Stay on Your A Game

Aspire to be all that you can be. Work hard and study, study, study. Strive for those A's. Take AP courses and join the IB Program.  Delve into things that you are passionate about, be it science, music, politics, art, math—the sky’s the limit!  One day you could be sitting in a class a Yale in the very same seat that Sanaa Lathan sat in.

 via: http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/10-black-celebrities-who-attended-ivy-league-schools/ 

Or you could get a business degree at Harvard like Tyra Banks. 

 via: http://www.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/10-black-celebrities-who-attended-ivy-league-schools/ 

Keep your HEAD UP, strive for success and push on!

"Cankles in a Pantsuit"

via ABC

First: yes, embarrassing confession, I sometimes watch bad television (usually in the height of midterms season as a way to procrastinate). Second: I'm a little bothered by something I saw in a recent episode of Last Man Standing, which is an ABC comedy starring Tim Allen as Mike Baxter, a Republican outdoor gear shop manager in Denver, Colorado. In "Renaming Boy's School," Mike Baxter (played by Tim Allen) calls Hillary Clinton "cankles in a pantsuit" in a series of jokes about her as a potential presidential candidate in 2016.

This makes me really uncomfortable.

First, there's the fact that I — like many men and women — admire Hillary Clinton's distinguished career in public service. Second, I'm really bothered by the fact that this dig is based on comments about Hillary's physical appearance; why do television commentators, pundits and, yes, even comedy show writers focus so much on women's appearances to make them the butts of jokes?

Leave us a shoutout in the comments: am I right to be bothered by this, or am I being too thin-skinned about a harmless little joke?

Positive Publicity

via People

After reading Julia's post a few days ago, I came across this amazing ad campaign by Diesel. Diesel searched for models of all backgrounds, and created an ad campaign celebrating every individual. Jillian Mercado, the woman on the right, is battling muscular dystrophy, yet leads an active life as a fashion blogger and photographer. And trust me, she totally works the camera! No matter how tough my day has been after classes, meetings and practice, women like Jillian inspire me to keep going!

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!

Getting through a Wednesday

I always find I need a little bit of inspiration to get through that midweek grind so here is one of my favorite quotes from a fabulous woman.

"I think that if you live long enough, you realize that so much of what happens in life is out of your control, but how you respond to it is in your control. That's what I try to remember."

~Hilary Clinton

College Spotlight:

To help you learn more about the amazing colleges across the country, I will write in this blog about some of my favorite ones.  What makes these colleges so incredible range from location and traditions to academics and alums, hopefully these posts will encourage you to apply! :D

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Today I will be writing about Dartmouth College. I am a huge fan of this college, not only because of my great friends who attend, but also because of the sense of community and tradition it seems to uphold.   The smallest of the Ivy League schools and in the middle of the New Hampshire wilderness.

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You don’t have to just take my word for how amazing the school is. Just look at some of the alums. Dr. Suess, Robert Frost and most importantly Mindy Kaling. Kaling is best known for her work as a comedian and her sitcom The Mindy Project. Before this though she attended Dartmouth and graduated with a degree in Playwriting. While attending college she sang in an a cappella group and wrote for the school newspaper. Dartmouth College shows that with an education anything is possible, whether pursuing a life in entertainment or going into politics like Dartmouth alumna Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand, a college degree will get you places.

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How do you get here!!!

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So, we have been getting a number of viewers contacting us asking how we got here. So I decided to talk about easily the worst part of the teenage years. Beyond acne, beyond braces, and yes even beyond that awkward crush on that kid in math class…..the SAT is what my teenage nightmares were made of. 

Don't worry though it is not impossible to do well! Just practice, practice, practice!! :)

So to help out with this, I added a widget on the upper right side of the page that will give you daily vocabulary. The more you see different vocabulary words, the more you easily you will be able to score well on the reading portion of the test!

Just scroll over "How to get Here" on the upper right of the page and start studying!

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!

