Tag Archives: College Life

How to unpack your college life

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How do you unpack an entire life you have and try to fit it into a small 12 x 12 ft room? In the past four years I’ve been unpacking and repacking I’ve just shoved everything in totes, storing that part of my life in the attic. But now, I’m kind of at a shit or get off the pot stage. Storing all my college memories in the attic until next year isn’t an option. Keeping things packed and organizing them until I move out…sounds like more of what I should be doing.

I’m halfway through the organizing part, well more like 1/100th of the way through. I made it through the smallest green tote I could find and I’ve already had my fill. Freshman year, during one of the many student involvement fairs that BSU has, my friend Tabby (who had been my only real friend at college at the time) had picked out this weird red pen with a mans head and fluffy red hair on the top. We gave him a name, and since the day we brought him back he has been sitting on my desk all the way in the right corner. Where is he going to go now? He never even worked so putting him on a desk at work (well if I find a job that has a desk) would be pointless.

What are we supposed to do with all of the memories we’ve collected, just shove them in another ex-boyfriend box sticking it under our bed only to pull out when we’re desperate to remember the good times and have a pint of ice cream handy.

No, that’s not how you handle things, well it’s how I used to but I’m getting better..trying anyway. We should semi unpack, and hang those drunken sloppy pictures on the wall with pride, don’t be afraid to wear your favorite Friday night outfit around your parents (although I think I may still wait until they are asleep to walk out the door) and feel free to hang on to your old college sweatshirt for as long as you want. Well at least until it’s too old, and has those weird mystery stains.

So, if you will excuse me. I’m going to go attempt to finish organizing and re-pack so I will be ready to move out of my childhood bedroom in at most a week. And I really want to watch Something Borrowed before the link gets taken down.

Saying My Goodbye to BSU (and Michael Scott)

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All through your life you enter in and our of different phases, you have to say goodbye to people you love and move on. I’ve had to say a lot of tough goodbyes in my day, so you would think I would’ve gotten pretty good at it. But I suck.

Yesterday was my last day of class as an undergrad, true I still have finals, but my official last class ended at 3:15pm on thursday the 28th of May. I’m ready to cash out my credits and graduate. I’ve been ready for a while to move on from college. I just never expected it would be so hard.

Everyone will tell you that college was the best time of their life, and although I thoroughly have enjoyed the past four years…I’m not sure if I’m ready to give it that title. Instead of enjoying the usually college extracurriculars I’ve been participating in pre-professional groups, internships, flying off during summers, and staying up late at night to finish last-minute assignment. And I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve met some pretty fantastic people along the way who have made it all worth while.

I didn’t plan on my goodbye to be coinciding with Micheal Scott’s, and after watching that episode (if you didn’t cry you have no soul) I’m not ready to say it. I thought that I could handle saying goodbye to the people I’ve been working with, the people who have become like a happy little blogging family to me, but I’m not even ready to say goodbye to my version of Toby…although it will probably just be a quick email.

It’s saying goodbye to people I have been in constant contact with for a year and a half now. Reading and editing about their interpretations of different events, and all of our dinner meetings from last semester just seem so far away. Regardless D-day is coming may 4th, so I think I will just have issue handy..or at least keep a plastic bag for myself close by.

It’s hard to say goodbye to a phase in your life, no matter how long or short it was. And for the most part you don’t really get to choose when it is coming, well unless you are in school then you can kind of gage it. Even though I may be ready to graduate from college….it’s still going to suck when the goodbyes starting rolling in.

Why I Will Never Drink Water Near My Computer Again

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It was just after this that she spilt the rest of the water on her laptop and cried

Every Monday and Wednesday I sit at my desk from 10-4. And in that period of time I usually drink 3 glasses of water (at least) and 1 or 2 cups of tea.

Now both of those things do not have lids and the idea of either of them ever spilling on my laptop had never occurred to me. Just one of those things you don’t really think will happen to you.

I was wrong to think that way.

On Monday March 23rd, 2011 I spilt an entire cup of water on my lap top. Not only did I freak out and move so fast you would have thought I had dropped a baby on their head but I was also in the middle of work and was rushing to try to call my boss to let her now the horrible situation that just took place.

She soothed my woes by telling me that it was possible it would be completely fine and under no circumstances turn it on, just let it dry. I sat on my bed holding my self wishing it was some other week, earlier that week I had received an email from an employee in which she told me that I was rude, condescending, undermined others, and sucked at being a leader. All in all not a great week.

The entire night I replayed the way my hand had graced my cup, the way my cup full of water had teetered, and then tipped the wrong way and spilt across my keyboard and screen. How I had leapt to grab it and yank it the other way, but was too late.

