Congrats in getting in and I hope the best for you! I did bad in high school but descent in college and got a degree. I don't want to be vapid and say you will do fine because I have no idea what your situation is like but I can offer up a few things
1) Get good at reading. The amount of reading you do in college can be a culture shock. It was difficult for me and I leisure read in high school. Reading a text book is different than leisure reading. Have high lighters and write notes in the margins. See how others read their textbooks and ask them questions.
2) If you are morning person take lots of morning classes. If you are not take 11 AM or afternoon classes. Over time as you select a major and take higher level classes you will not get that option anymore.
3) Study groups, if they are committed to doing well, are really valuable. You can see how others absorb the material and some of them will catch things you miss. however some study groups turn into social groups which is detrimental. Join some but be ready to walk away if they don't feel committed to learning the material.
4) Remember things (form your post) is important maybe mostly for history class. In other classes it is often more about why and how as opposed to just what (remembering things). I realize you are in Canada but I bet it is a similar thing.
5) Have an exercise outlet. Can be yoga, dance class anything --but it is easy to blow off exercise and slowly drive yourself insane by all the thinking and reading an no physical outlet. You will see what I mean when you get there.
6) Make getting the degree your biggest goal until it is over. College isn't for everyone and you may think this is for the birds one year in. Totally fine. However if you think you do want to slug it out in academic-ville make that your biggest goal. Bigger than whomever you are dating, your social circles, your job you had in college and your hobbies. Almost everybody I knew and now know with a degree thought that way. Tunnel vison on getting a degree is an important thing to have in those days. And those days do not last. They start and one day they end one day-for the rest of your life.
On a sidenote friendships are fleeting in college. As I say this I keep in touch with about 10-15 people from my college days which is insanely high. But realistically you are all just passing each other by going in your own directions. No advice on this but just that will probably happen to you too.
I hope the best for you and that you find fulfillment in the experience.