How to: Discover Europe in 36 Hours

via MrPorter

This spring, I'll be studying abroad in Paris to work on my French, live with a French family, and eat all the crepes I possibly can. And while I'm more than excited to explore Paris and the rest of France, I can't help but want to take advantage of all that Europe has to offer. But with full time classes and all those crepes to be eaten, I'll only have time on the weekends to discover the rest of the continent. Luckily, a friend told me about the New York Times 36 Hours series. Each book (they cover many different regions) details 36 hour itineraries of museums, restaurants, and cultural hotspots in different cities. With plenty of maps and reviews, this guide won't be far out of reach!

#ShineStrong

I know it's an advertisement, but I just think this video has such a powerful message for women and had to share it with you all....Enjoy!!

Boys on Boys

There is about to be some real life coming at you - are you ready?

 I recently had a really important revelation about what it means to prioritize and how important it is to keep those goals in mind. I started off this term on the right foot - I got into two theatre productions I really wanted to do, I was having fun in my sorority, my classes were absolutely fantastic - things couldn't have been better. And then I got distracted...by (you guessed it!) a boy. Don't worry this story doesn't end in tears. I love getting to know new people and this was a really exciting chapter in my life but over the next two weeks, I really lost sight of the goals I had set for myself. I stopped listening as much in classes, I barely looked at my scripts, I stopped reading the news (which usually I love to do on a daily basis! Keeping up with the world can be really interesting but you have to keep up with it - it tends to move on without you). 

So there I was. Sitting on my bed. Complaining to a friend. I felt behind: I wasn't putting any work into the different aspects of my life. I was putting nothing into my passions and I was getting nothing back. Logically. My friend just looked at me. I then got a good dose of tough love. She simply opened my eyes to the fact that I had let my life slide because of a boy. My friend turned to me and said that this was happening because I had gotten so distracted. I couldn't believe that I had lost myself so easily in such a short time. College is short and the time that you spend here is precious.

Now I am not saying that great romances aren't a lot of fun or that you shouldn't totally put yourself out there for that special boy. I am also not saying that you can't have both. I am saying that so often girls can feel defined by our love lives and how "successful" or "unsuccessful" we are. Women are continually judged by their relationship status - whether women are single or not matters so much to everyone else! I had bought into this image of what being "successful" when it was exactly this "success" that was preventing me from achieving my real goals. This can be seen all over the media and the news. Take Taylor Swift - how often is her music judged by the latest boy she's dating? Or how often is she mentioned in the media for who she's dating as opposed to the work she's doing? There are also very positive role models out there. Angelina Jolie is a brilliant woman who has managed to turn her media spotlight to super important issues! Although you can still read about her kids and husband (and who wouldn't want to), she is also regularly profiled for the all the amazing humanitarian work she does. UNHCR ambassador, building schools all over the world, making education more accessible for girls - just listing them is inspiring.

I am not out saving the world right now... but one day I would like to be. Although this boy is a wonderful one - he is also not what I need to be concentrating on right now. I had sacrificed what I really wanted to be working on for fleeting happiness. I panicked but luckily had the greatest girlfriend to give me some good advice.

How to find your path again (according to my brilliant roommate):

1. Set small achievable goals: don't try and accomplish everything all at once, you will only end up disappointed in yourself. Set goals that you know can get done. Ticking something off that to-do list (no matter how small) is a great feeling
2. Re-evaluate: look at your priorities. What do you really want to be achieving? How can you get there?
3. Spend time with yourself. There is no shame - in fact, it's encouraged - in getting a cup of tea/coffee/hot chocolate with yourself. Or going on a sunset walk by yourself - think of the instagrammable opportunities.

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#readwomen2014

via Joanna Walsh

2013 was the year of the hashtag. From Twitter to Instagram to Facebook, from #SFBatKid to #Royalbaby, hashtags were everywhere. And 2014 isn't any different. Hashtags can be serious, inspirational or just plain hysterical. Today nearly every teenager with a phone or computer uses hashtags to comment on #whatever #their #heart #desires.

