My last post!

Hey everyone! I’m writing today to reflect a bit on my (brief) blogging career. Here are some of my main takeaways from the experience, and what I hope you learned by following along!

1.     Women can and should be leaders! Even if a certain career or college major isn’t particularly common or stereotyped as “feminine,” don’t let yourself be deterred! Pursue a career that you’re truly passionate about, regardless of what society or the media says. Don’t be afraid to dream big!

2.     Try new things! One of the best things about college is that you can try as many new things as you want with little associated risk. Think you’re interested in chemistry? Try an intro class! If you don’t like it, there’s no pressure to pursue it any further.

3.     Blogging is fun! Writing in a more casual setting can be a nice break from the pressure of formal academic writing. I’ve also learned that consistency is key! It’s important to post often in order to maintain the attention of your readers.

And that’s it! I hope this blog has helped you to feel empowered and inspired as a woman, regardless of what your dreams and goals are. Until next time!

Marie

What Should Your College Major Actually Be?

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Thinking about what you want to study in college? (If you have no clue, it's okay!) Regardless of what your plans are, explore what options are out there by taking this fun Buzzfeed quiz to predict your future major! Disclaimer: Don't take the results too seriously!

The quiz can be found here.

Spotlight on Academics: English

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This week I will be focusing on the college major of English. If you enjoy curling up with a delicious novel, are crazy about poetry, or just love to read and write, English could be the perfect area for you to study! Studying English could prepare you for a wide range of careers in education, media, publishing, law, and much more!

Why study English? Even if you don’t think you want to be a professional writer (starving young artist, anyone?!), studying literature will provide you with a range of versatile skills in critical thinking, writing, and analyzing complex information. Developing logical arguments in English papers, for example, could help prepare you to craft a coherent line of reasoning as a lawyer. With the writing skills you’ll hone as an English major, you could work for a business corporation, television network, or the government! Because the topic isn’t as skill-specific as something like engineering, the career possibilities with an English degree are almost endless!

How can I prepare now? Luckily, preparing yourself for a major in English isn’t difficult – keep reading and writing as much as possible! Head to your local bookstore or library and pick from among literature, nonfiction, or even collections of poetry – the options are practically limitless! You can also try writing for your school’s newspaper, literary publication, or other forms of print media. Even outside of an academic context, try writing just for fun! You can really never get too much practice.

English is definitely one of the most versatile majors out there, and can prepare you for a HUGE variety of exciting careers. Keep reading and writing, ladies!!

Study Break: The Olympics!

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Watching the Olympics can be so much fun! While all of the competing athletes are unbelievably talented, I'm always particularly impressed by the fierce female figure skaters - many of them are still in their teens! Most of these athletes forego typical childhood experiences - like going to a regular school - in order to pursue their passions and chase after that gold medal. All of their hard work is so inspiring to watch!

Last night, Yulia Lipnitskaya from Russia wowed the judges with her impressive short program routine. She's only 15! It's probably one of the most incredible routines I've ever seen, regardless of her age. Check out the video here.

Brrrrr....

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It's cold outside!!! Hot chocolate is the perfect way to stay warm. Grab a few friends and make this easy and delicious recipe!

Creamy Hot Cocoa

Ingredients:

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Directions:
Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Recipe from allrecipes

Have a beautiful snowy day, ladies!!!

Spotlight on Academics: Biology

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This week I will be focusing on the popular college major of biology. Interested in science, medicine, or learning about how the world works? Biology could be the major for you! Studying bio could prepare you for a career as a biological scientist, forensic scientist, doctor, veterinarian, or one of many other exciting jobs.

What is biology? Put simply, biology is the study of life – whether it’s individual organisms, the communities they live in, or the cells that they’re made of. You’ve probably taken some form of biology or life science in middle or high school. At the college level, you might take more specific classes like biochemistry, genetics, plant anatomy, or zoology. If you’re thinking of going to medical school after college, you may want to consider a science-related major like biology. But regardless of whether or not you want to go into medicine, learning about how our world works can be lots of fun!

What can I do now? As a middle or high school student, there are lots of things you can do now to prepare to study biology in college. Take as many science classes as you can, whether it’s chemistry, physics, or computer science – even in biology, computer skills are becoming more and more important! You might also think about participating in a science fair, attending a science camp, or joining science-related clubs at school. While no college will expect you to know everything going in, a little background knowledge can never hurt!

If you think you’re interested in studying biology, read about the bio programs at some of your favorite colleges to learn about their course offerings and research programs. An exciting career in science or medicine could be yours soon!

Study Break: His and hers ear plugs?

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For a quick study break, check out this Buzzfeed article highlighting 21 Pointlessly Gendered Products. Should gender really matter when it comes to ear plugs, blenders, or tea? Post your thoughts in the comments section!

Spotlight on Academics: Political Science

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It’s never too early to think about what you might want to study in college! To give you some ideas, I will be highlighting a popular college major each week. Even if you’re sure you already know what you want to study, it never hurts to try something new, especially in your first year of college – exploring is the best part!

This week I will be focusing on political science. If you have dreams of working for a government agency, interest group, or political organization (first female president, anyone?!), then political science could be the major for you! Even if you’re not interested in  working in politics, studying human behavior and current events through a poli-sci major could prepare you for a variety of exciting careers including business, journalism, and law. Some politicians and celebrities who majored in political science include Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Condoleezza Rice, and Jerry Springer.

Wait, what exactly is political science, anyway? Put simply, it involves the study of political systems, processes, and ideas. You might take courses on American government, comparative politics, international relations, or political thought. Studying political science is a great way to develop valuable skills in writing, communication, and critical thinking. Don’t know anything about politics? That’s okay! The great thing about starting college is that you can take a variety of intro courses your first year – in many cases, background knowledge about the topic isn’t expected at all. Then, you can decide what topics or subject areas you want to explore in more depth.

What can I do now? Think you might want to study political science in college? There are tons of ways you can start to explore the subject area now. Join a club at school related to politics or government processes, whether it’s mock trial, Model United Nations, or student government. Watch or read the news to stay up-to-date on current events and what’s going on in the world. If you feel a little confused (what on earth is a budget sequester?!), talk to your parents or teachers and ask to hear their thoughts on political events and ideas. While no one expects you to join a political party now, it’s never too early to have your own opinions and ideas!

If you think political science is something you might be interested in, check out the websites of your favorite colleges to see what courses and programs they offer. I’ll be back with another popular major to explore next week!

Study Break: Her Campus

Moving away from home for the first time can be scary and overwhelming! One website I’ve found to be helpful (and a great study break!) is Her Campus. The website features tips and articles about all aspects of college life, like surviving tough classes, navigating the college social scene, and staying healthy on campus. You can also read about specific schools on the website’s Pre-Collegiette Guide, written by real current students.

Check it out!

https://www.hercampus.com

Introduction: Marie

Hi everyone! My name is Marie. I grew up in southern California, and am now a sophomore at a small New England college. I’m a government major and public policy minor, and hope to pursue a career in law after graduation. At school, I write for the campus newspaper, am a member of Student Assembly, and am on the student staff of the campus public policy center. My first two years of college have been fantastic so far, and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences on the blog!