How to make the most out of a difficult situation. March 2020 has certainly brought a lot of changes to the way we live our lives, the way we interact with others, and the way we learn. As of this month, colleges and universities have turned to online teaching due to COVID-19, and many students are adjusting to a brand new approach to education. There are unique and unprecedented challenges to face, but there are a few ways to make the situation more manageable. Find your routine It is very easy to become lethargic and unmotivated after being thrown from your average day-to-day routine, so make sure you create a structure to keep on track. You may no longer be living in your dorm or your off-campus apartment, but you still should wake up at the same time as if you were physically going to attend class. Make sure you get dressed, keep up with personal hygiene, and if you are able, try to incorporate movement into your day. I take virtual yoga classes before I begin my day and it has definitely made me feel more productive. Keep up with your studies It may feel as if life has been put on pause for the time being, but that is not the case. If your college or university has transitioned your classes online, you may feel tempted to snooze through them. I’m encouraging you to fight through that urge. This is a universally unfortunate ordeal across the world, not a vacation. Use the online materials provided to you and find new ways to keep yourself organized. For example, if you feel that after starting your virtual class that you might take better notes on Google Docs than with a pen and paper, go for it! If you’re a visual learner and you think you’d rather hand-draw diagram, you should do that. Keep up-to-date with deadlines and assignments on Google Calendar or in a notebook; either way is perfectly valid as long as it works! You may also find yourself in a brand new learning environment, so make sure you eliminate distractions as best you can. Personally, I cannot work in the same room I sleep in, so I make sure to move to a room in my home that is quiet and has plenty of natural light so I can keep focused. Even though you are not surrounded by your peers and facing a professor in person, you should still try to avoid going on social media or texting. Take thoughtful notes and, if your lectures are being recorded, make sure you download them before your next assignment is due so you can refer back to them. Reach out Social distancing does NOT mean social isolation. Text your classmates and friends to see how they’re coping. Be honest with your family if you’re feeling lonely. Go play with your dog (who is most definitely very glad that you’re with him). Finding time for socialization is a part of the college experience and just because you aren’t face-to-face right now, it doesn’t mean you’re actually alone. For example, my friends and I watch movies over FaceTime and, while it isn’t ideal, it definitely makes me feel better. Dealing with COVID-19 is now a part of all of our lives and it is important to stay smart, strong, and safe. Remember to follow the guidelines led by the CDC and that we are all in this together. WRITTEN BY Kasey Greenbaum Macmillan Learning Kasey graduated from UMass Amherst in 2017 with a degree in Communication and English. She now works for Macmillan Learning as a Digital Marketing Assistant. As a self-described 'Real Adult in Training,' you can most likely find her somewhere in downtown Manhattan showing strangers pictures of her dog or hunting for the undisputed best place to get waffles! ... View more

Plan Ahead! College students are expected to seamlessly juggle classes, coursework, jobs, clubs, volunteering, bills, debts, AND keeping up with an active social life. Students can fall into the pattern of instant meals, binge drinking, and procrastination as a way to put off their responsibilities. However, there is an easier way to deal with the stress of a chaotic college schedule: planning. There is a little bit more work upfront, but implementing a planner, an online calendar, and a to-do list can lead to less stress, more free time, and a better grip on all facets of college. A physical planner with a place to note monthly, weekly, and daily obligations and due dates, is the key to knowing how much time you have to truly complete tasks with your best effort. I use a planner from Target however, a bullet journal can also be equally as effective. Ryder Carroll’s “The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future” is a great resource to get started with bullet journaling. For the monthly pages, I note blocks of time I work, have interviews or important meetings that I need to prepare for when large projects or due, and (very important) vacations and fun events. For the weekly page, I will rewrite the big due dates from the monthly page in order to break it down to just the week at hand (to avoid being overwhelmed). This is where smaller due dates and errands can be added to the list as well. To-do lists: To make the most out of your study time, be it a block between classes or a whole evening, a to-do list can provide clarity and increase productivity. Making a short list for each day of the week will decrease the overwhelming nature of an all-encompassing to-do list. Color coding your to-dos based on class or importance is an easy (and cute) way to sort a lengthy to-do list. Making sure to note the priority of the task is important because it can be easy to accomplish the more fun or easy tasks before the more challenging ones that may be due sooner. Finally, I use Google Calendar as an online calendar to set up my semester. This tool is free, user-friendly, and links up to any Google account. During enrollment season, I will enter in my upcoming classes using the recurring event function. This way I can easily know my availability for work and social things. Planning can be overwhelming but there are infinite benefits to even implementing some of these tactics. Productivity has been linked to increased happiness, higher quality of work, and less stress. Check out Matt D’Avella or Nathaniel Drew on YouTube for more productivity inspiration. Happy Planning! 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

