Always Learning

Video Courtesy of Reilly Peuser

In my first semester of college, I have learned a lot and I haven't gotten to talk about all of them. SO, i did this podcast to go over just a few of the things that I didn't cover in my blogs.

Enjoy!

Spots on Campus

Washburn's campus is one of the most unique and beautiful campuses I have ever seen, so I felt it was necessary to point out some of the coolest spots and things on its grounds

Take A Little Advice

Going to your advisers should be something you should do not only because you have to once a semester, but because you want the best for your college career.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

They truly know what is best for you and will put you on the right track to graduation. They will make sure you have all of your Gen. Eds. in order and meet all the requirements so that you get the degree that you are here for.

So, next time you dread the meeting with your adviser, remember they are only here to help you get to the day when you throw your cap and are done with school forever.

Caffeine for the Soul

For me, there are days when I just need a good cup of Joe. Sometimes I rely on it too much, but it is good to know where you can get a quality latte.

Here is a map of some of the best coffee shops I have been to in Topeka. Stop by and tell them Reilly sent ya. They won't know who you are talking about, but at least they know they were recommende.

                                           

Just Need Somebody To Lean On

Photo by Reilly Peuser

The only thing getting me through college right now is the fact that I have an amazing support system in not only my family but also my friends.

College is great in the aspect that you meet and make so many wonderful people. You develop friendships that will last a lifetime.

When in college, it is important to surround yourself with friends that share the same values as you - one of which I hope is the importance of an education. 

I have found a great group of people that give me emotional support for the hard days and physical support for when I fall down the stairs. Find you a group of friends that will help you when you fall down the stairs.

Stressed Out

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

Sometimes college can give you that inevitable feeling that you are drowning. Whether that be from homework, work itself, roommate drama, or just not adjusting very well, everyone will feel the stress at sometime or another.

Luckily for you, there are ways to lessen its impact.

A great stress reliever for some people is hitting the gym.

For a short amount of time you can take your mind off the stress and the struggles of college life and just run (or bike, if you are like me).

You can also go to the FREE counseling services at Washburn!

It sometimes helps to just get some stuff off your chest every now and then, and this is a great way to do that! The person you are talking to doesn't know the person you are talking about, so that is also another plus.

Another great person to confide in is your teacher. They don't know you are struggling unless you tell them so talking to them about it is always a good idea.

Don't wait until the last second to do your assignments.

I know, it's hard not to just put it off and do other "important" things instead (i.e. watch Netflix and pig out), but you will be way less stressed out in the long run if you just do it when you can.

Stress may be inevitable, but there are ways to cope with it. Don't let it get so bad that your stress has stress, just get the help and do whatever you need to do to make college a little easier on yourself.

If you need some good stress relieving tips, go to http://campusmindworks.org/students/self_care/managing_stress.asp

Need A Little Help From My Friends

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

If there is one thing I have learned from my time in college thus far, it is that high school didn't prepare me - at all.

I didn't know how to study, I didn't know what to prioritize when I was "studying", and I certainly didn't know how to get a tutor.

One thing that is great about college, especially here at Washburn, is that we have some fantastic tutoring services.

Whether it be through the library or the department itself, there are tutors for EVERYTHING. Math? We got them. History? We got them. Any struggles you are having in a class, there is most likely a tutor for it.

One thing to keep in mind if you do get tutors is you shouldn't be ashamed that you need one. Everyone struggles with something in their lifetime and if yours just happens to be a Statistics class, then so be it.

You should be proud of yourself for recognizing that you need the help. Just know that it is okay to get a little help from a friend every now and then.

If you would rather just get online help, http://www.tutor.com/ is a good website to go to!

Procrastination - the Leading Killer of All Students

I will write this later.

Better Late Than Never

We are all gonna experience it at one time or another - you are gonna be late for class. There are multiple ways to handle it - both good and bad - but you just need to have common sense.

Don't just skip because you are gonna be 10 minutes late.

I know, I know, it's tempting. But don't. It isn't worth it and you will miss a lot of information that you can only get in class. Now if you are gonna be 45 minutes late, that's another story...

Run. Run. Run.

