Many young adults are preparing to move from home and attend college for the first time. This is a huge step and brings both fear and excitement to the young man or woman getting ready to branch out on a whole new life. Many see it as freedom and the ability to have no curfew or rules. This is where college freshmen make mistakes.

As I get older I realize my parents weren't mean for implementing the rules our house followed when I lived at home. Kids without curfews or parents that don't care where their kids are or who they are with often get in trouble. Boundaries are needed and it is the parent's job to set them. Once out in the real world boundaries are present in every aspect of one's life. Had my parents not raised me to know boundaries, I think life would be more difficult.

Maybe this is the reason children raised in wealthy households get in trouble. (This is not always the case; many children raised in wealth turn out to be the leaders of our society, specifically those whose parents set boundaries). Many times these children are used to getting the desires of their hearts and over react when things, out of everyone's control, don't go the way they plan. They have no boundaries in their life, so they don't know how far to take things.

I was raised in a strict but loving household. I knew how far I could push my parents and I will admit I was the child testing the boundaries constantly. I knew if Mom said to be home by 11 p.m. I better walk through the door at 11 or at least have phoned why I wouldn't be home on time. I was never afraid of Mom not loving me or hitting me ... what I was worried about was Mom being disappointed in me.

My mom has a way of punishing me more with just a look than she ever could with her hand. All my life I have wanted to please people. I really think I was born to please people and this has caused me problems throughout my life, especially now when I ask someone for an interview and they attempt to blow me off. My natural reaction is to leave them alone in order to not be a problem. I have learned, rather quickly, that to get the good story I am sometimes going to have to step on some toes and make some people unhappy. It's part of my job and I do love doing what I do.

When I was a freshman in college I remember thinking I knew all I ever needed to know about life. I had seen my high school boyfriend buried when we were 16 due to a malignant brain tumor. I had experienced so many life lessons I thought all the trials were over early in my life and it was all smooth sailing from that point. It is no surprise that I was wrong.

When you begin college your boundaries are gone. There are no truancy laws, your parents are no longer responsible for your attending class. In fact, the only person responsible for your actions are you. This is often overwhelming. When there is no one to answer to it is sometimes easier to simply do what you want to do. You then have to take into consideration the availability of drugs and alcohol on campuses.

Even good kids, when faced with no boundaries and the need to make new friends and feel accepted, can succumb to peer pressure and try things they never would have contemplated before leaving home.

Let me give you some advice, and I speak from experience ... drinking and drugs don't make you cool. If someone doesn't like you without your having to drink or do drugs then they aren't your friend. A true friend is someone with whom you can be yourself -- all the time.

It took a semester of bad grades and destructive behavior for me to learn the lessons many freshmen have to learn from experience.

Learn from my mistakes and set some ground rules for yourself as you head off to college.

First, set boundaries for yourself. If you have a class at 8 a.m. go to bed at a decent hour. You can party and have fun all weekend, but missing class will make your college experience difficult. Get to class no matter what. Even if you're unprepared, still have your behind in the seat for class.

Secondly, you need to remember that college professors have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of students. Talk to your professors and create relationships. It is much easier to give someone five tenths of a point when needed to go from a C to a B when you know the student. I have made better grades in all the classes in which I have formed relationships with the professors. When you have a relationship with your professor you can discuss problems you may be having with ease and ask for help when needed. Often having a face to go with a name goes a long way.

Third, college has been the greatest experience of my life to date, so enjoy the time at your institution of choice. Learn your individual boundaries and always know that even if you make the mistakes most college freshmen do, mistakes are learning tools we should carry with us the rest of our lives.

I am going to ask you to carry with you words from one of my favorite professors (she ended class every Friday with these words of wisdom. And I feel every college student, and adult for that matter, should follow this advice): "Stay safe, stay sober and if you can't, stay off the road."

Jamie Young is a T-G lifestyles reporter.