Get yourself on the right track! In college, you are bound to encounter stress on more than a few occasions, especially if you are involved in an organization or have a job. You may at some point question if you are even cut out for college or your major because so many assignments and exams jumble up at the same time as one another. I am here to tell you that this stress is manageable if you follow these key steps. Mental health services are available for students -- take advantage of them if you feel like college is too much There are plenty of resources for stress management at your university. There is therapy for individual stress, group therapy if your stress extends within your friend group, and there may be relaxation rooms to help you take a step back and cool down mentally. In addition to trying therapy and other mental services, there may also be on-campus psychologists or psychiatrists who could give you their recommendations for relieving stress as well as being other people you could be comfortable talking to about your stress. If your psychiatrist evaluates you and sees that prescribing medication, such as an SSRI, is a possibility to relieve stress, be open to it because these medications are helpful with balancing your mood. This medication may or may not work for you as everyone’s body reacts differently to each medication, but it is better to try to feel better than not at all. There are plenty of SSRIs available if one does not work for you, and the benefits outweigh the costs of taking the medication as a prescription. You understand your body best, so speak to your doctor if the prescribed medication does not work for you. Taking the medication should also not be the end all be all to relieve your stress, and the other steps below are available to alleviate that as well. Use aromatherapy Aromatherapy is a natural way for you to use your senses in order to help you calm down. Aromatherapy costs a little bit to use, but the cost is very little considering the benefit of being able to relax can be priceless. You can purchase aromatherapy devices or lotions from companies such as Air Wick, Glade, and Bath and Body Works. Give yourself a break You do not have to tackle all your work at once; if you do, your final product could be sloppy. It is better to space assignments out because your brain needs time to relax. Your breaks should not be too long, though. You need to still tackle ackle your assignments in a timely manner. It's all about balance! Positive self-talk. You are your biggest critic. Don’t overthink or doubt yourself if you get a poor grade. If you get a bad grade, you get a bad grade. You can bring your grades up but shouldn’t feel as though you’re obligated to get straight As in college. Your future boss will still hire you if you get a B or a C in a class. You are only human, and as long you did your best, you shouldn’t be critical of yourself. Being critical of yourself adds to your stress level. Give yourself a break. All in all, stress is natural in college and you shouldn’t be afraid to face it during your journey. Sometimes classes will hit you like a truck, but all you can do is pick yourself back off the ground and keep on trudging. There is light at the end of the tunnel and the light is your future degree. WRITTEN BY Jacob Concolino University of Kentucky I am currently pursuing a BS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. I am also pursuing a minor in German and have been to the country twice. I can speak some German, and I listen to every genre of music from German to country to rap to pop. ... View more

You can have it all! Are you planning to go into college with a major that will require difficult courses as well as getting involved with many organizations? Are you stressed that you will not have the ability to juggle all of this while also having a social life? Well don’t you worry, I was in your shoes, and if you follow my advice you’ll surely be able to survive college while also excelling emotionally, academically, and socially. Put everything you have planned into a calendar Staying organized is key to being successful. When you have everything in a calendar, it will allow you to plan out your day with schoolwork and maybe squeeze in time with your friends. Never plan all of your assignments at the last minute. Spacing it out will lower your stress and allow you to be more flexible for possible activities that were not planned, such as a trip to the gym or playing volleyball outside a dorm or a short trip to a fast-food restaurant like Cook-Out to grab yourself a milkshake or a quick bite to eat. Give yourself short breaks Never try to do everything at once. That is stressful and difficult to achieve. Give yourself breaks to eat a little snack, eat a meal, watch some YouTube, or whatever else may be helpful for you to destress. Try to limit each break to about 30 minutes so that you can get back to work. The number of short breaks will depend on the amount of work that is supposed to be completed. Just be wary of how long you are not working on your homework. Give yourself enough sleep, but not too much sleep Sleep is essential to allowing your body to relax and recover from the day. That being said, sleeping too much is usually unhealthy because it can be a sign of exhaustion or stress-related. Lacking