed rapidly over the past several months as crews accelerated the project with the goal of finishing before Spring commencement ceremonies begin on May 3. It’s become a tradition for graduates to have their photos taken in front of — and sometimes in — the iconic Reflecting Pond.

The pond has been hidden by a construction fence for several months, surrounded by heavy equipment and workers.

Workers demolished and removed the entire concrete base of the Reflecting Pond, along with the fountain structure, lighting and more, before replacing plumbing and filtration, upgrading lighting to color-changing LEDs, adding more efficient fountain pumps and pouring a new concrete floor.

The work was necessary because听the pond鈥檚 aging underground pipes sprung several leaks last year, and heavy rains during Hurricane Irma caused runoff that damaged its electrical controls. The renovation corrected those problems and modernized the Reflecting Pond鈥檚 technology and features.

The engineering firm for the project was Sims Wilkerson Cartier Engineering, Inc., and the builder was Canaveral Construction. The renovation was overseen by 麻豆原创 Facilities Planning & Construction and Utilities & Energy Services.

Over nearly a half-century, the iconic Reflecting Pond has been treasured by generations of Knights. It鈥檚 been the backdrop for countless graduation photos, the centerpiece of Spirit Splash, and even hosted a U.S. president delivering a commencement address.

Repairs have been made in the past, including a renovation in 2000 that replaced the pond鈥檚 single small spout with three fountains.

There was once a natural pond where the Reflecting Pond now sits. It was often dried up, but after a rain it would turn into a muddy pit several feet deep. 麻豆原创鈥檚 first president, Charles Millican, solved the problem by turning the eyesore into the campus鈥� prettiest feature.

Construction of the Reflecting Pond was completed in 1970, around the same time Millican Hall opened. It measures 182 by 20 feet at its widest points, and holds 228,000 gallons.

It has had auspicious moments over the years. In the university鈥檚 early days, the water was drained and replaced with chairs for graduation ceremonies, and that鈥檚 where students sat when President Richard Nixon delivered a commencement address in 1973.

Spirit Splash started unofficially in 1995, when the president of the Student Government Association was pushed into the Reflecting Pond and cabinet members followed. The homecoming event was named 鈥淏est Campus Tradition鈥� by the National Association for Campus Activities in 2011 and this year .

With the help of David Norvell, assistant vice president of sustainability, and 麻豆原创 Recycles, event coordinators were able to successfully calculate and collect the number of plastic bottles it would take to fill the pond.

Organizers hope that by seeing all the single-use plastic bottles in the pond, the 麻豆原创 community will see the negative impact plastic bottles have on the environment and stop using them.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think a lot of people see how much waste is produced,鈥� said Emily Dovydaitis, Student Government Association (SGA) Health & Sustainability Coordinator. 鈥淭rash is taken to landfills and you never see how much is actually generated.鈥�

Reflect on Sustainability, as the event has been coined, is the first partnership between SGA, 麻豆原创 Recycles and Advanced Disposal to celebrate Earth Day. The event is scheduled from 4:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

鈥溌槎乖� is a large university known for a lot of things,鈥� said Dovydaitis. 鈥淣othing like this has been done on any campus before and we hope its historic nature will be enough to get people to do something about protecting our environment.鈥�

Volunteers signed up to load and unload plastic bottles from recycling bins and place them in the pond.

Where do you reside?

I spend my time between Millican Hall and John C. Hitt Library. I love being in the center of campus activities but I wasn鈥檛 even part of the original master plan for the campus. I was added as an afterthought by then-President Charles Millican as a solution to a terrain problem: an often dried-up pond that became a muddy pit several feet deep when it rained.

You鈥檙e looking good for your age. What鈥檚 your secret?

I haven鈥檛 gained any in size鈥鈥檓 still 182 by 120 feet at my widest points, and go from 18 inches to 4 feet deep. I鈥檝e been drained many times through the years for maintenance and to clean algae. In 1996 my floor was drained and painted bright blue over the gray so the water would look better. At first I had just one small spout, but in 2000 the maintenance staff put in three fountains to help my circulation and reduce algae.

What鈥檚 an average day like for you?

It鈥檚 great being the Reflecting Pond at the heart of the nation鈥檚 second-largest university with more than 60,000 students. Every day visitors stroll by or stop to sit a spell, maybe to study or talk or just reflect on the day. But occasionally my normally peaceful days are punctuated by bursts of activity, such as when President Nixon came to campus in 1973 to give a commencement address, or for Spirit Splash, the annual Homecoming pep rally when thousands of students jump in. The National Association for Campus Activities in 2011 gave Spirit Splash the best campus tradition award, and Florida Leader magazine called the event the best university tradition in the state.

Tell us about your family.

