New Kid On The Block: Adjusting in a New High School or College

Being the new kid is hard anywhere whether it is high school, college or even work. You are thrust into new surroundings in unfamiliar territory and suddenly, your comfort level stoops to negative numbers. It’s okay to be petrified and anxious, but being the new kid can be an exhilarating life experience. Read More

How to Have a Fun Girls Night In

Summer vacation is over and you’ll soon be (or already are) back at school even if you’ve been ignoring the countdown until move-in day. Before long, the dread of classes will set in, you’ll be back at your part-time job and homework will take up the top spaces on your to-do list. Before you face the days of holing up in the library and nights of cramming for exams, treat yourself to a girls night in with your friends before the mayhem starts. We’ll get you started with the essentials and we trust you can take it from there! Read More

Five Tips for Fighting Fall Allergies

For allergy sufferers, fall means more than just back to school and football games. According to WebMd, ragweed, mold, and dust mites are the most prevalent allergy triggers during the fall and winter, and can cause uncomfortable symptoms in those individuals suffering from allergies. When the allergens are released into the air, they can get into our nasal passageways and cause the immune systems to attack. This leads to the release of chemicals caused histamines, which trigger the dreaded allergy symptoms. Read More

Alecia’s Adventures: Back to School

When I was five years old, I attended my first day of school. I wore a white blouse and navy shorts. I couldn’t wait for everyone to see my new Pocahontas backpack. My mom curled my long blond hair, packed me a lunch and made sure I had everything I needed for my big day. I put on my new saddle shoes, and I was ready. Read More

How to Make Your Dorm Room Green

Make the Most of Welcome Week

By Sora Hwang

In a few weeks, whether you like it or not, you’re going to be back on campus, so you might as well make the most of it. Most colleges are happy to welcome back their students with open arms and many events.

During your school’s version of welcome week, there may be a musical act coming one day. On another, organizations may put on a spectacular carnival, full of games, prizes, food and music. Many events, although geared toward the new incoming freshmen, may still be open to the rest of the school. Read More

How to Get Over First Day Jitters

By Lawanda Johnson

The first day of school is only around the corner. Before you know it, you will be kissing your summer goodbye (and saying goodbye to late nights and long afternoon naps!). It’s time to get back into the groove of things. You have your backpack, all of your school supplies and textbooks. You are prepared—at least academically. Whether you are going back to your high school or entering the threshold of college, the first day is always nerve wracking. Here are some tips to get over first day jitters.

Eat a good breakfast. Food is brain power. With a healthy breakfast, your day is guaranteed to start off on a bright side. Try some eggs, fruit or waffles. Drink a glass of orange juice or milk. Having a full stomach helps your concentration and calms down the nerves. Read More

Four Tips for Transitioning from Summer to Fall

By Sora Hwang

It’s that time of the summer that every student dreads. There’s still a chunk of summer left, but the reality of how close September is starts to settle in. The thought of getting back into the daily grind of classes, exams and just a whole lot of work after months of leisure time is tiring in itself. Thankfully, there are ways to ensure a smooth transition back into school.

Know how you work best and make sure you are prepared for it. For example, if you lose track of things and need to write everything down, make sure you have a planner. Although the beginning of September may be more low-key, the busyness of school will catch up and you’ll be thankful you came prepared. You know your study habits best. Set yourself up for success by preparing those beneficial little things. Read More

Back to School Beats (2011 Edition)

By Katie King

Going back to school always includes a wide range of emotions: excitement to see your friends mixes with the dread of impending homework lurking right around the corner, always making the end of August and the beginning of September a turbulent time. To ease the process of going from the pool to the classroom, here are a few songs to accompany you through the first few weeks of school.

“Sexy Boy” by Air- Have you seen 10 Things I Hate About You? Good. If not, the movie, which brings Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew to a overly stereotyped 90s high school in Seattle, features this song in one of the most quintessential moments in teen movie history. If that doesn’t do it for you, it’s soothing yet catchy beat is sure to start your day off right.

“We’re Going to be Friends” by The White Stripes- Off of the White Stripes most famed album, White Blood Cells, this soft and painfully sweet tells the story of elementary school children becoming friends in the fall of school. Believe me, it is impossible for this song to not instantly melt your heart with school nostalgia. Read More

Hairstyles to Beat the Back to School Blues

If there’s one thing you don’t have a ton of it’s time, especially once classes start. But just because your morning routine has gone from 20 minutes to less than five doesn’t mean that you need to go through your 8 a.m. class with bed head. Here are some simple hairstyles to get you through your first days.

Side braid
Part your hair to one side. Separate your hair into three different sections starting at the back of your head, then start to french braid it. Once you get to the nape of your neck, continue the braid as you sweep it to the side of your head opposite of your part. Secure with an elastic and you’re done. Leave a few strands loose to give it a laid-back look.

Beachy waves
This hairstyle can work with wet or dry hair, as long as you have the right product. You will need sea salt spray; my personal favorite is KMS California Hair Play. Starting with damp hair, spritz your sea salt spray liberally and scrunch your hair. Either let your hair air dry, or blow dry with a diffuser. If you start with dry hair, just spray the sea salt spray all over your hair, scrunch it, and you’re good to go. Read More

PDA: What is Too Much (Even For College)?

There are a few things that can instantly put a damper on a beautiful day. One of them involves seeing two people shove their very visible tongues down each other’s throats.

Back to school means back to seeing those common public displays of affection (PDA) in between classes, on the greens and everywhere in between. The question is, how much is too much PDA?

Here are actions that scream “get a room:”

1. A la tongues. A sweet quick smooch is one thing – so is a passionately drawn-out kiss that remains tongue-free. But, there’s just something about being an innocent bystander when two people get their French kiss on that just screams “ew!” Read More

Finding Your Back to School Bag

Whether you’re going into high school or college, a cute yet efficient bag is necessary. The perfect school bag should be chosen to match your needs (like your course load, and your style).

Shoulder bags and cross-body bags are ideal for a student on the go. Choosing a bag in a bold color, like lime green or hot pink, will add spice to any outfit, and not to mention it is fun and eye-catching. Also nude cross-body bags or dark green bags are are a more safe approach.

These types of bags are especially efficient for college because all of your classes won’t be in the same day, so it is likely you will not need to carry all of your books at once. Read More