sleep and sleeping too much will be detrimental to your long-term health. Try to get a nice 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Never skip meals Eating food is very essential for the human body to receive energy. Skipping meals can lead to a lack of focus as well as obvious health issues. Always try to eat three meals a day with a snack between lunch and dinner and another snack before dinner. Never eat a snack less than two hours before you go to sleep as your body has less time to digest the nutrients, which could lead to heartburn or weight gain. Don’t be hard on yourself if you miss an assignment You are only human. Learn from these mistakes rather than dwell on them. Dwelling is a slippery slope, so the best is to learn and move on. College doesn’t magically stop for you; you need to know that the world will move on without you. However, you can always bounce back from a poor grade. If you did the best you can on assignment, then you shouldn’t be hard on yourself about the outcome. All in all, college may appear to be stressful for students, especially those with a rigorous course load, but the work is worth all the effort. Sometimes days will feel harder than others, but you just have to get back up on your feet and keep working the best you can. You are your biggest critic. WRITTEN BY Jacob Concolino University of Kentucky I am currently pursuing a BS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Kentucky. I am also pursuing a minor in German and have been to the country twice. I can speak some German, and I listen to every genre of music from German to country to rap to pop. ... View more

Class has come to order! I honestly cannot pinpoint an exact time in which I told myself that I was going to try going to law school. It was not a gradual process for me; more so, it was always lingering in the back of my head because my father attended law school. I have always had a passion for reading, writing in particular, and a general interest in public speaking and communication. Because of this, law school was always an option for me. At the beginning of the fall semester of my Junior year of college, I started seriously thinking about the possibility of going to law school. I knew that my grade point average (GPA) was fairly high and my transcript was in solid shape, so I needed to tackle the other aspects of the application process. I was planning on studying abroad in Sydney, Australia during the spring term, so I decided that I was going to start studying for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Studying for the LSAT Study strategies in regards to the LSAT vary greatly from person to person, but I can give my recommendations based on my personal experience with the beast that is the LSAT. I know that I would not have been able to succeed without the help of a study service. In my particular case, private tutors were very pricey so I opted for a group course. Most test prep companies offer similar quality services, so the specific company is less important than the type of course. For example, law school test prep companies have accelerated review courses for those who may have already taken the LSAT. Since it was my first time taking the LSAT, I desired a semester-long course that taught me all of the different question types from a beginner’s level. This way, I would be prepared for my first time taking the exam in a comprehensive manner. Some people prefer to take the LSAT first to gauge where they stand and then, depending on the score, sign up with a tutor or a learning course. In my opinion, taking the LSAT with some knowledge was a better choice because law schools may be able to see all of the scores if they require complete score disclosure. In addition to the LSAT, letters of recommendation are an important part of the law school application process. Choosing who Writes Recommendation Letters While I was deciding what professors I wanted to write my letters of recommendation, I first considered how many letters I wanted to submit. From my experience applying to law schools, the average number of recommended letters ranges from one to four depending on the school. Due to this, I decided to request three letters of recommendation from my English professors. I would advise that it is more beneficial to request letters from professors that know you inside and outside of the classroom, regardless of the department in which they work. Locating your Desirable Setting Lastly, I would highly recommend considering the locations of the schools in which you choose to apply. This may seem less important than track specializations and course offerings, but I really believe that location should play a major role in a person’s final decision of where to attend law school. For me, I prefer the warm weather because my mental health is significantly better when I can sit outside in the sun. I would highly encourage each and every person applying to law school to heavily weigh the location of the school as a contributing final deciding factor. With all of these different facets, the law school application process is a daunting one, but it can be done with time, patience, and perseverance. WRITTEN BY Hannah Lamberg University of Miami School of Law Hannah Lamberg is a recent graduate from the University of Florida where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology on a Pre-law track. She was very involved on her campus as a U Matter We Care Ambassador and Public Relations Coordinator within the Dean of Students’ Office, as well as involved on the leadership boards of the English Society and Relay for Life at UF. She is now a student at the University of Miami School of Law. You can most likely find her talking to new people or writing poetry in her free time. ... View more

