Landing a leadership position in an organization on campus is a great resume booster as well as an awesome way to gain experience and develop new skills. While being a student leader comes with many benefits, there’s no doubt you will run into a multitude of problems. Check out our solutions for some of the most common issues student leaders run into!

1. Communicating clearly to your fellow members

Cheryl Cran, author of Leadership Mastery In the Digital Age, believes that communication is the cornerstone to being a successful leader.

“It is important to be able to articulate a vision, a passionate direction and to be able to adapt to a variety of different communication styles,” she says. “Master leaders have mastered the art of communication.”

Since communication is a two-way street, make sure you’re holding up your end! To do this, Cran encourages envisioning the end result. “Focus on what you want for an outcome – What do you want to have happen?” she says. “Then base all of your word choices to create that outcome. Focus on being energetic and engaged with others, show empathy and care and communicate to people with an attitude of caring about them.”

Grace*, a junior at Texas Christian University and former head of International Christian Fellowship, came to realize the importance of communication after struggling to connect with her club members.

“I was a part of a mentor program that eventually asked me to lead the organization,” Grace says. “When I started leading the group, I really had no idea what I was doing. I would talk to a few different people about what they wanted for the group, but everyone was hesitant to share their ideas. After a lack in progress, I realized I needed to initiate responses rather than wait for them.”

To initiate responses, hold face-to-face discussions as much as possible. Your message will be a lot clearer this way compared to those delivered via email or text message.

“Face-to-face allows for connection, facial expressions and body language,” Cran says. “This type of communication is always best, as typically there will be clear understanding between … the group. I also recommend face-to-face whenever you need to have a important discussion such as giving feedback [or] airing concerns.”

In these discussions and whenever you’re interacting with the group, be confident! You will be much more approachable if you portray a sense of confidence rather than seeming unsure about what you’re doing.

Finally, try and get to know as many of your members on a semi-personal level as possible. This will help you determine the best way to speak with these different people. However, in getting to know different members within the group, you will become closer with some than others. Don’t let these developed relationships lead you to showing favoritism or being selective.

2. Conflict in the group

Conflict is bound to arise in your student group. Although addressing conflict can be tough, you cannot leave issues unresolved!

“Conflict is inevitable and is often created due to personality differences, value differences, generational differences, gender differences and work-style differences,” Cran says.

With student organizations, leaders will most often find themselves dealing with two or more members disagreeing about how to do something for the group and refusing to compromise.

“It is important for the leader to learn the art of mediation or facilitating solutions,” Cran says. “A great leader will be able to see a situation from both the points of view of each of the people involved in the disagreement while also being objective and focusing on solutions to the conflict.”

According to Cran, you should ask each person what his or her understanding is of the situation and what to do about it. Then you can focus on what they have in common and help the group members come up with a win-win.

While conflict may be a pain to deal with, Dr. Rick Brinkman, author of Dealing with People You Can’t Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst, believes that challenges that arise due to conflict are good for keeping you on your toes.

“Whether or not you succeed in dealing with the situation, you will have built your own strength and be better prepared for something similar in the future,” Dr. Brinkman says.

3. Maintaining positivity within your club  

Nobody wants to be in an organization full of negative energy!

“Whining and negativity spread through a team of people,” Dr. Brinkman says. “A leader has to manage other people by bringing out the best in them.”

Cran says that preventing negative behavior is tough because some people, no matter what is said or done, are always going to be negative. However, you can still influence the group by maintaining positivity.

“The leader needs to model positive behavior by showing a positive attitude, being focused on solutions, believing in the talents of the team and having regular team-member meetings to share positive updates, focus on what is working and to verbally recognize those on the team who are adding positive energy,” Cran says.  These aspects will set the standard about being positive and solution-oriented.

Creating this positive energy can be done many ways, but there are specific strategies you can take as a leader to improve attitudes in your group. One of the best ways to spread positivity throughout your club is by acknowledging successes, big or small. Share any victories with the entire group and commend those who made them happen.

“It is important to have both group recognition as well as individual recognition,” Cran says.

To accomplish both of these, you can first recognize the group by rewarding them with something like pizza, for example. After complimenting everyone on a job well done, mention a few specific people and their contributions while encouraging the group to recognize them as well.

