Whether you have ADHD, you’re a chronic procrastinator, or you just can’t seem to focus, here are some tips that can help you survive and thrive in college. During my first year in university, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For me, ADHD made studying, staying focused, and managing my time one-hundred times more difficult. But through trial-and-error, I found a routine that helped me survive (and thrive) in college. While I know ADHD is different for everyone, here are a few tips that helped me succeed in university.  Stay Busy Okay, I know this sounds counterintuitive. If you find it difficult to manage your time without the added stress of extracurriculars, how is staying busy supposed to help you better organize your time? The answer is simple: staying busy ensures you have a set routine and schedule. If you’re anything like me, keeping track of time is beyond difficult, and if I don’t have anything planned for the day, I don’t feel any sense of urgency to study or do anything productive.  Keeping yourself busy, however, forces you to keep track of time. Maybe you can join a club with weekly meetings, get a part-time job, or volunteer at your local nonprofit. Whatever it is, consistently having something to do helps you keep track of and manage your time more effectively. For me, I joined my student newspaper, worked and interned part-time, and volunteered at a student resource center. Having something to do nearly every day of the week (even if it was just for a few hours) instilled in me a sense of urgency and helped me realize that time was a precious, limited resource.  Plan Your Time: Prioritize. Prioritize. Prioritize. Here’s a scenario I often experienced as a college student (and perhaps you can relate): Finals week is quickly approaching. There’s twenty hours worth of lecture material to review, fifteen hours of assignments, a ten-page essay to write, and two finals to study for. There’s so much to do – maybe you don’t even know how to start studying. Maybe you get so overwhelmed that you just freeze and take a stress nap instead.  In times like these, it is essential you know how to effectively prioritize your assignments and plan your time accordingly. For me this process was an uphill battle, but through trial-and-error, I eventually found a method that made conquering this mountain of work seem doable. The method goes a little something like this: Take a sheet of paper. Separate it into 8 sections: 1 section for each day of the week and 1 section for miscellaneous notes. Think about what you have planned for the week (extracurricular activities, work schedule, etc.) and write those down. Make a mental list of all your assignments. Assign an amount of time you would like to spend on each one. From there, break the assignments up into smaller – more manageable – chunks of time.  Based on the assignments’ due dates, write each one down under the specific day you would like to work on them – along with the amount of time you would like to spend doing each one. Assigning a specific amount of time to spend on each assignment is essential for this technique; it ensures you don’t spend too much time on one task and not enough time on another.  Separate your assignments into “TO DO” tasks (what you must complete for the day) and “OPTIONAL” tasks (what you can do for the day, if time permits). Optional: Color code for aesthetic value and ease of reading.  I call this the Micromanaging Technique. For an example, see below: This technique might seem excessive, but I (and all of my friends who also use it) swear by it. Writing everything down ensures that nothing is forgotten, and assigning a specific amount of time to each task helps you plan and prioritize your time. Plus, it’s super satisfying to tick off the boxes once you complete each task!  Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help Finally, if you ever feel completely stressed and overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and family for support. It’s important to have and maintain a strong support system in college, especially in times of need.  Also, your college’s mental health counseling and disability services are there to help you. Almost all colleges offer disability services and accommodations for students with disabilities (including students with ADHD). If you feel that ADHD hinders your ability to study and complete schoolwork, go to your college’s disability services office or website, and see how they can help. WRITTEN BY Lindsay Ito University of California, Los Angeles Lindsay Ito graduated in Spring 2022 with a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Born and raised in Los Angeles and Orange County, Lindsay’s life has been uniquely shaped by her Southern Californian upbringing: she’s worked as a Jungle Cruise Skipper at Disneyland, loves the beach on a sunny day, and (embarrassingly) cannot drive in the rain. In her free time, Lindsay enjoys reading a good horror story, cuddling with her cat, and rewatching old episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.   ... View more

It seems like a picture taken right out of a movie. Loud cheers from college students in matching shirts and holding signs greet the flock of cars that have lined up at the entrance of my university. A new start. A new journey. These were the first thoughts I had as I entered my freshman year 4 years ago. Photo credit: SDI Productions/Getty Images It seems like a picture taken right out of a movie. Loud cheers from college students in matching shirts and holding signs greet the flock of cars that have lined up at the entrance of my university. A new start. A new journey. These were the first thoughts I had as I entered my freshman year 4 years ago.  What had initially been a wonderful opportunity to meet new people outside of my high school community became a new challenge as I navigated freshman orientation on my own. As the kind of introvert that struggles with introducing myself or striking up a conversation with anyone, that first week of college felt neverending. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to be a new group of freshmen who found a solid group of friends who seemed to be what all the shows I watched growing up depicted: people in cool clothes, laughing at one another’s jokes, and genuinely enjoying one another’s presence (or so I thought).  For a while, I found myself dreading my introvertedness as it seemed like a hindrance to finding friendships. There were many instances where I subconsciously changed the way I spoke, feigned interest in what others brought up, and it quickly dawned on me that playing a part was exhausting and lonely.  Still determined to meet new people, I wanted to be truly intentional with my next steps. Despite my fears, I decided to take a risk and get involved with some student groups, even taking on some leadership positions through on-campus jobs. Through these jobs and opportunities, I met my favorite co-workers, staff, faculty, and even the best people to sing with.  If you find yourself wanting to take that leap, these were some helpful tools I found in finding community: Walking through Involvement/Club Fairs! - These can seem scary, especially talking to new people, but I found that searching up some existing clubs on campus through the university website and social media before going to these fairs gave me an idea of what I might be interested in. On-Campus Jobs - Not only did I get to meet peers across different majors, but it also helped me to understand the overall university culture at my school, helping me to feel more at home on campus.  Campus Events - Whether it’s free food, a panel, or even getting to learn a dance with fellow students, these events are a great way to meet new people, or even ask about opportunities both on-campus and beyond! These events gave me a break in the midst of heavy study sessions too. As someone who is still very much an introvert (most of my friends are fellow introverts as well!), I can say that finding community in college took some time and care, and I cherish the friends who reciprocated intentionality as well. While we certainly aren’t the kind of friends you see portrayed in movies, we all get to carry a story of our own, celebrating our highs and lows, battling loneliness, and what it truly means to be a friend.  WRITTEN BY Bernadine Landicho Bernardine Landicho is a new grad, recently earning her BA in Psychology. Rekindling her love for her hometown, you can find her boba-shop hopping around the Bay Area. These days, she’s jumped back to old hobbies like writing songs and dancing, especially if any ATEEZ or Seventeen songs are playing.     ... View more