Discover your passions in an unconventional classroom! As we near the start of our professional careers, it’s easy to feel both limitless and limited at the same time. Should you work in a big firm in a city, start a small business in your hometown, or is the right pathway for you actually laid somewhere in between? Do you even have all of the options available for you to decide? Really, it’s difficult to foresee where or how you’ll find your niche. When things look empirically nebulous, it’s important to make a priority of finding and getting to know ourselves before moving ahead. What are your interests, your passions – your real passions? A gap year is a perfect time to find out. Go Abroad An excellent way to find yourself is through adventure. Going abroad lets you experience perspectives and cultures you may not have discovered otherwise, and there are so many ways to go about it! Read about some of our picks here! Explore Hobbies More than once, I’ve stared at my homework and wished I could be working on a story or sharpening my Photoshop skills instead. Getting a degree is time-consuming, but taking a break during or after it allows you to focus on the activities that interest you instead. If you have a passion for hiking, throwing pottery, woodworking; anything, this is the time to explore these hobbies as deeply as you wish. Work or Intern Perhaps you’re not ready to commit to a long-term, full-time job, but you’d still like to work and gain professional experience. If so, a great use of your gap year can be interning or doing some other type of temporary work. This lets you gain some professional experience, learn more about a particular field, and potentially save up for future ventures. Make Magic In Spring 2018, I took a gap semester and did the Disney College Program. For four months, I worked at Walt Disney World Resort as a Disney cast member and it was an incredibly memorable experience. I made so many friends and connections from all around the world, whom I’d have never met otherwise, and I’m so grateful that I have. If you’re looking for a magical experience for your gap year, I’d definitely recommend checking out the DCP to you! Volunteer Volunteering is a great way to learn, work, and discover more about yourself. Whether it takes you halfway across the world or to your local community center, there are infinite ways to make a difference and change the world. Learn more about how to get started here. Take Part-Time Courses Even though you’re taking a break from your studies, enrolling in a part-time course can be incredibly gratifying. The course doesn’t have to relate to your major, nor does it have to run through your university; local community centers, art studios, language schools, and other institutes also offer valuable options that will broaden your horizons and teach you new skills. This summer, I started taking Korean language lessons at a private school and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Although I absolutely love my college and major, this experience feels like the first time I’m studying something -in its entirety- because I’m choosing to, rather than because it’s a major or general education requirement, and I still come to every class excited to learn more. A gap year is definitely what you make of it. It’s a time for adventure, trying new things, and most importantly learning about yourself. No matter what you choose, the possibilities are truly limitless. WRITTEN BY Addie Joseph Baruch College in Manhattan After earning her ears at Disney, Addie moved on to study Journalism, Creative Writing, and Photography at Baruch College in Manhattan. She is interning for Macmillan Learning as a Student Ambassador, but in her spare time, you can find her tucked away in a café, crafting stories or editing photos and videos, with earbuds fixed firmly in her ears. Don’t be afraid to interrupt and say hello; she always enjoys meeting new friends (and perhaps indulging them with music recommendations too)! ... View more

Learn outside the classroom! For many college students, including myself, internships are one of the most sought after experiences. While there is a big emphasis on getting an internship as a resume booster or something to talk about in a future interview, there are so many other equally important things that an internship can provide. My first internship taught me more than I could have ever anticipated as I packed my bags and traveled from Texas up to Washington DC this past summer. Whether you’re gearing up for your first internship, or just wondering what the experience is like, here are the top three things I learned throughout my summer internship: Get to know as many people as you can One of the best aspects of my internship was getting to meet so many people with enormously diverse backgrounds. Some of my co-workers had been Fulbright scholars, hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro, and lived in several different countries around the world. It seemed like every day I was learning something new and exciting about someone in the office! Additionally, there were several people that had similar majors as I do now and I loved hearing about the path that got them into their career. My internship provided me not just with work experience, but with a plethora of employees that had a wealth of knowledge on both the workforce and life in general. Another highlight of my summer was getting to know other interns. It was fun hearing stories from their own college experiences and I truly enjoyed getting to work alongside them in the office. Even a whole semester later, I still keep in contact with the interns I met, whether it be to get college advice or just catch up with each other. Getting to know others around the office not