How to avoid getting my hopes up over something?

Its great to be excited about something and experience the hope that your dream may come true. I dont know why anyone would want to crush that.. Especially when you are younger and fresh on your own.. the whole world is your oyster for adventure. Just keep positive and know realisticly you cant always get what you want.. But dont let that discourage you. You will pull thru and later in time, when you look back you will know your excitement was the motivating springboard to where it got you in life.. if you are seriously anxious.. write in a journal identify all the positive things about it and all the neg.. see how you will look at that on paper

Dont allow yourself to get excited until you know it will happen. But neveeit all out even then. Everything is not what you hope it will be

by completely lowering your expectations. I mean, who needs the stress!

That's true. What you want now will make you laugh later.