Another tool that you shouldn’t be afraid to use - humor! As long as your sense of humor is lighthearted and not at the expense of others, it could be extremely beneficial to a group that might be a little stressed out and in need of a good laugh.

Chelsea*, a senior at the University of Missouri and former president of the Mizzou French Club, held monthly activities to allow fun interaction between everyone in their organization.

“If I didn’t have time to put together something a little more elaborate, I would just host a barbeque and encourage everyone to come,” Chelsea says. “I got to know everyone by doing this, and it created a fun environment.”

4. Working together

As a leader, you have to remember that your group is working toward a common goal. While people might have different ideas about how to accomplish that goal, you have to ensure that individual progress leads to the main objective, aka teamwork.

According to Cran, to improve teamwork, you need to help everyone focus on finding solutions together. One of the best ways to do this is by organizing team meetings to brainstorm ideas on how to work better together.

“A leader needs to provide individuals with understanding and guidance that more can be accomplished through a team than alone,” Cran says, “A master leader would facilitate a team training on what it means to be a team-focused individual and also team activities such as building something together or doing creative problem-solving games together.”

Brittany*, a senior at Kansas State University and a student leader of Ecumenical Campus Ministry, is a pro when it comes to team-building activities.

“I always incorporate fun little exercises to encourage everyone to work together. Whether we play little games or do physical challenges, we always have fun,” Brittany says. “One of our favorites is ‘human knot,’ a game that makes everyone get their arms tangled up and makes us work together to get untied.”

5. Balancing the organization and your other obligations

Just because you’re a student leader doesn’t mean you don’t have other responsibilities. It’s important that you devote yourself to your group without losing sight of your other obligations!

Remember that the group’s well-being comes before your position within that group. If you’re under too much stress trying to manage your responsibilities, you can’t do everything to your full potential.

If you find yourself buckling under stress, Dr. Brinkman recommends asking yourself, “Is this really worth it?” Put everything into perspective, and then decide if you can continue on with being in a leadership position while managing your other responsibilities.

Also, keep in mind that your fellow members of the group might be struggling to balance their obligations as well. Be understanding with scheduling conflicts, lack of availability and so on.

While being a student leader may put you in some tough situations, don’t let that stop you from taking this great opportunity! Being in a position of power comes with responsibilities, and one of the biggest is trying your hardest to be the best leader possible. Look at the problems you run into as learning opportunities.

*Names have been changed. 

Collegiette living can get expensive—those morning coffee runs, textbooks, lunch with friends and transportation expenses really add up, and it can be hard to have any money left over to snag cute new clothes. Don’t sweat it collegiettes, your style doesn’t have to suffer! Tons of the stores you probably already shop at offer student discounts so you can get the latest trends while still on a budget! Below, check out our favorite pieces you can use your discount on—just flash that plastic... ID. (Bonus: they're all under $50!)

1. New Look Check Print Slim Pant ($34.09 with your 10% student discount at ASOS)

Plaid has been a huge trend this fall, and what better way to give this trend a try than with a pair of checked skinny pants? We love how versatile these are—dress them up with a blazer and heels, or dress them down with a favorite sweater and snuggly scarf. Plus, ASOS always offers free shipping, making these even more of a steal!

2. Lisa Scarf ($42.07 with your 15% student discount in stores at Banana Republic)

We found your new favorite wear-with-everything scarf for this winter – and you can use your student discount to get it! The pop of bright cream is a great way to make your winter blacks and greys feel less drab.

3. Fuzzy Popcorn Knit Cascade Cardigan Sweater ($22.49 with your 10% student discount in stores at Charlotte Russe)

Fuzzy, fur-like knits are everywhere right now, and we found one you can snag for less than $25! It’s the perfect winter staple to throw on for cold mornings, and feels like you’re walking around in your favorite blanket.  

4. Linen Paris Tee ($38.25 with your 15% student discount in stores at Madewell)

Looking to add a bit of French-girl chic to your look? Look no further than this tres chic Paris graphic tee from Madewell—which you can snag at 15% off. Pair with your favorite black skinny jeans and a faux leather jacket for quick model-off-duty outfit.

5. Asymmetric Wrap Mini Skirt ($45 with your 10% student discount in stores at Topshop)

The stylish and versatile wrap skirt has been a staple in trendsetters’ closets for some time now—snag your very own at a collegiette budget-friendly price with your 10% student discount at Topshop! For winter, style it with some black tights, a sweater and an overcoat to stay warm.