only allowed me to make friends (and role models!) throughout the summer but also provided great networking opportunities. The people I met have helped me in a variety of ways, including offering letters of recommendation and putting me in contact with even more individuals who were able to help me expand my future career. Step out of your comfort zone Starting an internship program in a brand new city and with complete strangers can be overwhelming and even a little bit scary. Even small things like having to talk in front of my entire team during meetings made me nervous at first. However, one of the best things about internships is how they allow you to branch out and do things you may have been hesitant to try initially. While interning, I had the task of staying in contact with world-class researchers through phone meetings and emails. This scared me at first and I was terrified of doing or saying something wrong while planning events and projects with individuals that were at the top of their field. However, as the summer progressed, it was easy to see how much my professional communication skills had grown and an email or phone call began to feel like a breeze. While I was initially nervous about sending a singular email, by the end of my internship, I had developed the confidence to lead a conversation or meeting with ease. It was amazing to look back over my summer and realize how much I had grown as an intern through all of the new things I was exposed to. It’s going to take some time to adjust I still remember logging onto my desktop for the first time on the first day of my internship, only to be bombarded by 20+ unread messages from an email account I didn’t even know I had. The first week of most internships focuses on onboarding meaning there’s probably going to be a lot of paperwork to do, training to participate in, and meetings to get you caught up on everything going on in the office. I was completely overwhelmed at first by the vast amount of information I was receiving, but that is completely normal! Adjusting to an entirely new environment and immersing yourself in a new company takes some time. However, there is no need to worry because I promise that by the end of the summer you’ll feel like a pro in everything you do! While it’s always nice to have an internship that adds a few lines to your LinkedIn profile, interning is an experience that holds so much more value. From developing new capabilities to forming connections with industry professionals, my first internship taught me a variety of skills that I know I will carry with me throughout college and my career. 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

Best of luck! During my sophomore year of college, I felt utterly lost because I could not commit to a major and received mostly Bs. Needless to say, I had a significant breakdown and began to think about a gap semester. It was the toughest decision I had to make in college. Compared to most of my peers, I started college quite late (at the age of 20) because my family had recently moved to the US. I was scared to fall behind, graduate late, and waste my time. I spent my summer after my sophomore year learning about myself and eventually knew that a gap semester was crucial to my career. If you are in my shoes, here are my tips for a fulfilling gap semester/gap year. Talk to your support groups My parents were not very happy with my decision to take a gap semester. They worked 12-hour shifts every day to make sure that I could focus solely on studying and developing my career. I was always grateful for their hardships but knew that college was not about figuring out who I was and what I wanted. I needed more time to determine my career. However, I didn’t want to burden my parents financially when I went home for my gap semester. I asked for advice from many professors, friends, and colleagues. My friend’s father had told me: “Your career will be 20 or 30 years of your life. Spending one year to try out new things is not a waste. At the end of the day, it will be only one short period, compared to 60 years of your life.” It was then I decided to take a gap semester. Khanh’s advice: Do not afraid of change. If the thought of taking a gap semester ever slips through your mind, it is always good to share that with your family and friends. People need to take time off from school for all sorts of reasons (mental health, careers, family issues, etc.) You are not the only one, and we are all in this together. Make a bucket list My worst fear about gap year was that I wouldn’t find anything to do with my time. I was a workaholic and enjoyed being surrounded by people. Taking a gap year would mean that I had to live very far away from my college friends and stay home for the majority of the time. I was terrified. One day, I decided to make a bucket list of what I wanted to do with my time. I had never actually put enough time into figuring out about my hobbies before because I was always hanging out with my friends in my free time. I finally tried new things that I never had the time to enjoy while in school. I traveled to different states to explore hiking, food, and sightseeing. I also made a plan to visit Vietnam with my partner for more than a month and took some swimming classes. I learned to reflect after every new experience and appreciate my alone time more. None of these things would be possible if I was at school and took classes only. Khanh’s advice: A gap year may be one of the very few times you can try out and enjoy new things. You will not have that much time to enjoy yourself if you are at school or have a full-time job after college. Learning to enjoy yourself is a skill, and you can only get further in your life when you have genuinely immersed yourself in your gap