Being a college student is all about learning to live on your own for the first time, and finding a new community away from home. Balance is the name of the game in college, and there’s no better way to find it than using an organization system that will keep you on the right path. Here are three steps incoming and returning college students alike can use to have it all in college. 1. Identifying Your Priorities Whether you’re an incoming or returning student, you probably don’t have your whole plan figured out–and that’s totally normal! Even having an outline for what kind of classes you plan to take and what type of internships you want to pursue is a great starting point; a beacon you can return to if you ever feel lost or confused. Identifying your goals will help you make a plan for joining extracurriculars and applying for jobs and internships. 2. Choosing Extracurricular Activities and Jobs Wisely Your college likely has a list of every extracurricular organization on your campus. It’s a great idea to check this list before you go to the club fair and commit to joining a group. The rule of thumb is different for everyone, but my recommendation is to join one social, philanthropic, or cultural extracurricular, and one career related extracurricular. Joining two extracurriculars in addition to a job/work-study/internship you may have is a great option that should provide balance. The important thing to remember is that you can always drop an extracurricular if you’re overwhelmed, or add one if you’re bored. The purpose of extracurriculars should be for community or career building! 3. Utilizing a planner Once you have your classes and combination of extracurricular activities and jobs all figured out, you should use some form of planner to keep track of all of your obligations. A planner can be the free sticky notes app on your laptop, the free calendar service attached to your email account, a more in-depth free desktop app like Notion, or a physical journal planner–I personally utilize all of the above! The best way to remember all of your upcoming events, both social and academic, is to write them down in multiple places. If your digital calendar gives you a reminder for an event and you have the details of that event written on a digital sticky note, you’re a lot less likely to forget it! But physical planners never go out of style, and if they’re what keep you motivated, they’re always a great option. The most important thing is to use the planner that actually works for YOU.   Finding which activities and classes will point you towards your career and life goals will help you feel like you’re making the most of your college experience. But don’t forget to leave some space in your planner for fun with friends and relaxation! At the end of the day, everyone’s college experience is different–but we are all hoping to graduate feeling like we made the most of every aspect of college, and that includes having fun. W RITTEN BY Gabi Jonikas Emerson College Gabi Jonikas is a Subsidiary Rights Intern for MCPG. She is a senior and graduate student at Emerson College studying publishing–her main passion in addition to organization and teaching herself Japanese.   ... View more

Living with others for the first time? No problem! I remember back when I was a student first leaving the nest and moving out on their own for the first time. I was so overjoyed at the opportunity to express myself in a new space. I’d binged cute apartment and dorm tour videos for weeks. I dreamed of my perfect trendy boho blush pink comforter and pillow combo. I hoped for a roommate I could “click with” and a fun dorm environment. I knew that things wouldn't be perfect, but I had hoped that I would be able to keep the peace and get by. Soon, I discovered that I needed something to hold on to. When I actually started to live my life as a college student, I was feeling lost, hurt, and bothered by my roommates.  Healthy confrontation skills were something that I lacked before I moved out. I didn't know that it could be practiced in a measured, compassionate way. I came from a low-income household and school district. Violence and anger were things that I conflated with conflict and I did my best to not care or involve myself. But even the most people-pleasing person (like myself) could get annoyed. There is a limit to how much anyone can take. That being said, here are 3 things I keep in mind when I find myself at odds with my roommates.  Assume the best intent Remember, your roommates are human too. They are also flawed and make mistakes. Try to see the situation from their perspective. When I found myself in need of practicing this, I would also remind myself to never attribute to malice what can be attributed to ignorance. This helped me ease the tightness in my heart and let go of my initial anger. A lot of what made me so hurt or bothered at first was my knee-jerk assumption of “they tried to hurt/bother me on purpose.” Once I could let that go, I found it easier to try and see the situation from their point of view.  You deserve to be happy I said it. As long as you haven't tried to take it from someone else, you absolutely deserve your chances at being happy. I have learned that to achieve this, it is important to verbalize my needs. I was worried that I would be seen as selfish, but after years of not ever expressing my needs, I felt unworthy and neglected. Then, I heard the words of John Ortberg, and they really struck a chord with me: "you are only able to live in a way that really helps others when your soul feels its worth." It is not a selfish act to express your needs, it is a compassionate one. When you avoid resentment by facing issues with your roommate, you make life better for yourself and for those around you. You may need to take into account the time and place, but don’t skip a chance to respectfully express to your roommate how you feel. Be honest with your feelings and learn when to let go There was a time I didn’t really know how to express my feelings neutrally. I would accuse my roommate of “You never wash the dishes when it’s your turn, I’ve had to do it!” or “You didn’t take the trash out like you said you would!” Usually, when I did this, it was the 2nd or 3rd time my roommate had done this and I felt targeted and ignored. They of course felt attacked and returned my energy in kind. These confrontations never ended well and had lasting effects on the roommate dynamic. I realized I had a hard time being vulnerable and didn’t take any time to define my feelings to myself. I didn’t think before I spoke and it hurt others even when they didn’t deserve it. To let yourself be vulnerable to a new person, a roommate who you may not even be friends yet is terrifying. I found this especially hard because I wanted to be a good person, but I kept reading so far into what my roommates did that I would work myself up and be inconsolable. Then I heard the phrase, “speak to how you feel about what actually happened, not what you think happened.” Instead of thinking,“I’m so mad, she’s just leaving all the work to me, does she think I’m going to be her mom?!” I would instead think, “I’m mad she left this here, but she probably forgot to take care of it. I’ll remind her, and find out how she feels about it.”  