From that moment on I vowed I would never drink an open cup of  water near my computer. I didn’t want to take the risk of hurting my computer again.

This is pretty consistent with my love life, well non-existent love life. Except I can’t be fixed by being propped up and having a fan pointed at me. I do usually shut down in the same manner though, immediate and a black screen usually pops up, I won’t turn on for a while. And for the next month or slow I’ll run a little slow, and pop up warning signs of the chance of being hurt again.

But unlike my computer I won’t take a risk again, I won’t just automatically trust you. If you hurt me, I won’t be able to look at you the same way. fortunately my computer doesn’t have feelings or eyes and still lets me use it, and has sprung back to life at a fast rate.

I’m not willing to take chances of leaving my heart open waiting to be spilled again (yeah that’s an awkward metaphor..but you’re just going to have to deal with it.)  After awhile you just have to ask yourself is the risk worth the reward? In the case of my computer, is the risk of spilling hot tea worth the reward of drinking it by my computer? probably not. But that’s why I moved my dresser to make my desk more like a super desk, and now it is far enough that it won’t spill but close enough that I can still reach it.

And with me, I don’t know if I can handle being hurt again. I’ve gotten so used to burying myself in work and school that when I have a second to stop, I don’t want to share it with someone. I’ve become accustomed to being alone as a sort of protection. So I keep people just within my reach, but not close enough to cause any damage.

5 Ways to Score an Amazing Internship

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So you’re in your senior year, taking a look back at the all the late nights studying, long weekends ‘networking’, and countless part time jobs. And a couple of road trips to the Cape sprinkled on top for panache.

But now, looking ahead, youhave no idea what to do! Everyone your age has experience already and all you’ve got is working at McDonald’s for two months during the summer. Well I have good news and bad news.

Good News: There is always time to get an internship! Lots of workplaces take college grads as interns for the summer after they graduate, plus they are more likely to hire you full time come the fall!

Bad News: There are college seniors who have already had three internships and are applying for the same jobs as you. And sometimes, well most of the time, the experience on their resume will outshine your class work and other fluff you’ve put in to make it a page.

But have no fear! I’m here to help you find an award winning internship (or at least one to get by with) for the Spring. And who knows, maybe a potential job for after graduation!

1. There are a lot of websites out there to guide you in the right direction, one of my favorites is internshipratings.com. The website breaks the internships first by state, then major city and of course category. They have two rating systems, one involving questions on what type of work the internship involved and the other dealing with how the internship related to their school work. Also, they have a breakdown of what the internship can help with i.e., networking, salary compensation, fair hours etc. This website is best for the independent go get-er.

2. Career services, located on the ground floor of the Rondileau Campus Center, offers a wealth of knowledge for the unknowing.  Not only will they edit your resume and give helpful suggestions, but if you are a senior you can schedule an appointment for Senior Recruiting. During Senior Recruiting they will let you in on all of the amazing events they host throughout the semester (found on their webpage) as well as talk to you about your future plans and how to make them happen!

3. Monster.com is an amazing resource for people looking for a job! It not only offers you a place to supply potential employers your resume, but it is all completely free! After signing up and uploading your resume, which has been critique by career services, you can begin searching through thousands of jobs in your industry as well as location. Although it may seem confusing at first, if you take a deep breath and just look around your first time on the site you’ll find your second visit is easy. By the third time you’ll have mastered it and be submitting you resume by the hundreds! And for people unsure of this- over the summer I was contacted by FMglobal‘s HR department who had found my resume on Monster and wanted to bring me in to interview for an editorial internship at headquarters! So remember not only are you able to submit your resume Employers are able to find you based on the qualities that they are looking for.

4. Create your own blog! A blog is an amazing way to put yourself out there. Not only can you share your own ideas about what is happening in your industry, but you can alsocreate a name for yourself and showcase your writing ability. Another important tactic with blogs, is to add potential employer’s blogs to your google reader account, this way you can keep tabs on what is happening in your industry and be able to bring them up in your interview.

5. Up your Twitter game! Not only should you have a Twitter account, but you should also be tweeting..DAILY!  Twitter is an important tool for college students, it not only gives them insight into the “real world”, in an easy to digest 140 characters, but it also shares current world events. My favorite part about twitter are hash tag chats. This is when a group of people get together and use the same hash-tag (#hashtag < that’s what you would put if you were in achat talking about hash tags) to chat about something going on. You can usually jump into any chat, and can find them by following some industry leaders. Use these chats to network with the people you want to work for!