year. Get a part-time job I did not have the luxury of having my family support me financially during my gap year. I spent four months applying to different companies for co-ops and internships to prepare for my gap year. I received at least 70 rejection letters and began to doubt my abilities. Unfortunately, my current college did not have the resources to support students during their gap year, so I was pretty much alone in this process. I decided to challenge myself with any part-time job I could search for on LinkedIn or at local coffee shops. At the end of my summer, I got a call back from Vertex Pharmaceuticals for a co-op position. Khanh’s advice: If you are first-gen and from an immigrant family, I understand your struggles. It is never an easy task to leave school temporarily and contribute nothing to your family’s finances. Don’t be afraid to work part-time in a local Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or Whole Foods. Working can alleviate your stress about finances. More importantly, it can fund any travel trips or classes you decide to take during your gap year. Be open; let yourself have time to be vulnerable and love yourself more every day. You are not the only one on this journey. WRITTEN BY Khanh Pham Boston College Khanh is a junior studying Econometrics and Biology at Boston College. She also works for Macmillan Learning as a student ambassador. When not studying, you can most likely find her somewhere in Downtown Boston trying out new bubble tea flavor and eating Pho noodles. ... View more

Your ultimate playlist to take on the day! As students, music can inspire us to do what is needed in order to accomplish tasks. Music can be used to maintain focus through studying, working out, spending time with friends, and commuting. Focus We all get distracted while trying to concentrate, especially when trying to write a ten-page paper or trying to study. Sometimes we just need to play music that won’t distract us and put our phones down. While it’s important to take a break from your electronics, you may not want to be in silence; this is when the background calming noise from music can help you focus more on what you’re doing. My favorite song to help me focus is Trigger Protection Mantra by Jhene Aiko. Motivation/Workout Health and wellness are always important, especially for college students. Students may become tired or stressed out, but it’s always best to take a little time out of your day to workout. This allows your energy to keep flowing throughout the day. I personally like to stay energized no matter how tired I get because it allows me to be more productive throughout the day. A motivational song I like to listen to is Sicko Mode by Travis Scott and Drake. Get Together When we are throwing little get-togethers in the comfort of our homes or dorms, a well-needed playlist to vibe along to is always essential. Being with friends always brings good energy, especially if a reunion has been long overdue. Providing a welcoming environment and open space will have people leaving your house wanting to come back soon again. This includes making sure the music you play fits the mood. One of my favorite songs to listen to when friends are around is Before I Let Go by Beyonce. Commuting Songs Whether you are commuting between classes or campus by train, walking, or driving, you can make the trip more enjoyable with a quick playlist to sing along to. This can help you distract yourself from all your studies and escape into your own world. Whether you’re driving alone or with your friends, sharing music can provide a break from anything on your mind or stressing you out. A calming yet upbeat song I like to listen to is Talk by Khalid and Disclosure. Music is essential for anything and everything; it is a way to become involved with yourself or even others. Through parties, commutes, alone time, or during a workout, it is a time to feel inspired and motivated. WRITTEN BY Kristen Rossette Cristo Rey New York Kristen Rossette is a high school student at Cristo Rey New York graduating in 2020. She is currently an intern at Macmillan Learning in the Marketing department. Born and raised in Bronx, New York, you can usually find her in the city seeking opportunities in the fashion industry or for new places to eat! ... 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

“I have wandered all my life, and I have traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” ― Hilaire Belloc It’s a common misconception that traveling is a distraction from the degree or career you’re pursuing… Here are some travel ideas that challenge that notion: Volunteer Volunteering abroad lets you give back while exploring other areas of the world. You can pick up new skills, make a difference in various causes, and fully immerse yourself in another culture. Read more about volunteer opportunities here! Teach English in Another Country Teaching English is a great way to earn an income while getting immersed in a new culture. There are many companies that offer programs ranging from months to years abroad teaching. Getting started is as easy as getting TEFL-certified, or completing an equivalent course. Get Creative In a world of schedules and due dates, it’s easy to fall into a rut. Inspiration can run dry when we’re inundated by monotony, but traveling is a great way to break free and start working on something truly meaningful to you. You can paint the gardens of Versailles, document rolling landscapes in New Zealand on photo or video, start a blog on your backpacking experiences throughout South America, or find inspiration in any of these ventures to pen the bestseller you’ve always wanted to create. No matter the medium, the world is your canvas. Intern Abroad As technologies and economies advance on