If you are late it is not the time to be dilly-dallying around. Forget the makeup and the cute clothes. It doesn't matter if you look like a hobo, just run. As fast as you can.

Don't make a big entrance, but don't take forever.

Obviously don't just storm in there but don't take a lifetime to open the door either. Try to be as quiet as possible and sit down immediately. People will either not even realize you walked in or they will forget about it in like .2 seconds. It will all be good.

Even if you are late to one class, just know it is not the end of the world. Life will go on, and so should you!

How to Survive in the Dorms

Photo Courtesy of Reilly Peuser

Living in the dorms is one of the best parts of college. New friends, great memories, an all around great experience right? Well, sort of.

Life at the dorms is not all rainbows and butterflies all the time, so it is good to know how to cope with it.

1. Make friends in different rooms.

You and your roommates will not always get along. Just expect that to happen. So it is always good to make friends outside your room to be your safe haven when you just can't take it anymore.

2. Communicate.

Communication is key. One thing that is good to enforce in your room, like I did in mine, is an honesty policy. Anytime that someone does something to upset you, you enforce the honesty policy and tell them. It will work out for the better if you do.

3. Forgive and Forget.

Holding grudges won't do you any good either. You just need to learn to let things go and move on. It will not only help you in college, but in life. Trust me.

Life won't always be easy and it won't always be fun, but if you can learn some good tips to handling your living situation, it will be far easier.

Funny Business

The latest craze that all the college kids are into now-a-days is "clown hunting". Personally, there is not way I would EVER do that . EVER. But if you do, here are my tips to staying safe.

1. Bring protection

Pepper spray, taser, heck even your car keys can be a weapon! Just make sure you have something to use if you happen to get chased down, like so many people have.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

2. Travel in pairs

I feel like that is common sense, but if you didn't know you are always safer in groups. If you anything you just need to be able to outrun at least one person in your group.

3. Or you could just stay in your car

Driving around not only gives you a barrier between yourself and the clowns but it also gives a faster way of running away from them.

If you are into the possibility of getting chased down or stalked by a clown with a knife or you just like the adrenaline rush of seeing one, please be careful. And don't approach one, whatever you do. This is real life man.

Week by Week

Photo Courtesy of Reilly Peuser

One of the best ways to stay organized in college is to take things week by week.

The easiest way to do that is to make a weekly calendar! I made the one pictured above out of four simple items; a picture frame, scrap booking paper, a sharpie, and Command strips.

Step 1: Buy all the supplies.

 

Most of these items were inexpensive and I already had them in my house. The most expensive thing being the frame which was around $12 at Target. The paper was around $4 from Wal-Mart and the Sharpie I already had but they run around $3.30. The Command strips come in a pack of 12 and run around $8.  

Step 2: Write on the frame.

 

If you aren't the best at calligraphy, don't fret. You can always try your best, do what you know you can do, or find someone that can. I did all the calligraphy myself so I am always open to helping!

 

Step 3: Pick out the paper to go behind the glass.

 

When picking out the perfect paper, just know that you have to be able to read what is written on the
glass. It helps if it is lighter colors or mainly white with hints of black. I didn't really follow the whole light paper tip but I was trying to match the colors of my bed spread, so don't judge.

 

Step 4: Hang the frame on the wall.

 

This is pretty self explanatory but my only tips are to have a second person around to help you level it out. 

This is not only a good way to keep yourself organized, but you will look like a pro at D-I-Y projects while you are at it.

Why Can't We Be Friends?

If you were to ask someone what was the first thing they did when they got to college they might say "Unpack my stuff" or "Said goodbye to my parents" but what they should have said was "I made friends".

Making friends in college is one of the easiest and the hardest things to do.

It is easy because you are instantly friends with people when you walk in the door - your roommates! But it is also hard because you make so many new friends that you can't remember every ones names so you feel like a jerk when they remember yours but you have no idea who they are.

Here are my tips to making friends in college.

Actually socialize.

It is awkward for everyone when you just stand there looking like a deer in the headlights when someone says "Hi". Plus, you get to know people better when you have a two person conversation - imagine that!

Put yourself out there.

You never know who you will meet when you just go out and do things! There are tons of fun activities and interactive things to do on campus so you never have a reason not to.

