Welcome to syllabus week—the only week this semester in which you won't have to worry about upcoming due dates. Some people use this week to kickback in their not-so-cozy lecture hall desks with headphones in and Netflix on. I mean, it's just syllabus week right? The week in which your professors go over a handcrafted step-by-step guide to be successful in their class. Yup, no biggie… unless you had hopes of maintaining a decent GPA and reasonable level of sanity.

The Ultimate College Packing List + Free Checklist

Get ready for the ultimate game of Tetris (aka packing for college). Your car will soon be stuffed like never before, and you might find yourself seriously debating whether you need that decorative pillow more than a desk lamp (the answer is desk lamp... unless the pillow has a picture of a desk lamp on it... then it's really a toss-up). As soon as your parents see box after box of college "essentials," they will inevitably question your sanity. But don't worry, the jokes on them since you are already fully aware you have given up any shot at sanity for the next four years.

Why You Need to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Picture that person. You know the one. In high school, they were the ones with community hours galore, made a 4.0 GPA look easy, never found without a posse of friends in the hallways, came from a family of four that lived in the nicest local neighborhood, and never, ever had a bad hair day. They were the one that everyone envied.

Poking at Politics

In five days, Barack Obama will no longer be in office. Some will celebrate, others will be heartbroken. What will happen in the next four years with Donald Trump in office is unknown. The only thing I do know is that we will have each other.

7 Life-Changing Tips for Applying Mascara

Out of the multitude of makeup products, mascara is the most essential. With a flick of the wand, eyes transform from bright to bold. Whether you religiously use MAC cosmetics or opt for the drugstore brands, these are a few tips to put a little oomph in your mascara game.

75 Things to Be Other Than "Pretty"

Girl, anyone can see that you are beautiful. Beauty is so much more than shiny hair and tan skin. Beauty is in your very essence. But there are so many more wonderful things to be, so why focus all of your attention on something you have already attained?

How to Love People Who Don't Love Themselves

The main character of any good story seems to be some broken outcast waiting for someone to swoop in and save the day. I get it. You want to be the hero. Spoiler alert: The only story you can be a hero in is your own.

Falling for someone with low self-esteem in the real world is more of a tragic trilogy; book one you try, book two you try harder, book three you're exhausted.

I get it. You want to feel needed. The thing is, the only thing they really need is to learn how to rely on themselves for love.

What you can't do...

Think about the last time you had a terribly lousy day. Envision it. Now, imagine that Mr. Bippity Bop strolled in on that day and told you that he thought your day was actually going fantastically.

Did your day get instantaneously better?

Of course not, you probably just want to bippity bop boop him out the door. It would be silly to think someone knows your day better than you. He didn't live your day, only you did. Now, imagine how it feels to your loved one when you tell them they are wonderful despite the image they have of themselves.

You cannot hug his broken pieces back into place. You cannot change his reflection in the mirror. You cannot fix him, because he is not broken. He is a wandering boy on a personal journey of self-love, and this is not a journey you can expedite.

What you can do...

Don't hold him to the same standards you do of everyone else. Your relationship will not progress like others. It isn't that he doesn't want to love you, he simply does not have the capability to fully love you yet. I beg of you to do what I could not always do: let him learn to love himself. Do not rush him. Do not ask him to feel things he is not ready to. Do not take it personally when they reject your compliments and praise.

Get over yourself.

Be there when they need you to be. Be there for what they need from you. Love without expectations.

The problem is not that you aren't loving him enough, but the fact that he is refusing to accept love. You just want them to look in the mirror and see what you see. Their looks. Their consistent kindness despite how the world has treated them. Their witty sense of humor.

What you need to do...

First off, you need to understand that they cannot love you the way you deserve to be loved. Honestly, they will probably straight up tell you this themselves. They are not saying this to scare you away, it is simply the truth. This does not mean you have to permanently remove yourself from their life. You can still love them. You can still be there for them. You can still be a big part of their live. Just don't get so caught up in trying to help them that you forget to help yourself.