a global scale, it becomes even more important for us, as students, to understand them. By interning abroad, you can study these developments through the lens of another country or culture, while gaining professional work experience – which is all sure to stand out on a resumé. Become an Au Pair If you enjoy taking care of children and want to brush up on your language skills, this could be the right fit for you! An Au Pair is someone who lives with a family in a foreign country for a limited period and helps take care of its children. Host families cover a lot of the living expenses for au pairs, such as residency and meals, and also provide pocket money for additional support. Learn more about being an Au Pair here. Study Abroad Last, but certainly not least, studying abroad lets you stay on track with your coursework as you see the world. Study abroad programs range from periods of weeks to months and there is a perfect fit for every student. Visit your campus’s office of international programs today to learn more about the programs your school offers. No matter where your wanderlust takes you, you can always make it a meaningful and educational experience. Start planning your next adventure today! Source “Hilaire Belloc quotes” Quotes of famous people, https://quotepark.com/authors/hilaire-belloc/. Accessed 3 Oct. 2019 WRITTEN BY Addie Joseph Baruch College in Manhattan After earning her ears at Disney, Addie moved on to study Journalism, Creative Writing, and Photography at Baruch College in Manhattan. She is interning for Macmillan Learning as a Student Ambassador, but in her spare time, you can find her tucked away in a café, crafting stories or editing photos and videos, with earbuds fixed firmly in her ears. Don’t be afraid to interrupt and say hello; she always enjoys meeting new friends (and perhaps indulging them with music recommendations too)! ... View more

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi Volunteering is a great way to broaden your perspective and discover new things about yourself; you can expose yourself to new environments and pick up skills you may have never considered learning before. And, of course, no matter where volunteering takes you, you can really make a difference. As college students, there are so many ways we can incorporate volunteering into our lives. Whether it’s in a medical, community service, research, or environmental setting, there are opportunities everywhere. Here are some ideas to help you get started! Local Opportunities Chances are you don’t have to go far to find opportunities to give back; there are likely great organizations to support near where you live! Local animal shelters, food banks, and nature preserves are great places to begin looking; volunteers can always use an extra hand there. Your university might also offer great options for service clubs and if they don’t have one for a cause you’re passionate about, this is a great opportunity to start one and find fellow students who also share your interest in that cause! National Organizations Perhaps you don’t want to stay local, but you’re not quite so interested in applying for visas and leaving the country to start giving back. In that case, there are infinite volunteer opportunities throughout the United States in any and every field. One source I especially like for finding volunteer organizations is volunteer.gov, which provides an easy-to-use search engine that organizes opportunities based on state locations, types of housing accommodations offered, and other qualities. I would also recommend checking out these sites if you’re interested in volunteering in the US: Public Service and Volunteer Opportunities Find Your Park National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration International Programs There are volunteer opportunities in every corner and stretch of this world. International volunteer projects give you the chance to explore different cultures while giving back to them in meaningful and positive ways. If you’re interested in volunteering abroad, here are some great search engines to help you find the right fit: Projects Abroad International Volunteer HQ Go Abroad Most universities also have international programs offices, which offer resources to help you organize and prepare for these types of opportunities. A quick visit could set all the gears in motion! No matter how small or large-scale, nearby or far away, volunteer opportunities expose you to new environments and perspectives, letting you break free from familiarity and learn lessons that can’t necessarily be taught in a classroom setting. Whether you build volunteering into your weekly schedule or let it take you halfway across the world, there are so many ways you can start today! Source “12 Great Quotes From Gandhi On His Birthday” Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2012/10/02/12-great-quotes-from-gandhi-on-his-birthday/#7e1534b933d8. Accessed 3 Oct. 2019 WRITTEN BY Addie Joseph Baruch College in Manhattan After earning her ears at Disney, Addie moved on to study Journalism, Creative Writing, and Photography at Baruch College in Manhattan. She is interning for Macmillan Learning as a Student Ambassador, but in her spare time, you can find her tucked away in a café, crafting stories or editing photos and videos, with earbuds fixed firmly in her ears. Don’t be afraid to interrupt and say hello; she always enjoys meeting new friends (and perhaps indulging them with music recommendations too)! ... View more