I have relatives all over the world, and some of them have become quite well known, too, such as Walden Pond in Massachusetts, Monet鈥檚 Water Garden Pond in France, Kew鈥檚 Waterlily Pond in London, and others, including one distant cousin that has a different last name, Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

What are your favorite movies?

On the Waterfront, Blue Lagoon, and, of course, On Golden Pond, in which Katharine Hepburn鈥檚 character, Ethel, even mentions 麻豆原创:听 鈥淵ou’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t forget it. You’re going to get back on that horse and I’m going to be right behind you, holding on tight and away we’re going to go, go, go!鈥� At least I鈥檝e always thought she was talking about Knightro and Pegasus.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Yes, when people call me the Reflecting Pool or Reflection Pond鈥he name is Reflecting Pond!

What is something that most people may not know about you?

In the early days of the university, when there was an official disc golf course through the middle of campus, one of the 鈥渇airways鈥� went right over me.

What final advice do you have for the 麻豆原创 community?

I like the 鈥減ond鈥� advice by futurist author Joel A. Barker about people鈥檚 actions because it applies to everyone at the university: 鈥淲hen you drop any new idea in the pond of the world, you get a ripple effect. You have to be aware that you will be creating a cascade of change.鈥�

Spirit Splash will be 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Reflecting Pond. There will be guest speakers, free T-shirts and lots of toy ducks. For other Homecoming events, visit http://osi.ucf.edu/homecoming/home/.

The annual pre-Homecoming game pep rally will begin at 1 p.m. Friday. This year, ESPN2 will be on hand to capture the festivities.

Those who can鈥檛 make it to Spirit Splash can watch the event live via a Google+ 鈥淗angout on Air.鈥� Spirit Splash will be broadcast .

Spirit Splash has been hailed as the best university tradition in the state by Florida Leader magazine for college students. In 2011, the event received the best campus tradition award from the National Association for Campus Activities.

Homecoming activities conclude Saturday when the 麻豆原创 Knights take on the Houston Cougars at 7 p.m. at Bright House Networks Stadium.Campus will open for tailgating at noon, and this year鈥檚 Homecoming king and queen will be crowned during the game鈥檚 halftime.

More information about game day parking, tailgating, student shuttles, park-and-ride services and more is available at .

Fox 35鈥檚 鈥淕ood Day鈥� will broadcast from 7 to 10 a.m. Friday from the Reflecting Pond on the main campus. Fox鈥檚 visit is part of a college road trip series that features several universities in Central Florida.

Anchors Amy Kaufeldt and John Brown will be stationed outside Millican Hall just in front of the pond, and meteorologist Jayme King and reporter David Martin will provide live coverage from across campus. The team will speak with students, alumni, faculty, staff and administrators about what makes 麻豆原创 such a special place to learn, live and work.

Students and other members of the campus community are invited to stop by Millican Hall on Friday and be a part of the broadcast. Show your school spirit by wearing 麻豆原创 swag and using the hashtag #Fox35麻豆原创 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media outlets.

Scheduled to appear live during the broadcast are 麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt; the 麻豆原创 spirit team; women鈥檚 soccer coach, Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak; and Bodhi, 麻豆原创鈥檚 therapy dog.

Pre-recorded segments include:

A segment about 麻豆原创鈥檚 innovative undergraduate photonics and laser program is scheduled to air on Fox 35 at 10 p.m. Friday.

The morning show also will be shown on Fox 35鈥檚 .

Tosh simply tweeted that he was on campus at the Reflecting Pond, and nearly 300 people showed up. He spent almost three hours chatting and taking pictures with his fans.

Tosh is an alumnus of 麻豆原创, having graduated in 1996 with a degree in marketing. After graduating, he began touring the comedy club circuit and made several television appearances, including his own stand-up special. He landed his own television show, Tosh.0, in 2009. The show features popular viral videos from the Internet.

Source: myFOXOrlando.com, WOFL FOX 35 and KnightNews.com, . Updated: Wednesday, 06 Apr 2011, 3:10 AM EDT. Published : Tuesday, 05 Apr 2011, 10:58 PM EDT

Students, staff and faculty members and the public are invited to the ceremony at 8 p.m. at the Reflecting Pond on the main campus. Student volunteers will speak about their recent trips to Louisiana, and the ceremony will feature classic New Orleans jazz.

The ceremony will be hosted by the Hope for Stanley Foundation, which 麻豆原创 students and DeVos Sport Business Management Program chair Richard Lapchick established in 2006. Their goal was to create opportunities for student-athletes across the country to help revive New Orleans.

The foundation, named after a New Orleans resident whom the students helped, has organized听27 volunteer trips, including several during spring breaks. More than 600 student-athletes from 麻豆原创 and other universities have participated.

To learn more about the Hope for Stanley Foundation and its continuing efforts in New Orleans, visit .