After thinking about these three elements I now work up the courage to speak to my roommate. I recognize that the goal is not to be the better person for the sake of getting to say that I was the better person; the goal is to address the conflict. I remind myself that people may have learned different ways of dealing with conflict and may need to take some time to cool down or take care of something before talking. I start off by being clear about what I need from them and listening to them and their situation.  Sometimes, I have faced people who don't take kindly to any kind of confrontation and push with hostility against my boundaries. In those cases, having a friend, community, or mentor to affirm and support me helped so much in standing firm.  College is so hectic, and you deserve a peaceful space after class. Delving further into conflict resolution skills has helped me so much in making friends with roommates that I had initially not gotten along with. College is a time to express yourself, and your needs and boundaries should be included in that too! WRITTEN BY Lesley Ramirez University of North Texas Armed with coffee and a clicky keyboard, Lesley is completing her BS in Business Computer Information Systems. She is Texas-born and raised and you can generally find her online enjoying cute parrot videos, pursuing creative narrative projects, or thinking up new gamer set-up themes for her workspace all while jamming out to synthwave!   ... View more

You are not alone Food insecurity is a big conversation on a lot of college campuses. As of 2018, it was found that one in three traditional college students (full-time college students) are food insecure and 71% of total college students (full-time and part time) report food insecurity (Feeding America, 2019). These numbers are scary for some and empowering for others. Often, many students who experience insecurity feel as though they are the only ones and do not quite know where to go to improve their situation.  A few ideas come to the forefront that should be discussed. The first being SNAP, which is a way to get money to pay for day-to-day necessities like food. SNAP is not a program that shames or hurts those that use it, but it can be a great leg up for many who are struggling and can use the lifted financial burden. All college students are eligible for SNAP no matter their parents’ demographic. Food pantries are becoming more prevalent on college campuses to assist the students who are housed there. These pantries are made for students and by students to kill the stigma that insecurity is a shameful thing as well as make an impact on their campuses.  There are other forms of food pantries as well as care pantries that provide the community with toiletries and other necessities. You can often find these outlets with a quick google search or a visit to the county website that your school is located in. Everyone has some difficult times in college, but there is a community of people who want to help alleviate the struggles WRITTEN BY Aubre Thomas Central Michigan University I am the epitome of a personality that is way bigger than my size. I come from Detroit, MI and I am a proud student at Central Michigan University. I am the co-owner of a start-up clothing brand XonIT. ... View more

Go green anywhere! A lot has changed on my college campus over the last three years and I’m not talking about the people who now make TikToks in the middle of the lunch line. When I first stepped onto campus there were no labels on trash bins, less vegan options at the dining hall, nowhere to refill your reusable water bottle, and professors would make you print out every worksheet they required. Fast forward to today, and all these things have changed for the better of the environment. We’re always taught to “reduce, reuse, and recycle;” it sounds vague at this point, but there are many simple and eco-friendly adjustments we can make in our everyday life. REDUCE Have a Car-Free Day If you want to move your legs and get fresh air, consider walking to campus rather than driving. My college campus is small and yet plenty of students drive when walking the same distance would only be a measly five minutes. On top of that, while waiting for friends, they run their cars in the parking lot. Imagine how much gas would be omitted in that short span of time, let alone how often they would do this during the semester? If you’re on a small enough campus, trade in your four wheels for a pair of legs or if you have a larger school, look out for free shuttle bus rides. Kick it to the Curb, Printer Remember the days of printing out every assignment you received? Once we switched to remote learning during the pandemic, printers at colleges started collecting dust. In over a year, I haven’t printed out a single piece of paper. As we return to campus, professors will hopefully realize that assignments can be accessed online, rather than printing out hundreds or thousands of papers to hand out. As an eco-conscious student, it’s important to encourage professors to be more mindful of making the switch. Try a Meatless Monday Everyone’s diet is different, but when I first got to campus, I was overwhelmed with how many meat options there were at the dining hall. They had a carving station, deli, fried food Thursdays, meat entrees, and an endless supply of hamburgers daily. While some of those options remain, colleges are making more of a push to promote vegetarian/vegan options. Even though I still enjoy meat, the change of options at my school made me realize it’s not something I need every day with the meat industry’s pollution through its usage of fossil fuels. You can also reduce a day of meat entirely from your weekly schedule by enjoying a Meatless Monday. While you’re at the dining hall, choose to eat there rather than taking a disposable to-go box (or try to bring your own reusable to-go container). When you take a to-go box, you’re adding another Styrofoam container and plastic utensils to the landfill. However, if you eat in, it's just a matter of cleaning the dishes you used. Plus, if it’s buffet style… the more the merrier. REUSE Go With the Flow We usually go through about four plastic water bottles a day, but imagine if we cut that down to zero? Now that colleges are starting to put bottle filling stations throughout campuses, it makes more sense than ever to get a reusable water bottle. Not only does it save thousands of plastic bottles per year, but it also saves money. A reusable bottle normally costs five dollars or less (or more if you buy some Etsy stickers to put on your container) compared to spending a dollar per plastic bottle. Oh, I Forgot I Had That! When a lot of students come back home from college after their Spring Semester, all our stuff is stored away and sometimes forgotten about throughout a long summer break. Before you pack everything to go home, make a list of all the supplies that you have that will still be good for the next year. As an art student, there have been plenty of times where I’ve bought extra wads of clay when I already have a