Celebs Like Us

It's incredible to me how stars are able to balance being celebrities with going to college. I totally admire their dedication to getting a solid education!

via:http://cdn.redcarpet-fashionawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/164460630.jpg

iCarly's Miranda Cosgrove is a Sophomore at USC

via: http://putu.us/hollywood-beauties/dakota-fanning-hollywood-beauties/dakota-fanning-arrives-2013-americans-arts-gala-ny/

Twilight's Dakota Fanning is a Junior at NYU

via: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/1Bxn1DMyuRx/Moet+Chandon+Suite+2013+Open+Day+6/1Dnr8WmaCVI/Graham+Phillips

The Good Wife's Graham Phillips is a Sophomore at Princeton

via: http://www.filmoria.co.uk/2013/10/emma-watson-team-director-stephen-chbosky/
Harry Potter's Emma Watson is a Junior at Brown

Read more about these celebrities in college and more here!

You're a leader!

I just got off the phone with my mom. She's in Switzerland at this really cool conference called Davos. It's held every year and world leaders come together for the World Economic Forum where they discuss all sorts of political and economic issues. This year's conference was titled "The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business". I am so incredibly proud that my mom gets invited to this conference - she's such an amazing role model and inspires me to make a difference every day.

However, while looking up Davos I came across a really interesting article in the Huffington Post that had some very sobering facts. Only 15% of attendees were women. The Forum selects 50 of its own Global Shapers of which 50% are women but for the rest - there is such inequality! Women everywhere need to be a part of the discussions that are shaping our world and moving our society forward.

We need to reshape what it means to be a female leader and that starts with you! I want to challenge you this week to put yourself out there. Apply for a position in school, volunteer to lead a project in class, go that extra mile with your homework, audition for the school play and it could lead somewhere. You may discover a new passion! Become involved in the society you are a part of - you will gain valuable experience and it will give you the confidence to develop those leadership skills (and it doesn't hurt on college applications either!).

FOMO: Fear of Missing Out

At college, there is ALWAYS something fun you could be doing (or missing out on). My freshman year, I really struggled to figure out how to balance my time. I felt like I was being pulled in so many different directions. Whenever my friends were doing something fun, I would be so afraid of missing out that I would completely abandon my work for the next day, so my grades slipped. I haven't been able to overcome my FOMO, but I've learned some really good tricks for time management...

via: http://thepassionproject.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/fomo.png

1. Make lists on lists: Whenever I start getting anxious about the all things I have to accomplish, I make a list of what I have to get done in order to be caught up with my work and my life.

2. Planners are your best friend: On my iCal, I keep an up to date schedule with classes, practices, meetings, and any social events, so I can instantly know when I have free time. Additionally, I have a Life Planner from Erin Condren that I use to keep track of all of my assignments. By keeping two planners, neither gets too cluttered!

3. Eat & study with friends: By working in the library with my friends or taking study breaks to get meals with them, I can hit two birds with one stone--I'm getting my work done and getting to spend (fun) quality time with my friends. Make sure they have work to do too though or else it will just be a distraction! 

4. Don't spread yourself too thin: One of the easiest ways to let the time slip away from you is by getting involved in too many activities. Freshman fall it seems like this is your one chance to join every single club. DO NOT DO IT. I promise almost all of the opportunities will still be there later. Get involved in 1 or 2 things and you can always ramp up from there if you want to.

Do you have any other great time management tips?

xx

A tidy dorm, a tidy mind...

The key: Unpack!

I am not the biggest fan of packing/unpacking but it's so important to make your dorm your own space. I always like having a couple of hours on my first day back to really make my dorm my own again. Make sure to take the time to organize your clothes and put away those toiletries. I also love decorating my room. There will be a post to come on decorations (I tend to go a little crazy).

Whether you are hanging out with friends, studying for a midterm, or just unwinding - it's so much nicer to do when your room doesn't look like this:

My floor before unpacking my suitcase.