If you forget their names, go with something generic.

When in doubt, always go with buddy, girl, pal, or just plain friend. This still acknowledges that you remember them without having to say their name that you don't know!

Making friends may be difficult at times, especially if you are shy, but it is the easiest way and best way to fall in love with your school more and more each day. Treasure the friends you have, but always be willing to make more.

Work, Work, Work, Work, Work

Being in college can get expensive, from all of the new restaurants you are trying out to all the random stuff you by at Wal-Mart, so it is always good to have a part-time job. But not just any part-time job, a part-time job on campus.

They are the best at working with you busy college schedules and they give you good connections on campus.

This is what I have learned from my on campus job:

1.  It is intimidating.

At first, at least. Not only are you starting out at a new school, but also a new job. You don't know     anyone and you don't know what you are doing. But don't be scared! After a couple of weeks you       will get into the groove of both work and school.

2. It is monotonous.

You will do the same thing over and over. You will get bored - A LOT. But just know that it is a job and it will get better.  You only work up to 20 hours a week, so it is not too time consuming. Think about that money!

3. You will make a lot of connections.

This will connect you with people in all walks of life. My job at the law school connects me with lawyers, not that I would ever need one, and also has taught me a lot about law as a practice. You also learn skills that you never thought you would learn.

4. You get a lot of life experience.

You are being put in a situation where you are being forced to socialize with others, answer people's questions, maybe even help on projects. All of those look good on job applications.

Mind, Body and Soul

                                                                    Video Courtesy of YouTube

Every now and then the stress and pressure of college can get to be too much. Make sure you take time out of your day to relax.

One thing I find helpful is just taking 15 minutes to sit and meditate. It not only helps clear your mind but it puts your body at ease as well.

Time After Time

Easy Tips on How to Manage Your Study Time

One of the hardest things to do when you first start college is learning how to manage your study time. And let's be honest, you learn the hard way. But just think of that first failed test as a learning mechanism. Move on and follow these steps to make better use of your time.

1. Prioritize. 

You HAVE to know what is most important and what should be done first. If you have a paper that is due in two days and an essay that is due in four days, write the dang paper first!

Procrastination is not your friend in college, or in life even. If you put off writing that paper and decide to do something that isn't due for two weeks instead because it is "easier", you are done for. It will sneak up on you and next thing you know you have a four page paper due before midnight, but by golly you finished answering those three questions are that due in two weeks!

2. Utilize.

Use all the time you can to study. Every second matters. And just think of it this way, using your time to study can't hurt you. It can only help you.

What WILL hurt you is wasting your time running to Taco Bell at 11:30 at night instead of writing a 3 page paper due the next day. But that isn't from personal experience or anything.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons

3. Focus.

I know, your roommates are all having the time of their life eating popcorn and having a movie night in your living room and you are sitting all alone studying in your room. It can be hard. But just know that the sooner you get done with all your homework, the sooner you can go join them!

4. Create a Schedule.

Make a schedule of how long you want to spend on each subject and stick to it! This will not only help you stay on track with studying but also give you a general idea of when you will be done so you can still go socialize with your friends. But also keep in mind that your schedule needs to be flexible depending on the subject and what you have to do for that subject.

If you keep these things in mind you will be on the right track to getting that A that you so desperately long for. It will take some time to really get in the groove, but studying is essential to doing well in college so you may as well do it right!

Grocery Shopping for College Students

I don't think it has fully hit me yet how far in debt  I actually, but it will one day! That is why it is so important now to start saving your money and making smart purchases.

The first step is to take your mind completely off name brand products. Don't even think about them. Off brands will be your best friends. Walmart's Great Value brand is a good brand to buy - cheap and still edible. I mean, we are college students. Do we really have the means to be picky about what brand of Ramen we buy?

Then, make a budget for yourself. "I will spend this much on groceries this week. This much on things I want like fast food, etc." If you know how much you can spend on things, you will be more cautious of what you buy.

Your budget can change from week to week depending on what is happening. If you are having a little get together in your dorm room with some of your friends, you will obviously put more money into groceries than into the little fun stuff you want.

Make a grocery list before you go and STICK TO IT. If you are like me, you might see something that looks SO good (like Ben and Jerry's) and you might convince yourself that you NEED it, but don't. Just get what is on your list.