mountain of it for the next semester. Don’t be that college student who has extra clay in their pockets, you’ll never live that down. RECYCLE Educate Yourself Outside the Classroom It feels good to recycle, but not everything goes in the same bin. When you recycle, you have to separate paper from plastics. Your school may have different bins throughout campus, so make sure that you’re recycling everything correctly. Even when you’re mad about a bad grade on a paper and you just want to throw it out, make sure it goes in the right bin. No, You Can't Recycle Your Dirty Dunkin Cup Sorry, but that’s not helping anyone. Whenever you recycle plastics, make sure they’re squeaky clean. If bottles are too dirty, then they’re meant for the trash and they won’t be recycled. You don’t have to be perfect, but every little bit can help. Whether it’s adopting Meatless Mondays or even just hitting the lights when you walk down the hall to see a friend, all these little things add up to make a big difference. WRITTEN BY Angela Mascia Monmouth University Angela is a senior at Monmouth University who is majoring in Graphic Design and the current Advertising Manager of the Outlook Student Newspaper. You can almost always catch her watching a movie or binging the latest tv show. When she’s not in front of a screen, she loves going on walks, making art, and partaking in a little retail therapy. ... View more

There's no such thing as a dull moment! When you're a college student, the newfound responsibilities you have on your plate can get overwhelmingly fast. This is a look into how I, a college sophomore, deal with that and also find time for myself.      WRITTEN BY Izzy Taylor Michigan State University Izzy is a sophomore at Michigan State University studying philosophy and political science. As you can tell, she has a passion for those disciplines guaranteed to make prospective employers toss out her resume immediately. She somehow snagged a Student Ambassador gig at Macmillan Learning anyway. She is an avid consumer of vintage clothing and 80's music and has never met a cat she didn't love. ... View more

You are what you eat! When it comes to feeling your best and performing your best in college, what you put into your body is the best way to be in control. These are some healthy eating tips and tricks I’ve learned while in college and hopefully can help you as much as it helped me. Read the Label For students who live off-campus or opt-out of their university’s meal plan, cooking and preparing your own meals becomes a part of your everyday life. Making sure that you know what you’re buying and putting into your body can make a huge difference in how you feel. Eating right starts with reading what’s on your food label. Don’t be fooled by the clever marketing tactics and the claims on the packaging -- inspect the label and check the ingredients. Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight so if the first few ingredients aren’t natural or organic, such as “High Fructose Corn Syrup” instead of sugar or “Wheat Flour” instead of whole wheat, the “food” you’re eating might not be what it claims to be. Checking your serving sizes is also a key part of maintaining a healthy diet. Keep track of your daily caloric intake as well as other nutrients like vitamins and minerals. The lower the saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium in your diet, the better -- and your body will thank you for it in the future. Eat Three Meals a Day It can be challenging to eat three meals a day especially with classes and commitments, but it is essential for your brain and body to perform its best throughout the day. In my first year at school, I’d skip breakfast almost every day and just have lunch and dinner, but I’ve come to realize that eating breakfast actually helps me feel less tired in the morning and be more productive. Breakfast can keep your hunger at bay throughout the day and stop you from making impulsive eating decisions. Eating three timely meals a day helps boost metabolism and balance blood sugar levels. College students have busy schedules and being on-the-go can deter you from eating certain meals. When that’s the case, having some healthy snacks like fruit, granola bars, or even yogurt can make a huge difference.  Substitution is Key  Chips, cookies, candy, and other snacks that are high in calories, sugar, and sodium can cause health concerns down the road. Swapping them for healthier alternatives is the best way to feel better, create healthier habits, and open your mind up to different and novel foods. Fruits and vegetables may not seem enticing at first, but find the right ones that you can slowly acquire a taste for and eat them as a snack in place of less healthy choices. Fruits and vegetables have natural sugars, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that junk food can’t replicate, so next time you’re at the dining hall or the grocery store swap the pie for pears.  Changing your diet and lifestyle won’t happen overnight so making a substitute every so often is more practical than trying to change everything you eat on a daily basis. Switching white bread for whole grain and sugary sodas for seltzer are great alternatives that can be implemented into your daily routine. These are just some examples of what makes a healthier alternative; there are plenty of substitutes out there for every kind of person. With that being said, It’s important to keep track of what you eat and how much. A general rule of thumb I like to use when shopping is, if I can’t pronounce the first 2-3 ingredients and it's something I've never heard of before, I usually put it back on the shelf. Once you have a general understanding of the kinds of foods you’re incorporating with your meals, you can focus on the amount you eat throughout the day. College students have busy lifestyles, so three meals a day might be tricky but keeping your body and brain fueled throughout the day is a must.  If you can balance your diet by choosing healthier options and being consistent with meal preparations, not only will you feel better, but you’ll also perform better.  WRITTEN BY Brandon Moon Rutgers University Brandon is a Junior at Rutgers University majoring in Economics and is a Student Ambassador for Macmillan Learning. He’s very interested in fashion, music, sports, culture, food, and especially sandwiches. He used to work in the food industry and knows how to craft a mean sandwich. ... View more

College years can go by fast, make sure you spend your time wisely! Check out as many clubs and organizations as you can (especially if you’re at a big school) Clubs, Greek life, and organizations are a great way to get involved on campus and meet some really cool, like-minded people. Some of the friends you make in college will last a lifetime and being able to share a common initiative, whether it be a professional club or intramural sports, can help solidify that. Big schools can be daunting but clubs and different organizations can help make a big school feel smaller. Always keep an open mind Schools and universities are a melting pot of different cultures, ethnicities, and beliefs. Making friends and meeting new people can show you different ways of life which can help you with your own shortcomings. You never want to turn down an opportunity that will provide you with new and exciting experiences. Whether it be trying out new foods, taking a music class, or even joining a community service club, there’ll always be something new and interesting to do and it never hurts to have a cool new experience under your belt. Find a place to study (not your dorm!) There are tons of places on campus to study and your