The other day, as I was procrastinating on Buzzfeed (I promise this rarely happens), I came across an article about #readwomen2014. Joanna Walsh, a writer and artist, created bookmarks of her favourite female authors to send to friends as New Year's cards. Little did she know, she was starting a movement to change reading habits across the literary world. When the bookmarks became more and more popular, Walsh turned to Twitter to produce a reading list of only female authors, using the hashtag #readwomen2014. More and more people jumped on the bandwagon, and began tweeting their own lists of their favourite female writers. A few writers and reviewers have even pledged to only read women authors in 2014.

via Joanna Walsh

Men and women publish about the same number of books, and women read more than men, though male authors are featured far more often in literary reviews and journals. We find ourselves reading histories and mysteries penned by Paul Fussell and Stephen King, instead of Laura Hillenbrand and Dorothy Sayers. #readwomen2014 hopes to diversify the books both men and women read, giving them a new perspective while celebrating the amazing work of women writers. 

At college, I'm usually so busy with classes and activities that I don't have time to read anything, let alone female authors. But this year, I'm going to try! And when I do find time to read, the books won't be the classics of Charles Dickens or Thomas Hardy, but of my favourite female writer, Virginia Woolf. 

Who are some of your go-to female authors? Let us know and we'll check them out!

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

Power in Pumps & Heels

via: http://weheartit.com/entry/32965175

Ladies, there is great POWER in wearing PUMPS & HEELS!

Don’t let the fellas tell you anything less. Pumps can be the pride of the female.  It is your time to SHINE, with your head held high in those heels.  We are given the pleasure of stepping out in pumps in the most glamorous of occasions.  And while, yes, your feet may hurt after a long day’s journey, girl, THEY won’t be remembering your pain but your poise and grace. 

But remember to always wear what makes you happy and comfortable. If you aren’t ready for the 6-inch pump, maybe try a 6-inch shoe with a sturdier, thicker heel and a 1 to 2-inch platform base for added support in order to maximize your comfort (and to lessen the arch/slope of your foot).  This is a good trick for those of us who can’t point our toes or are less comfortable walking in heels but want the same fierce look of the pump.

So ladies, go forth into the world and be GREAT, be glamorous, and be prosperous.

Fighting the "Freshman 15"

How many of us go to college worried that we’ll gain the freshman fifteen after being bombarded with a million horror stories? YIKES! Well, if you’re anything like me, you may not gain the freshman fifteen at all. No, no. I gained the Junior 20!

But never fear! Shani is here to give you some tips on how to keep your figure and stay in shape.

1. Cook if you can

This can be a time-consuming task but with friends, this can be a very fun and worthwhile activity. When we cook, we leave out a lot of preservatives and we can keep a better eye on what we’re eating.  Think about it.  What is really in that cafeteria food anyways? And who can pronounce all of those foreign ingredients listed on the wrappers of our favorite packaged foods? They are foreign to us and are probably foreign to our bodies too.

2. Fight the Finger Foods

I love fries! And I bet most of you do too.  But remember that it is deep fried in grease. And while burgers and chicken nuggets/strips are quite delicious, these aren’t necessarily the best sources of protein.  What I won’t do is encourage you to stop eating these foods.  We all want to enjoy what we eat. We just need to eat certain food in moderation.  So instead, try substituting a handful of for a spoonful of string beans. Instead of chicken strips, maybe try a salad with (grilled or breaded) chicken on it.

3. Always Stay Active

This is how I avoided the freshman fifteen.  I joined my college step squad and I went to the gym to play squash regularly.  Find fun physical activities, ones that won’t make you dread running around, sweating and hopping up and down. Swimming, for example, is a great way to stay in shape.

4. Limit the “Love Pudge”

Beware! It’s easy to get in the rhythm of staying in with your significant other.  And with them reminding you everyday of how beautiful you are, you’ll forget that going out on dessert dates and cuddling on a couch too often leads to weight gain. Try not to get too attached to them because you’re in for a serious strike to your ego if you’re not happy with your body when you break up; they won’t be there to lift your spirits and remind you of how beautiful you are anymore.

This is how I gained my Junior 20.