What kind of world awaits you when you head off to college? Who knows?! It's a great big world out there, and the first year is full of surprises. Don't be surprised if the three or four years that follow are just as filled with phenomenal finds and secrets to self-discovery.

Here are some of the most surprising lessons waiting to be learned as you embark on your new adventure:

1. Nobody Knows What They Want To Be When They Grow Up. You spend a lot of your senior year in high school talking about what the future will hold. You apply to schools; you take tests; you know exactly what you want to study when you go to school. Surprise! You really have no idea. Starting as an architect and finishing as an accountant is a totally normal thing. Most people change their majors multiple times. Don't be surprised if you discover that you really have no idea what interests you until opportunities start to open up.

2. You're Not Who You Think You Are. Maybe you were raised in a vegan household, and your new boyfriend becomes a juicy burger. Maybe you've had a thousand boyfriends and served as head of the cheerleading squad all four years in high school, only to discover that your perfect mate is a member of the same sex. The list is limitless, but be advised: You're probably not who you thought you were, and the discovery process is incredibly exciting!

3. You Can Be Alone. In college, friends are everywhere, and they're plenty of fun because you get to choose them, rather than having life pick them for you. Shockingly, you'll learn to love alone time. You'll love having a place to escape to when the chaos of going out doesn't sound like fun.

4. You're An Adult. This is the scariest surprise. You'll suddenly discover that you can handle stress, organize priorities, meet deadlines (after a few accidental mishaps falling between the cracks), and still find plenty of time to enjoy yourself. You'll pay a bill or two, and work to make the money to do so. It comes without warning, and it's often unwelcome. One day, you'll wake up, and, out of nowhere, you'll be an adult. Nobody ever sees it coming.

The truth is, you won't know what surprises lay in the road ahead until you've gotten a few flat tires along the way. Just remember to keep a spare in the trunk of life, and expect to get a little grimy before you hit the pavement again.

Do you still look back on some of the surprising secrets that college revealed to you while you were entering adulthood? We'd love it you'd share you'd share your stories!