dorm should not be the only one. Take advantage of what your school has to offer and try finding a nice place that will help you maximize your study time. Your dorm will have tempting distractions like electronics, your roommate, and especially your bed. Maybe find a lounge, a small classroom, or even a library table. A quiet place to study with no distractions is ideal and can make a huge difference in your work. If having trouble with school or life, seek help The college experience can sometimes be overwhelming, especially if you’re away from home and have to juggle school and your personal life. If a problem ever occurs where you think you might be falling behind on schoolwork or finding it difficult to deal with certain stressful situations, don’t hesitate to reach out to your university services. Your college or university will have resources for you to utilize and finding a tutor or counselor is easier than most think. Waiting for too long will only prolong a problem and your school will be more than happy to help. Your four years of college will be full of different opportunities, struggles, and excitement so expect the unexpected. The years go by more quickly than you think and soon enough you’ll be in a cap and gown. You don’t want to look back on your college experience and have regrets about things you could have done. You should want to get a better understanding of yourself and what things do or don’t work for you like studying alone or with a group, or even working out before your classes or after. College is a learning experience and by learning more about yourself and using some of these tips, you can definitely take advantage of your time at school. WRITTEN BY Brandon Moon Rutgers University Brandon is a Junior at Rutgers University majoring in Economics and is a Student Ambassador for Macmillan Learning. He’s very interested in fashion, music, sports, culture, food, and especially sandwiches. He used to work in the food industry and knows how to craft a mean sandwich. ... View more

How to bring work to school. It’s the end of freshman year and you’re starting to feel like you belong in certain parts of your college. Maybe you’re in a sorority, a musical group, or on a sports team. When the year starts coming to a close, the leadership roles in those groups (presidents, secretaries, treasurers, etc.) are going to be searching for replacements – and they’re looking for you! Here are five great tips to being the best student leader you can be: Plan Ahead If your group plans events like retreats, fundraisers, homecomings, or anything of the like, you need to make sure to plan ahead. On a college campus, you’re more likely to run into a conflict than to luckily find a day that is completely free, so start to weigh your options well enough in advance that you can choose the best date and location! For example, you probably wouldn’t want to plan a charity benefit concert the same night as the homecoming game, but you could plan the same concert for the next day to appeal to the same crowd without a time conflict! This way, you can allow for more people to come to your event, and still allow yourself to make it to other big events on campus or in the community! Know Your Peers On my college’s campus alone, we have over 300 student organizations – that’s a LOT of student leaders to get to know. You’ll start to recognize certain campus organizations and their leaders as the year goes on; get to know them! Peers like the student body president, sorority and fraternity presidents, or even student workers at the campus coffee shop are not only great to learn from, they’re great people to get to know in life. Chances are, if someone takes time out of their college experience to be a student leader, they’ll be great assets to you in your post-college career, too! College is the time to forge relationships that will last forever, and it’s a great way to start networking for post-graduation life! Meet the Community! Now that you know the students, faculty, and staff on your campus, you need to get out into the community! This is probably the most underrated step – community is EVERYTHING. Getting out into the community and meeting the town locals, politicians, and business-owners through networking events and volunteering is a great way to get to know people that can and will help you out. A side tip here: When in doubt, reach out! Nothing bad ever has ever come from someone sending a quick email or letter to a leader in the community asking to get lunch or get involved with what they’re working on. Then, you’ve grown your audience and your support network, plus you’ll have made some great connections for yourself later on in your career. Be a Leader First and a Friend Second It’s tough to be a peer leader. You have this constant internal conflict of wanting to do what’s right and wanting to do what your friends may want you to do. In almost all cases, you should be a leader first. I’ve learned that it’s best to periodically remind members of your organization that it is literally your job to do what’s best. For example, if one of your organization’s members is frequently late, it can be tough to be stern with them about your attendance policies because you don’t want to hurt their feelings or come off badly. Remind them that someone has to maintain the order in the organization -- it just happens to be you! Dress to Impress This seems like a silly tip, but you’ve heard it a million times. Sometimes the difference between you and someone less qualified than you for a leadership position or a ‘real’ job is how you are both dressed. If you are dressed as a young professional, i.e., ‘business casual’, you’ll be treated as a young professional – it’s as easy as that! Take the extra couple minutes in your morning routine to wear something that you feel good in! Not only will you be impressing your colleagues and mentors, but you’ll also have more self-confidence to perform well during the day! In the end, if you want to be a student leader on your campus or in your community, you absolutely can be! As the old saying goes, ‘you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’, so get involved and apply for those leadership positions! WRITTEN BY Briar Douglas Syracuse University Briar is a senior Administrative Management major at Missouri State University. This summer, he is working as an Operations Intern for SkyFactor in Springfield, MO. Originally from Hannibal, MO, he loves to sing, travel, and spend time with people that he loves. He is also the President of The Beartones, MSU’s all-male a cappella group - you should check out their newest album, Odyssey, available for streaming everywhere! ... View more