If you love someone who does not love themselves, congratulations. When this is done genuinely, it is quite a selfless act. It truly is loving blindly, because there is no guarantee that when they finally love themselves, they will still love you (brutal, but true). I do urge you not to give up on your loved one. It's hard, but they are most likely worth it. The best thing you can do for them and yourself is to love without expectations.

Probably unnecessary and assumed disclaimer: While I stuck with male pronouns to avoid confusion, this in no way applies strictly to males.

18 Things I Learned by 18

Not too long ago, I didn't think I would make it this far. I am not quite sure what I expected to happen... a zombie apocalypse? Swallowed by a whale? I have survived 18 years of life, and I have little direction and lots of ambition.

The True Meaning of CHRISTmas

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday, I spend 364 days a year looking forward to it. It isn't the bow-topped presents, ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies, or even the twinkling Christmas tree lights that make the day so special to me. I simply love being surrounded by my loved ones. There are few things as wonderful as sitting around the tree laughing with family and friends. Okay, the Christmas music is a close second but nothing jingles my bells like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (I mean his nose glows like a light bulb).

The true meaning of Christmas goes even deeper than birthday banners for Jesus and early morning mass. Years and years ago, people came together to give Jesus presents, but not because they wanted their present showcased on his Snapchat story or they pulled his name for Secret Santa. Everyone came together because the inn was overcrowded leaving Jesus and his family in need.

The point of Christmas is to celebrate Jesus's birth, which ultimately means coming together to help those in need. Whether this is bringing your widowed neighbor a platter of Christmas treats or volunteering at a soup kitchen, give to those who cannot repay you. Then, let that giving spirit live on in you for the rest of the year.

You don't need to give presents, you can give your presence. If you cannot donate gifts, then volunteer your time.

Now please excuse me while I try to convince my friends to go out Christmas caroling tonight (fingers crossed!).

5 Things You Should Be Grateful For (But Aren't)

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, everyone seems to be quite grateful for their friends, family, food, home... and Netflix. While all of these things are worthy of being acknowledged and appreciated, I realized a few things are being left out. Here are a few things that you probably are not grateful for, but you should be.

A Letter to People Pleasers

Dear People Pleasers,

"No" is a foreign word to you. Your mouth has forgotten how to form the words, "I want." When you get called out for being a people pleaser, you insist that you are not. The term carries a negative connotation. It implies that you are oblivious to being used and manipulated. Sadly, this is often the case. 

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Befriend people who know you're not perfect, but treat you as though you are. Don't settle for mediocre relationships, wait for passionate people and passionate feelings. You deserve someone who makes you feel as special as you are.

HAPPY MONDAY

3 Things To Never Give a Boy

Teenagers have a tendency to fall fast and hard. Sometimes, they fall so fast that they forget to protect themselves. I understand that love is about taking chances, but there are some things to keep for yourself. I'm not going to tell you not to give a boy your first kiss, nudes, or your virginity. You are bound to give up those at some point. But there are a few things you can't just go throwing around...

99 Questions to Get To Know Someone

You might have 99 problems, but being out of conversational topics ain't one.

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I start off every morning with the mindset that I am going to have a wonderful day. Are there occasionally bad moments in my day? Of course! Despite this, the day itself was still wonderful. I focus on all of the wonderful aspects of it. For example, I start off my morning with a good breakfast and then I head off to school to see my friends. Those two things alone are enough reason to call my day wonderful. I don't go into a day with expectations, I go into a day with excitement. 

Today is what you make it, so make it a good day!

HAPPY MONDAY

5 Drinks Better Than Alcohol

Why drink beer when you could drink a box full of cheer?

Oh yeah, you want to be cool. Do you remember when you said "I don't care what people think" as you tilted that shot glass into your mouth? You probably drank a few more shots after that so people wouldn't think you were lame. Then, you blacked out. Don't worry, I will make sure to remember that moment for you.