6. Kanchi Multi Buckle Ankle Boots ($32.28 with your 15% student discount at Missguided)

These edgy cutout ankle boots are a great cool-girl update on a fall staple. Pick them up at a student-exclusive steal at Missguided—but hurry—the store’s student discount is only 15% off for a limited time (their usual discount is 10% off)!

What do you plan to snag with your student discount, collegiettes? Tell us in the comments!

We all know that once things go south with a hook-up buddy, things can also get… well, awkward. When you and your go-to hook-up decide to call it quits (or if you’ve hooked up with a guy once before realizing it was a terrible mistake), you might find yourself wishing there was a set of guidelines you two could follow to make your post-breakup/post-hook-up encounters in the quad a little less uncomfortable. To help ease that transition from friends-with-benefits to friends (or at least agreeable acquaintances), here are a few conditions that you and your ex-hook-up could really benefit from agreeing upon.

1. I, the Collegiette, vow to never pretend to check my text messages when passing you, the Ex-Hook-Up, around campus instead of saying, “Hi.”

2. If the Ex-Hook-Up happens to be at the same party as the Collegiette, the Collegiette promises not to creepily stare at the Ex-Hook-Up from across the room, trying to will him to acknowledge her—unless, of course, the Ex-Hook-Up appears to be blatantly ignoring the Collegiette, in which case the Collegiette may be forced to confront the Ex-Hook-Up directly.

3. When the Ex-Hook-Up greets the Collegiette, he must do without touching her body in any way that may be regarded as overly intimate or inappropriate.

4. When the Collegiette starts hooking up with or dating someone new, she won’t try and drop hints about him to the Ex-Hook-Up by saying things like, “Oh, me and my new guy totally loved that new Ben Affleck movie.”

5. If the Collegiette ever sees the Ex-Hook-Up with another girl, she promises not to openly weep (or she’ll at least excuse herself to the nearest bathroom to do so first).

6. The Collegiette will understand that it’s never okay to tell her friends intimate secrets about her past encounters with the Ex-Hook-Up (except for maybe a few juicy details).

7. The Collegiette will refrain from talking badly about the Ex-Hook-Up with her friends—unless they start it, because then it will simply be out of her hands.

8. Similarly, the Collegiette will never bash the Ex-Hook-Up in front of other girls (even if some of those girls are interested in catching the eye of the Ex-Hook-Up and the Collegiette is jealous).

9. The Ex-Hook-Up should ask his friends to greet the Collegiette in the same cordial manner they had before he and the Collegiette decided to end things so that they do not awkwardly scurry in the opposite direction when they see the Collegiette approaching.

10. If the Collegiette ever compliments the Ex-Hook-Up, she promises to keep it purely platonic (even if the Ex-Hook-Up has been hitting the gym more than usual and he’s looking really good).

11. The Collegiette will never hook up with another person in front of the Ex-Hook-Up in an obvious attempt to make him jealous (and vice versa)—unless the Collegiette has had a little bit too much to drink, in which case, no promises.

12. The Collegiette will finally change the Ex-Hook-Up’s name in her phone from “Booty Call” to the Ex-Hook-Up’s actual name (or maybe, at least for a little while, the Collegiette will just delete the Ex-Hook-Up’s number from her phone altogether).

13. If the Collegiette ever spots the Ex-Hook-Up’s new hook-up buddy at a party, she promises not to confront her—unless the new hook-up buddy gives the Collegiette the stink eye, in which case the Collegiette will probably have to give her a talking-to.

14. The Collegiette promises to never passive-aggressively tweet sad song lyrics or other weepy sentiments about feeling deceived or disillusioned that are obviously alluding to the former relationship she had with the Ex-Hook-Up.

15. When the Collegiette is on Facebook, she will try her best not to regularly stalk the Ex-Hook-Up, and when she does check out the Ex-Hook-Up’s page, she’ll at least refrain from “liking” all of the Ex-Hook-Up’s photos and status updates so that her stalking isn’t obvious.

16. The Collegiette also vows to stay away from the Ex-Hook-Up’s new hook-up buddy’s Facebook page (except for maybe a peek when the Collegiette first finds out her name to make sure the new hook-up buddy isn’t prettier than her).