How to be a vegan college student. In my second year of college, I stumbled on a YouTube video about an alternative lifestyle in which you do not consume, exploit, or use animal products. Growing up in Kansas in an agricultural family, this seemed like something unattainable. However, through extensive research, a lot of mistakes, and talking to others in my community, I was able to make the switch to a vegan lifestyle. If you are considering limiting animal products in your life, here are some helpful tips for you to get started and stick to your new lifestyle. FIND YOUR REASON WHY Many college students turn to a vegan lifestyle for reasons such as health, activism, and animal ethics. HEALTH Veganism is claimed by some as a cure-all. However, a vegan diet can encourage folks to eat more nutrient-dense food, lower cholesterol, and allow for the opportunity to think about what they are eating. If this is your reason why you are looking to improve your health, veganism can be the right lifestyle choice for you. Make sure this decision isn’t based on strictly losing weight. ACTIVISM teach students how to make small choices to decrease their carbon footprint. Farm animals are one of the biggest producers of methane gas, which is a major contributor to ozone-depletion ultimately leading to global warming. Eliminating a market for the over-production of farm animals can decrease the amount of methane being produced. Vegetables are not completely environment-friendly either, however, if there is a higher demand for them, hydroponic farming can be more widely used in order to make produce more sustainable. If this is your reason why eating/buying locally and seasonally is also a wonderful way to decrease food transportation environmental cost right now. Bringing your own reusable cup and shopping and produce bags, as well as refusing straws and making homemade food when possible, are all ways to decrease your environmental footprint. ANIMAL ETHICS Vegan clubs also bring to light problems with factory farming and animal ethics. The commercialized Meat is Murder is something that truly branded the whole vegan community since the 1980s. Watching slaughterhouse footage and vegan documentaries can be jarring and it can be tempting to share this information with anyone and everyone you meet. If this is your reason why you decide to adopt a vegan lifestyle, refrain from vividly depicting these gruesome scenes on deaf ears. The most effective way to spread veganism is by being the best role model you can be by not consuming animal products yourself. YOU’RE ALLOWED TO BE LESS THAN PERFECT EVEN ONE VEGAN OR PLANT-BASED DECISION A DAY CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. Most people don't go vegan overnight like the movies and testimonials may claim. This is a lifestyle shift that takes time and dedication. Right now, you may deposit food into your body three (or more) times every day. You may be thinking about where to go to lunch, what you packed as meals for the day, or texting your roommate about what to make or buy for dinner. So when thinking about going vegan, there are quite a few decisions that will be altered. When presented with a meat or meatless option, simply choosing the meatless one occasionally makes a difference. Just because the idea of being 100% vegan is scary and overwhelming doesn’t mean you can’t make one or two impactful choices. Suggesting Meatless Mondays to your roommates can make for a fun, new experience of preparing a new type of cuisine. When looking for a recipe to try, start easy -- a vegan chili (a normal chili just without meat), a stir fry with green beans, or even chicken fingers and fries from a meatless meat company such as Gardein. Forks Over Knives is a book and an app that provides thousands of completely vegan recipes with a wide variety of skill levels and types of cuisine. STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE - EAT AN IMPOSSIBLE BURGER AND DAIRY-FREE ICE CREAM In this day and age, veganism does not have to be dry salads and mealy veggie burgers. Allow yourself to have an Impossible Burger, a very tasty, meat-like veggie burger, and dairy-free ice cream with your classmates after a hard week of exams! If you have access, try vegan/vegetarian restaurants or grocery items! Have a dinner party for your non-vegan friends to expand their pallets as well. The worst possible scenario is you just don’t like what you ordered! MACRONUTRIENTS Roughly keeping track of your macronutrients is a great way to make sure you are staying healthy in your first few months of being vegan. Trust me -- soon it’ll be second nature. As a vegan, I am asked “Where do you get your protein?” as often as “What is your name?” As someone who has not been exposed to vegan culture, I don’t blame anyone for asking and I am more than happy to talk to them about plant-based sources of protein: beans, tofu, tempeh, meatless meat products, and grains! As a human, your body can only use about 15 grams of protein per sitting; the rest is excreted. When a company offers a protein powder with 50 grams of protein per scoop, that is great and all, but about 35 grams of that protein is now living the rest of its life in your local sewer system. For example, a typical meal as a college student could consist of about 1/2 cup of cooked black beans, 1/2 of cooked quinoa, 1/2 an avocado, and some sort of roasted vegetables on a bed of raw spinach. This equates to roughly 15 grams of protein. Sub 4 oz of skinless chicken breast and this meal explodes to roughly 40 grams of protein. However, not all of this protein is used by the body thus rendering it useless. Carbohydrates have been demonized by the media and recent culture; however, carbs in moderation are nothing to be ashamed of. Some of the healthiest foods are high in carbohydrates and provide us with a burst of energy that gets us through the afternoon slump. It is easy to overdo it with carbohydrates on a vegan diet because some of the tastiest foods are extremely high in carbohydrates. If you make sure to pair the carbohydrates with protein, the benefits of the carbohydrates become more bioavailable to your body. As a result, you feel fuller longer and are not worried about how many hours it is socially acceptable to eat dinner. Fat is another thing that, until recently, has been demonized by the media. Making sure the fat you are consuming is more unsaturated than saturated and avoiding trans fats all together can help sustain a more healthy vegan diet. B-12 is truly the only supplement that is completely necessary in order to sustain a healthy vegan diet. A B-12 deficiency can lead to dizziness, fatigue, haziness, and ultimately, nerve damage. I personally have integrated a multivitamin which includes B-12 into my morning routine. This is a more affordable alternative to B-12 drops marketed to vegans. IF YOU SLIP UP, YOU’RE STILL VEGAN. IT’S OKAY. As the great Hannah Montana once said, “Everyone makes mistakes!” Being vegan is making choices to fulfill your reason why. If you accidentally order fried rice with oyster sauce in it or buy a purse on Amazon with hidden leather details, it’s OKAY. At the end of the day, it is a journey and every so-called mistake is a lesson. FIND YOUR PEOPLE VEGAN/VEGETARIAN POP-UP FESTIVALS Sometimes being the only vegan/vegetarian in a friend group can be hard, or being the only person who doesn't eat meat at a family gathering can feel isolating. However, finding your people is so important. Some of my most favorite people I have met who share my same values have been at pop-up festivals. I personally live in the midwest where festivals are few and far between. VegFest happens in bigger cities and is a way for plant-based folks to share their values and tasty food. The people at VegFest Kansas City, Omaha, Wichita, and Austin have treated me wonderfully. VEGAN/VEGETARIAN CLUBS/GROUPS Luckily, I attend a university that is very vegan/vegetarian-friendly even though it happens to be in the middle of Kansas. I am a member of the KU Vegan Club. They hold food-related events as well as activism-related events. For me, personally, I attend more of the food-related events because that is what I identify with more and that is okay. You are able to go to as many or as few as you please. There are several Facebook groups that share recipes, memes, and the newest restaurants/food trucks in your local area. It is incredibly reassuring after a hard conversation or after going to an event and being questioned about your diet for the entirety of dinner to go into a Facebook group and just read other people's posts and realize you're not the only one that holds these shared