Hey college-bound graduate, congratulations! The process of applying for college is a roller coaster of emotions, exciting, thrilling, annoying, demanding, confusing, inspiring, to name a few. I’m here to tell you that you have done an amazing job so far! That said, you probably have a ton of questions about what comes next. So much attention is paid to the process of applying for and getting into college, but what should you do now that you are in?

A key part to a successful college career is making sure you feel comfortable, confident and safe no matter where you are or who you are with. These could be physical, emotional or psychological items that you feel are essential to creating a successful experience for you.

Every week, I gather with a group of young women to mentor and guide them through their college experience. All the girls have been accepted to their various institutions, so we are spending the summer making sure that they are not only prepared with shower caddies and extra-long twin sheet sets, but also with everything they will need to be mentally and emotionally prepared for the journey ahead.

During this week’s session, we talked about bringing your own best self to college by packing a suitcase with items that each girl would need to feel totally confident, comfortable and safe. The lists they came up with included essentials such as teddy bears, favorite CDs, personal journals, alarm clocks, determination, momentum and questions.

What would you pack in your metaphorical suitcase? Try this exercise to help you figure it out. On a blank piece of paper, draw a large rectangle. This is your suitcase. Use the prompt, “I am going to college and I am bringing…” to help you come up with items that you would need to feel confident, comfortable and/or safe. You can even write those three words at the top of your suitcase to anchor your thinking. Take five minutes to write down all the things you can think of that feel like genuine, true-to-you answers to the prompt. You might find that you wrote down things that are an integral part of your daily routine like your morning shower, or perhaps you wrote more figurative items like courage. Either way is great!

After you are finished, take a good long look at your newly packed suitcase. During this summer and throughout the coming year, refer back to this suitcase, make changes and revisions, add or take away items. Use it as a reminder of the key ingredients to your success as you transition to college.

Check back in regularly throughout the summer for more tips on preparing for college.

Yaya Yuan is Advocacy and US Program Director for the non-profit organization LitWorld. LitWorld empowers children to author lives of independence, hope and joy. Visit litworld.org to learn more.