It also helps if you go to the store when you aren't hungry cause if you are hungry you will want to buy EVERY single box of Twinkies on the shelf cause you are STARVING. They are gonna put you over budget. And overweight. Trust me, I know.

DO NOT buy "fun sized" packages. That means chips, cookies, candy, whatever! You will save more money if you buy a family sized package and divide it up into baggies based on servings yourself.

Living on a budget can be relatively easy if you stick to it. Just think of all the debt you have and you might be more willing to give it a chance!

Good Food for a Good Body

If you are like me you love chocolate, and pizza, and pasta, and everything that is terrible for you but is just so delicious. Although those foods are delicious, if you eat them all the time YOU won't be delicious.

Keeping the freshman 15 off is hard and working out is a big part in helping that, but your diet is a HUGE part of that as well.

Having a healthy diet is probably one of the hardest things. Ever. But there are ways to get around it and still eat all the foods you love.

1. Eat smaller portions. The portions in America are GIANT. If we put smaller portions on our plates, we will be less tempted to eat more than we need to. Less is more!

2. Surround yourself with healthy foods. If you only have healthy foods around you, you don't have to worry about eating six Reese's bars cause they aren't there! If you want some good ideas for healthy snacks that won't break your bank, try this website - http://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/brain-food-20-healthy-affordable-study-snacks

3. Try to limit the amount of sugars you eat. Sadly, that means chocolate... but we can get healthy, natural sugars from fruits. Eating candy and drinking soda is only wasting calories and creating more harmful effects on your body in the long run.

4. Eat at a slower pace. Slow and steady wins the race, right? The slower we eat, the more we will notice when we get full rather than eating all you can to the point where you get a food baby.

5. Eat LOTS of fruits and vegetables. These are the best snacks! And even if you have to drench them in ranch to make them remotely edible, that is better than you stuffing your face with Swedish Fish.

Having a healthy diet isn't kicking your favorite unhealthy foods to the curb, it just means eating less of them in smaller amounts and more healthy options.

You can still have indulge in Hershey's Kisses, just have like 3 instead of 10 (something I have a problem with). Drink more water than soda. And know that if you don't eat the best one day, it won't make you gain 10 pounds just like eating good one day won't make you lose 10 pounds. Persistence and dedication is essential!

How to Make Working Out Less Terrible

You’re sweating. You’re tired. You want to quit. No, I am not talking about college. I am talking about working out. Working out is a GREAT way to avoid the infamous “freshman 15” and to ease your mind when college gets overwhelming. Here are my helpful tips to get through those gruesome workouts.

1.     Working out isn’t always fun, but if you have a work out buddy it can be somewhat bearable. They will also give you the motivation to keep going.

2.     Use the free facilities on campus! They are FREE! I know, it seems daunting to have everyone in the gym seeing you all sweaty and gross, but trust me they don’t care.

3.     Find a workout that fits you. If you can’t run for 10 minutes straight (like me), don’t put yourself through that! Find a exercise that you can do! It also helps if you do your workouts in intervals.

4.     Change up your workout every now and then. If you have done 15 minutes on the elliptical the past 4 days, try the bike! You will get less bored if you change it up.

5.     Get in a groove. Find a time that works for you everyday and workout then. My time is 8:30-9:30 at night, but that is just me. You will be more likely to stick to it if you have a schedule.

6.     And finally, give yourself a break every now and then so you don’t get burnt out. For me, I take Saturday and Sunday off to relax and do homework. You need at least one day a week to be able to just lay in bed and watch Netflix.

These tips will help you to maybe love working out. But, if you are like me, it is always something that is somewhat of a chore. But when the homework and papers get to be too much, it is a great stress reliever. Working out has LOTS of benefits to you and it doesn’t always have to be terrible.

Why You Should Read This Blog

Hello all my readers (if I even have any)!

Most, if not all, of us are going to go through hard times in college, but it is how you handle it that truly matters.

I will also show THE most fun DIY projects, give you THE most helpful tips, and give you THE best advice known to man. Or maybe it isn't. You decide.

If you want to know more, I guess you will just have to come back!