Man, I love peer pressure. What I love even more is how people blame others for their own decisions. "Mom, you don't understand. Billy, Sally, and Johnny were doing acid, so like... I had to do it." If you are around people who pressure you to do things you are not comfortable with, you should remove yourself from the situation. If someone encourages you to do something you do not want to do, you do not have to obey them. 

Everyone who drinks alcohol is not a victim of peer pressure. Some people genuinely do like the taste of liquor, but all too often I hear, "Nobody likes it at first, it's an acquired taste." If you have to force yourself to like something, make it broccoli, not an alcoholic beverage. 

Lesson of the Day: Do not drink alcohol if you are under the age of 21.

Back-Up Lesson of the Day (because the first will most likely be ignored): Drink a glass of water for each alcoholic beverage and do not drink and drive. 

1. Capri Sun because it lights up your world, whereas alcohol blacks out your world.

2. Little Hug Fruit Barrels because you should be dealing hugs, not drugs. 

3. Juicy Juice is applesolutely a great alternative to beer because it comes with a straw. Plus, there is no sugar OR vodka added. Trust me, you will not find both of those qualifications in a bottle of vodka.

4. Nesquik will quikly become your go-to drink because it has vitamins A AND D. Do you get the D with alcohol? No, you get vitamin slumped-over-the-toilet-vomiting. 

5. Kool-Aid Bursts are better than vodka because having a berry blue taste burst in your mouth beats having your liver burst. 

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MAKE GOOD CHOICES

 

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When I was younger, I took school far too seriously. My entire life revolved around grades. Then, right before the start of my freshmen year I made a big decision; I turned down my spot in an international baccalaureate high school. In that moment, I realized that I needed to give the other aspects of life a chance. I was either doing schoolwork or worrying about it, and that wasn't healthy. So I jumped into life and it was the best decision I have ever made. My grades are still great, but I'm not trying to balance four AP classes or do dual enrollment. I simply want to be fully present in my teenage years because the number of them is dwindling down. 

School matters, but it isn't everything. I understand everyone being concerned with college applications, but stop doing things just because "it will look good." It isn't about how it looks, it's about how it makes you feel. If you are miserable in student council, remember that you chose to join and you can choose to leave. If you do not enjoy hours of homework, do not sign up for that AP class. If you prefer guitar to football, switch out your jersey for an acoustic. This life is yours to live. And at the end of the day, you are the one who has to live your life, not them.

HAPPY MONDAY

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 It is not always easy to let things go, but it is an important part of life. Growing up, it becomes more and more frequent that you have to let things go. Maybe for someone that means breaking up with a toxic boyfriend, for another person it could mean studying abroad. 

No matter what you have to let go, realize that the world will not stop spinning when you do. You will make new friends, you will find another man, everything will work out. There will be days where you will regret it all, when you miss home, your old boyfriend, your family andfriends... but the days you are grateful for your decisions will far outnumber them.

Throughout life, you will have to make those life-changing decisions. They are not easy, but with confidence in yourself, it will be fine.

HAPPY MONDAY

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We say "tomorrow" as though it is a guarantee. We put off goals until next week. Next month. Next year. We act as though we have all the time in the world, but the truth of the matter is that we don't.

One day, our lives will be over. Our treasures will be sold off, our cherished photos left in a trash bin, and our bodies disintegrated into ashes. 

It is one of those realizations we try to avoid. It is easier to dismiss than to address. We use the excuse of tomorrow to get around doing things today.

If you spent a day, just one single day, only creating plans for the present... Imagine all you would accomplish. If you did your homework instead of talking about finishing it. If you started lacing up your shoes instead of Tweeting about running. 

I guess the entire point of this post is to embrace and cherish the present, and to use it wisely.

HAPPY MONDAY

10 Tips for High School Freshmen

I have a secret about high school but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Just kidding, it's high school. Everyone finds out everything. High school is what you make it.