What they don't tell you about studying abroad... Coming back into the United States was something I thought would be much easier than it actually was for me. I have studied abroad twice during my time at the University of Florida on two different types of trips. In the summer of 2018, I traveled to Galway, Ireland, as a part of an Irish Studies program, and I spent the spring of 2019 at the University of Sydney studying English on a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences exchange. The Psychology Department at the University of Florida organized a “Psychology of Intercultural Diversity” course to center around the Irish studies curriculum. Through this class, along with my two study abroad experiences, I have learned that culture shock and “reverse culture shock” are important and normal parts of living abroad. My time spent in Galway was full of close friendships and learning about cultural differences and adjustments. I learned that coming home from time abroad is just as difficult as adapting to a different country. In other words, reverse culture shock is a real problem that people deal with when coming home from a significant amount of time living abroad. Essentially, the course explained the emotions experienced when arriving in a new country are anxiety, excitement, resentment, confusion, and then adjustment. Before a person arrives in a new area, they may feel nervous about the changes. Eventually, they will grow excited to be in a new place. In part of this initial “honeymoon phase” of traveling, people will want to explore what the new place has to offer in terms of cultural differences, including food, architecture, art, activities, etc. After a few days or weeks, they may begin to resent this new culture, claiming that their home culture is superior. Change is difficult for people to experience, and a different way of life can be challenging. For example, during my time in Galway, I, at first, had some trouble with the carefree nature of the people around me. As a tightly-wound individual, this was new for me. This discomfort can bleed into confusion, and ultimately, there will be a sense of cultural adjustment, after some time in that new place and culture. Cultural adjustment involves a person adopting a new set of cultural norms and behaviors in order to comfortably assimilate into a new culture. Ironically, this same process occurs when returning back home. Specifically, when I arrived back in America, I missed the cultural richness of Ireland and the Irish studies programming. I missed the pride that this small Irish city had within their Irish roots. My second study abroad trip to Australia was different, as it was a legitimate exchange with the University of Sydney. Basically, the distinction here is that I was a student enrolled at the University of Sydney taking classes as if I was a full-time student there. During this trip, I learned the value of studying what I love and grew as a writer and person. I had the ability to study my favorite novel, Dracula, by Bram Stoker, within an intensive Victorian literature seminar, while also improving my poetry craft. The significance of this combination is that I learned Stoker’s personal story, in addition to his literary story, as I wrote my story through poetry. This was not only cathartic; it allowed me to grapple with the adjustment period of culture shock because everyone struggles in a new setting. As well as my integral studies, I immersed myself in a more laid back culture, which challenged my constantly on-the-clock, workaholic personality. Being able to place my anxious-self into a slow-paced environment was extremely interesting to navigate. I also traveled around Australia and finally got to see my favorite animal, the platypus. This was by far the highlight of my experience abroad, as I have been waiting to travel to their native habitats for my entire life. Experiencing two study abroad trips has given me the tools to navigate settling down and succeeding on my own, as well as the ability to combat reverse culture shock upon returning to my home country. Specifically, in order to minimize the effects of both culture shock when arriving in a new area and reverse culture shock when returning back home, I would recommend taking each day as it comes. The main difference between culture shock and reverse culture shock is the timing and place in which it occurs. The steps of reverse culture shock mirror those of culture shock in that upon returning home, people feel the “honeymoon period,” when everything about being home is perfect. After some time, they will miss the old culture from their travels and begin to resent their home culture, claiming that the other place is better due to customs experiencing that culture while there. Ultimately, the person will adjust back to their home culture. When I allowed myself to follow each anxious thought into the next one about how I did not belong in a foreign culture or that I did not fit in at home anymore, I could not stop the whirlwind of negative thinking. Instead of giving power to my mind to dictate how I felt, I have learned to accept these two processes as a natural part of traveling to and from a new place, so I have given myself the space to learn and grow as an individual. Since returning to the United States, I have learned that study abroad is a life-altering experience that allows you to not only challenge yourself but those around you, as well. WRITTEN BY Hannah Lamberg University of Miami School of Law Hannah Lamberg is a recent graduate from the University of Florida where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology on a Pre-law track. She was very involved on her campus as a U Matter We Care Ambassador and Public Relations Coordinator within the Dean of Students’ Office, as well as involved on the leadership boards of the English Society and Relay for Life at UF. She is now a student at the University of Miami School of Law. You can most likely find her talking to new people or writing poetry in her free time. ... View more