values. YOUTUBE YouTube is actually where I got my start in veganism. There are hundreds of channels ranging from educational to outrageous about veganism. I personally would steer clear of some of the more outlandish channels like ones that focus on a fully raw or fruitarian based diet. These diets are unsustainable and a lot of the values these creators hold are inhibiting those of us trying to promote sustainable vegan diets. Channels like Mic the Vegan and Unnatural Vegan are great for debunking myths about headlines the media throws around about vegan culture. Pick Up Limes and Madeleine Olivia can provide inspiration for accessible and well-balanced recipes. RECOGNIZE THE PRIVILEGE OF A VEGAN LIFESTYLE Being vegan is 100% a privilege. If you live in a food desert or your only food options are not vegan, by all means, eat whatever food is available to you. Understanding that not everyone is able to have an idealistic diet is really important. Veganism can be as expensive or as cheap as you make it. However, if there is not any money for food and you are going to a soup kitchen to eat your one meal of the day, more likely than not, there aren’t going to be vegan options, and that is okay. Shaming other people for not making vegan choices when their options are starving or eating what's available does not promote an inclusive vegan community. In college, the priority is to learn and have an education. If the ability to be vegan is not yet a possibility, let it be a goal. As mentioned before, eliminating meat or animal products from one or two meals can still be an instrument change. The power is in numbers. If one person is completely vegan, it is not nearly as influential as all twenty people from your class practicing Meatless Mondays or even all two-hundred girls in your sorority choosing to attend a vegan pop-up festival together. SO YOU’RE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING VEGANISM - NOW WHAT? At the end of the day, people can put whatever they like into their bodies, and telling them what they can and can’t consume is not going to ultimately change their behavior. Helping others understand what veganism is, and how it can manifest in different forms, is the best way to ignite change. Making one or two changes for yourself can make you feel better and also spark curiosity in those around you. Advocating for vegan burger alternatives or vegan cheese alternatives in your university’s cafeteria can be the first step to normalizing veganism and making it more accessible to a wider audience. WRITTEN BY Katherine McGaughey University of Kansas Katie is a senior who is double-majoring in exercise science and psychology at the University of Kansas. Originally from Wichita, she loves exploring new cities and has traveled to eight of the top twenty most influential cities in the world so far. She loves cooking and finding the best vegan eats. You can usually find her in planning her next adventure, enjoying a concert with friends, or late-night studying at the library. ... View more

Real college students share their real experiences. Kansas may be nestled in the heartland of the United States. However, over 28,000 current and countless past Jayhawks with unique and diverse identities have made the University of Kansas their home away from home. With a short walk down Jayhawk Boulevard, you will meet someone from every corner of the world. In this video, we chatted with seven of my favorite humans at KU. From international students, to student leaders, and even townies; every Jayhawk has a unique story they are happy to share with you! WRITTEN BY Katherine McGaughey University of Kansas Katie is a senior who is double-majoring in exercise science and psychology at the University of Kansas. Originally from Wichita, she loves exploring new cities and has traveled to eight of the top twenty most influential cities in the world so far. She loves cooking and finding the best vegan eats. You can usually find her in planning her next adventure, enjoying a concert with friends, or late-night studying at the library. ... View more

All work and no play makes for a dull day! Between the constant flow of incoming homework and looming presence of whatever test I have next, I will admit that it sometimes feels like the best way to go about college is locking myself up in a study room and coming back out once my degree is complete. As an engineering major, I definitely prioritize academics; however, I have also come to realize that there is so much more to the “college experience” that lies beyond equations and essays. As a college student who seriously values a balanced lifestyle, here are my top three tips to ensure your university experience is a well-rounded one. Get Involved in More than One Way Between constantly going to class, studying, and meeting with professors for office hours, it’s easy to forget that a balanced education exceeds the world of academia. Some of the best advice I received as a freshman was to get involved on campus in two ways: find one organization that appeals to your academic interests and one that feeds a side passion. For me, this has meant getting involved in research surrounding my major, as well as a service organization that welcomes students from all corners of my university. This has allowed me to stay involved in the engineering community and explore my future career, while also getting the chance to meet fellow students I may not have initially crossed paths with and expand my social circle beyond my fellow math and science nerds. Learn outside of the classroom College campuses have so many opportunities to learn and I quickly realized that it doesn’t stop when I leave class for the day. I still remember walking around campus during my first week as a freshman and being stunned by how many different opportunities there were. College presents so many prospects that you may not get to experience otherwise such as studying abroad, community service, and opportunities to meet people from a variety of different backgrounds (just to name a few!). This past January I had the chance to travel to Ghana via an organization on campus and it was by far one of the coolest things I’ve done. This was definitely something I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pursue outside of my school and it taught me more than I ever could’ve imagined. Mix it up Going to school in the lively city of Austin, I can still be guilty of falling into the same old routine every week throughout the school year. And while the structure is great, I challenge you to find ways to switch up your everyday routine and try something new! This can be as simple as choosing to check out a new downtown coffee shop, or blocking out some time in your schedule to explore any events that are happening on campus. This is not only a great way to experience something new, but it also works as a great study break or weekend adventure. As stressful as it can sometimes be, being a student comes with so many unique opportunities that are definitely worth taking advantage of. Working towards a well-rounded college experience has allowed me to meet a wide range of people and experience things I never knew were possible. Whether it be something large or small, any step towards a balanced college lifestyle will be well worth it. WRITTEN BY Sonya Pfitzenmaier University of Texas Sonya is a current sophomore at the University of Texas studying chemical engineering. She is best known for starting spontaneous dance parties in her apartment and unconditionally cheering on the Texas longhorns. Outside of school, Sonya enjoys scouring the internet for new recipes to try and exploring the city of Austin, one hike at a time. ... View more

