Like any teenager, I hate to admit that my parents were right.

“Study hard,” they said. “Give 110 percent on the court, and most importantly, don’t forget to have fun. Be sure to make memories with your friends because when you’re our age that’s what you’ll remember.”

Now that I have a year of college under my belt, I can truthfully say that was the best advice I’ve ever received.

College is short. It’s only four years (usually). I’m not going to look back and remember that night I spent hours studying for a midterm or the night I had three papers to write.

I’m going to remember the time I took a 30-minute study break and laughed so hard with one of my Delta Delta Delta sorority sisters that my abs started hurting. Or taking a trip to Wal-Mart to buy art supplies, then making crafts with a suitemate until 7 a.m.

Sure, grades and extracurricular activities are important. But college is a time to try new things. Join a club, enroll in a class simply because it sounds fun, do something you would never try in a million years. Make memories.

Memories aren’t planned. So my advice — take your time at Baker. Don’t forget to have fun every once in a while because those are the times you’ll be talking about 20 years down the road.

Like I said, I hate to admit my parents were right, but at the same time I’m so glad they were.