17. The Ex-Hook-Up should refrain from sending any late-night booty calls to the Collegiette without any pretext, thinking they can simply rekindle their relationship when it is convenient for him. 

18. When the Collegiette is drunk, she’ll do her best to not send the Ex-Hook-Up text messages telling him how much she misses him or asking what she ever did wrong.

19. The Collegiette vows never to send the Ex-Hook-Up any more X-rated Snapchats (even if the Ex-Hook-Up requests that she send them).

20. The Ex-Hook-Up will likewise no longer send the Collegiette any X-rated Snapchats (and let’s be real—that was never actually attractive).

21. The Collegiette will finally give the Ex-Hook-Up back that hoodie he left in her room that one time (even though it’s really comfortable and the Collegiette would rather keep it for herself). 

22. The Ex-Hook-Up should stop making excuses to end up in the Collegiette’s dorm hallway on Friday and Saturday nights, claiming that he’d just happened to be hanging out down the hall.

23. The Collegiette will try her best to let go of the hope she used to hold on to that the long-term hook-up she maintained with the Ex-Hook-Up would eventually lead to a relationship.

24. The Collegiette promises that she will finally come to terms with the fact that, more than likely, she and the Ex-Hook-Up are never, ever, ever getting back together (but she maintains the right to change her mind about that in a couple of months).

What else would you add to this list, collegiettes? Share your own ex-hook-up agreement additions in the comments below! 

Is it the end of Obamacare? [Bustle]

Thoughts you’ll have when your best friend studies abroad. [Thought Catalog]

The 10 types of people who annoy everyone. [YourTango]

6 stores that will reward you in a major way over the holidays. [SheFinds]

How to survive working out through the winter. [PopSugar]

Smart ways to multitask like a boss. [BuzzFeed]

Big Ten mascots know how to ‘Shake it Off.’ [The Huffington Post]

Don’t brag to your friends about your vacation. [The New York Times]

Sephora’s big sale marred by tech issues and accusations of racism. [Jezebel]

Snooki plays the role of a therapist. [Cosmopolitan]

Although getting your nails done at a salon can be relaxing, giving yourself a manicure at home can save money and time. But how do you spice up boring, plain colors and add some fun to your nails? Nail art of course! Although it looks extremely difficult, nail art can be easy to do yourself if you have the right tools. Keep reading to find out the five most important products needed to create simple, fun nail art at home!

Dotting Tools

Whether you’re into polka dots or stripes, dotting tools are an easy way to add designs to your nails. The DragonPad 5-piece set ($1.88) offers different-sized heads so you can vary dot and line sizes. However, if you don’t want to spend the money a sewing pin stuck in the eraser of a pencil works just as well!

Wedge Makeup Sponge

If you’ve ever seen a cool gradient nail design on Pinterest or Instagram, it was most likely done with a makeup sponge ($4.99), probably using the technique I used to create the Kappa Alpha Theta nails. Although your friends will think it looks insanely cool and difficult, you’ll know how easy it was to create such a unique mani.

Angled Nail Art Brush

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, nail polish makes its way onto your skin. But have no fear; it’s extremely easy to remove. Just dip an angled brush ($4.20) in some nail polish remover and brush it around your cuticles to remove the paint. (Hint: A q-tip works just a well, but the brush can be used for nail art designs as well so it serves a double function.)

Nail Art Stripers

These polishes are great for making straight, thin lines. Instead of normal polish brushes, they each come with a long, thin brush that's easier to create precise lines and designs with. I recommend getting this Kiss Nail Art set ($7.61) to start off; you'll get a couple of great basic shades that you'll use often. 

Hole Reinforcements

This might seem like a weird thing to see as a nail art too, but trust me—these things are great! Whether you want to create a French manicure or half moon mani (like Lauren Conrad's, below), reinforcements ($2.24) are great for preventing paint from getting where you don’t want it. Another home product that can be used for nail art is Scotch tape, which can used to make straight lines.

That's it, collegiettes—my top five products to create cool nail art. If you've ever done your own nail art, leave a comment below telling me what other products you've used to create your designs!