There's no such thing as "the quintessential college experience." With all the generic portrayals of college in the media, it may sometimes seem that the only way to experience the “Best Four Years of Your Life” is by living on-campus. Luckily, you can be a commuter and still make the most of the years spent earning your degree! Here are a few tips I found quite helpful, especially when I was just starting out: Join a club Ever feel like this is the only thing you hear from college grads trying to bestow their wisdom on you? Well, it’s probably because it’s the best and quickest advice you can give that could potentially change the trajectory of a student’s college career. Once you find the one (or several) organization that fits, you’ll be introduced to a network of other fun and ambitious students like you looking to make the most of their four years at school. Finding your crew is the easiest way to find friends who are always willing to hunt down free food, get the inside scoop on events (while perhaps planning a few of your own), and who can help you grow your experience with leadership positions. Not to mention, most clubs have their own offices, so now you’ll have a place to keep some of your things you don’t want to keep lugging around campus all day! Visit your school’s Club Fair or Office of Student Life to get a list of active clubs. Get an on-campus job Being a student can get tough, but luckily your school has your back. Whether or not you have Federal Work-Study, you can search for a job and earn some extra money without ever needing to leave campus, all while benefiting from the additional perks they come with as well. Working on campus can make it easier for you to meet with professors and academic advisers without the need for an appointment (and standing on a crazy line), give you extra knowledge of on-campus resources, or simply provide the opportunity to work with other students! Some campuses may also offer jobs specifically for international students. The first step to building your resume is learning your options; check out your Office of Leadership Development or Career Services to start your job hunt. Explore your whole campus One of the most solid pieces of advice I give to students, especially first-years, is to spend some time exploring every inch of campus. In most cases, you can find study areas you never knew about, whether more comfy, quiet, or private. Some schools can house special rooms that are hidden on random floors, like photography dark rooms or piano areas. Discovering your campus could also lead you to new opponents to challenge in the game room, or just new places to relax. Awaken your inner explorer and get to know your new second home. Redesign your schedule Most likely your schedule was chosen for you your first semester, but after that, you’ll have complete control over what classes you take and when you’re on campus. Surely there are some limits to this with course requirements for graduation (make sure to meet with your adviser!), but there’s still freedom to customize your schedule. In most cases, colleges have set scheduling practices, such as having classes meet Mondays & Wednesdays or Tuesdays & Thursdays. This means you could potentially only have to commute to school twice a week! By doing so, you’ll be able to better balance other responsibilities like a job or your assignments. You can even think about taking hybrid or online courses, which meet even less, such as once a week or a couple of times a semester. Still, remember to schedule classes on the days most events are held on -- you don’t want to miss out on all the fun on campus! Being a commuter student can be difficult and draining, especially at times when you feel like you actually DO live on campus with the hours you spend at school. However, these are still your college years -- take advantage of everything your campus has to offer and make the most of “the best years of your life.” The experience you have is totally up to you! WRITTEN BY Emilia Kacperak Baruch College Emilia is a senior at Baruch College studying marketing management and minoring in philosophy. She spends as much time on-campus as she can, usually planning for the yearbook or hunting down the next free giveaway. ... View more

It's not always "sink or swim!" So, not to be that person, but college has pretty much been the best part of my life. However, it’s not for the reasons you might think. Within my first year, I got dumped, rejected from my dream school where I applied as a transfer, and had a complete crisis concerning my future. And I was supposed to deal with this while figuring out bus routes, frat parties, and shared bathrooms? Yeah, no thanks. I don’t think this whole autonomy thing is for me after all. At least, that’s how I felt at first. I think we’re all faced with a choice when we’re thrown into adulthood: sink or swim. At first, it feels easier to sink. I was stuck miles away from the only home I had ever known and struggling through things that I’d never had to deal with on my own. It was so tempting to let go, to settle comfortably into resignation. But that was until I realized that the solitude wasn’t suffocating. It was freeing. I wasn’t helpless without those things I had always depended on; in fact, I was more in control than I had ever been before. Away from the influences, I had known all my life, those of teachers, parents, and friends, I was finally able to ask myself what I wanted. And what I wanted, I realized, looked a lot different than what I was doing. So, I changed my major, pretty dramatically. I changed my goals, I made a plan, and I stopped pursuing things that I didn’t love. In other words, I started to swim. And this wasn’t easy-- it takes some guts to really listen to yourself. You realize that you can be the cause of your wildest successes, but also be held accountable for your failures. So, you can continue to fear responsibility, as I did at first, or you can embrace it. And the latter option, I have found, is enlightening, empowering, and above all, has made me happy. When you choose to take control of your life, choosing happiness comes intuitively. Now, I know that all sounds a bit lofty, but I promise you, it’s simpler than you think. The transition to college naturally introduces a degree of independence that you may not have gotten the chance to experiment with before. It comes with a lot of crappy stuff -- lots of worrying about rent and careers and scholarships -- but it comes with a lot of the good stuff I’ve talked about too if you open yourself up to it. And the other stuff, the devastating, stressful stuff -- it didn't become background noise. It was still devastating. But, I could see the other side. And with my new perspective, I realized that I had the power to make that other side better than this one ever had been. Now, I’m not super equipped to be providing self-help. I’m still figuring this out day by day. But it’s amazing how much a change in my outlook has helped me move forward, even when countless other things are dragging me back. So take some time to listen to yourself, undiluted by outside opinions. Figure out what you want. And choose it, every time. WRITTEN BY Izzy Taylor Michigan State University Izzy is a sophomore at Michigan State University studying philosophy and political science. As you can tell, she has a passion for those disciplines guaranteed to make prospective employers toss out her resume immediately. She somehow snagged a Student Ambassador gig at Macmillan Learning anyway. She is an avid consumer of vintage clothing and 80's music and has never met a cat she didn't love. ... View more