Hopefully this helps you on your way to finding your next, or first, internship!

Good Luck!

Have you had an Internship yet, Do you have other tips to finding one? How do you go about finding Internships/Jobs?

This is a cross post with the RCC blog. (go check it out and read some amazing posts!

How to Survive Finals Week

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Dear students and Professors…take a deep breath, Look at the calendar..and scream.

That’s right, it’s  finals week. Where did the semester go? Who knows! But it’s almost over. I always picture this part of the semester as a false end..like your in a desert (where you’ve been for months) running towards what you thought was this beautiful water fall and as soon as you reach it you fall into sand. That’s what Finals are for me…but sometimes while you’re laying there a giant sand storm comes up and picks you up..and you are screwed.

This semester I have four finals (out of six classes so I shouldn’t be complaining) but one is Bio. Bio to me is like organic chemistry to a kindergarten. I don’t know why…I just am not a science/math/history girl. At All. And on of my other finals is just a paper, so again I should be complaining..except it was due yesterday and I am writing this post instead of finishing it right now.

OKAY so how to survive Finals week: (how to conquer the impossible)

Step 1: Make a list of all the days and times of your finals. May three of them…you know for that night when you come in completely trashed and you have something at 8am and don’t remember. That post it note right next to your bed just may help.

Step 2: Print out all of your study guides. I find it more helpful, and more likely to get done, when I have a hard copy of something. This way I can close my laptop and get down to the  business of Cross Culture psychology.

Step 3: If you have questions for your professors, don’t say them for the last-minute! Make sure to ask a couple of days in advance. This way you are saving them the headache of answering you email, while they have thousands of assignments to go through…and you look like a better student.

Step 4: Stock up on water, Advil and gum. I drink water like my life depends on it (well it kind of does) so during finals I need a bottle. Even if it;s just to take my mind of the question while I sip a nice cool refreshing sip of ice-cold water. Advil…I stress out like no body’s business, and when I do I clench/grind my teeth, which puts pressure on this thing that then puts pressure on your head and I get a nasty headache, Advil has saved me some major angry break outs (I get angry when I’m in pain…can’t show weakness obviously). Gum…the only study I’m using is the one that says when you chew gum your concentration is better. At least for me. I am addicted to gum (and not supposed to be…it makes my jaw really sore and feel horrible) I think it helps me concentrate on finals, and as long as I believe that I can usually semi finish it thinking I will pass.

Step 5: Get  a goodnight’s sleep before your finals. I’ve made this mistake far too often, and it is not worth staying up all night…sleeping for 2 hours then going to your final. Get at least 7 hours of sleep the night before. I know you think cramming all of the info. in at the last moment will help, but it won’t. If anything you’ll just be more freaked out. Try to study during the day. Or go to bed early and wake up early if you are a morning person. I’ve found out that some of my best work happens at 3am…but I make sure I go to bed at 8 or 9 so I sleep. Or I schedule a nap in later that day…ahh the wonders of being a college student.

Step 6: Make sure to bring your own pencil to the final! (or pen) I (this was just a one thing) forgot my pencil, and the teacher didn’t have enough. Lucky the girl sitting next to me had an extra so it wasn’t a big deal…but what would’ve happened if she didn’t? It would’ve sucked. So bring your own writing utensils just to be on the safe side!

Step 7: If you have a question on your test, ask the Professor. It’s better to be safe than sorry on a final. And when other students ask questions, listen! Sometimes it’s the question you wanted to ask…then you don’t have to go up and look at the Professors annoyed face and listen to the forced dramatic sigh.

Step 8: Hand in your final. And just smile say “Have a great summer” Then as soon as the door shuts begin jumping for joy because you are finally done and never have to sit through another BIO (or whatever) class again! And while you are in the midst of celebrating that cute boy who has totally been half flirting with you all semester is obviously going to walk out and give you the “what is she on” stare. Embrace it, you’ll probably never see him again anyway.

So the main thing: Stay relaxed! Sleep! Stalk up on needed supplies! and Study!

Things to watch out for:

Cleaning, I clean when I need something else to do. Blogging, as you can see…I also created another blog instead of studying for my psychology of personality final. Facebook, Cracked.com, collegecandy and Twitter are all huge distractions for me…have someone change your passwords if it gets really bad. And Hulu/T.V. I can always find some episode of some obscure show that I haven’t seen…damn bad T.v.

Hopefully I’ve inspired you to put away the computer and start opening the 350 dollar book that hasn’t been opened all year, or at least while looking for more distractions you opened your notebook.

What are your tips and tricks to surviving finals? Any horrible distractions you care to share?