(Photo:  Mark Davis/PictureGroup)

We checked in with our favorite college freshman, Azriel Crews, and she is doing wonderfully. So we asked her what she considers the keys to succeeding in your first year of college. Her answers are below. We must say we are very proud of our collegiate Crews.

1. Just relax! For me, college was surprisingly easy compared to what I thought it was going to be. You still have to do your work, but you generally have more free time to do it.

2. Get involved in something that interests you. Chances are you have interests outside of what you're doing in the classroom. Take advantage of the extracurricular activities and events. After all, that's where some of your money is going!

3. Get to know people from all majors, departments and grade levels. The great thing about college is that it brings people from all over the world together. You can learn so much by spending time with them, and by the time you graduate you'll have friends all over the world.

4. If you're having roommate issues, stay in communication! The worst thing you can do is let little things fester up inside of you. We were advised to work out a roommate contract where my roommate and I got to discuss specific issues, which really helped.

5. Try to keep a steady sleep schedule. This is something that I am still struggling with, but honestly if you're not getting enough sleep, it can lead to not only being tired and unfocused, but also to overeating.

6. Speaking of overeating, beware of the junk food. This is one that was so hard for me! There was no one there to keep me accountable for what I was eating, and believe me—that "freshman 15" is NOT hard to gain. Eat all the healthy food you can!

7. Make sure you're staying active! Something I did to try and balance out the not-so-healthy dorm food was walk to my classes more often. Even just 15 to 20 minutes of walking a day can make a difference.

8. Take advantage of the services on campus. Most colleges have counseling services that are there to help you if you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed or depressed, which will no doubt happen from time to time. Use them—they are worth the time!

9. Remember that you have friends living on campus with you, which makes studying more enjoyable. Ask your friends who are in class with you to do homework together—it makes the work seem like fun. It may sound cliché, but it's so true.

10. Don't be too hard on yourself. Yes, college is an environment for learning, but you can learn just as much outside the classroom as you do in it. This is the time to try new, fun things and figure out how you want to shape your future. Don't be shy, and remember to let loose sometimes!