As every busy collegiette knows, setting the time aside to enjoy a healthy breakfast in the morning is no easy task. Whether you’re on the run to an 8 a.m. lecture, preparing to start the morning at your internship or headed to work for an early shift at your part-time job, it’s critical that you fuel your body with a nutritious meal in the morning. If you’re in a rut about what to choose for your morning meal, we’re here to help with a few budget-friendly and tasty ideas that can be prepared the night before or thrown together quickly in the morning so you won’t be left scrambling.

1. Fruit and yogurt

Calcium is a necessary mineral, especially for us collegiettes, and an easy way to start your morning off with this essential element of your diet is with a serving of yogurt. For additional protein, which will help to curb your cravings throughout the day by keeping you fuller longer, choose a 6-oz cup of Greek yogurt, which often contains 15 to 20 grams of protein.

To ensure that you’re working towards your recommended five-a-day servings of fruit and veggies, add a piece of fresh fruit to your breakfast. Whether it’s a piece of whole fruit (such as a banana) that you consume in addition to your yogurt or sliced fruit (such as berries) that you add to the yogurt, you’ll be adding vitamins and flavor to the rest of your meal. Throw in a handful of nuts like walnuts or almonds for additional healthy fats. This easy breakfast is one that is easy to grab while running out the door in the morning. You can also prepare it in advance and keep it refrigerated in a Tupperware container.

2. Overnight oats

Food bloggers and savvy ladies everywhere have been raving about overnight oats for years. Oatmeal is not only delicious, but it’s also part of our list of 10 foods you should add to your diet because of its nutritional content, and its price fits well in a college budget. If you have some free time the night before, follow this easy recipe for a tasty treat.

Base:

• Combine equal parts raw rolled oats, milk and yogurt (about ½ cup of each) in a bowl.
• Use any kind of milk or yogurt that you’d like, but we recommend low-fat or fat-free milk.
• Place in your fridge overnight, either covered or uncovered, so that the oats can absorb the milk and the yogurt. You can also add chia seeds to your recipe, which are full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and will add texture to the oatmeal as they absorb the liquid overnight.

Toppings:

• Add any toppings you would like, such as dried or fresh fruit, nuts or a scoop of almond or peanut butter.
• Toppings can be added the night before or in the morning.
• Don’t add anything that you wouldn’t enjoy eating soggy in the morning, such as crunchy granola or cereal, or wait to add them until the morning.

When you wake up, the oatmeal’s consistency will be a lot like regular cooked oatmeal (but slightly thicker) and ready to eat, as all of the liquids have been absorbed in the oats during the night.

3. Fruit smoothie

A nutritious fruit smoothie is a great on-the-go option for when you have only a few minutes to get ready for the day because it’s easy to prepare and refrigerate the night before. Here’s a yummy banana berry smoothie recipe from AllRecipes.com that will energize you for the day ahead and will only take about five minutes to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 banana, chunked (can be fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup raspberries (can be fresh or frozen)
• ¼ cup vanilla yogurt
• ¾ cup orange juice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. For additional protein, you can add silken tofu, protein powder or liquid egg whites. The recipe makes two servings, so feel free to share the second serving with your roommate or save it for the next morning.

4. Whole wheat bread with peanut butter and banana slices

Just like the fruit and yogurt pair combines protein from the yogurt and other great nutrients from the fruit, this easy breakfast idea does the same while also adding whole grains and healthy carbohydrates from the bread. Simply toast a piece or two of whole wheat bread, and then add your favorite peanut butter spread. If you’re allergic to peanut butter, you can substitute sunflower butter or almond butter for a similar taste and texture. Finally, slice a banana and add the pieces to your toast as desired. You could also add a sprinkle of cinnamon or drizzle a teaspoon of honey over it, too. It only takes a few minutes to prepare, and it’s so satisfying!

5. 3-Ingredient mini banana pancakes

As the title of this recipe implies, you won’t need to spend too much money on ingredients for this recipe fromEugenie Kitchen. The main ingredients in this recipe are nutritious as well, and the recipe is flourless, low in calories and gluten-free. With prep time and cooking, it will only set you back about 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ large ripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions:

• Crack the two eggs into a bowl and whisk together.
• In a separate bowl, mash the banana with a fork or masher, but do not over-mash, as this will cause your pancakes to not be fluffy. Be sure to use enough egg to hold the mashed banana together, but make sure that you don’t use too much banana, or else the pancake will not hold.
• Combine both bowls of ingredients together and stir.
• Cook over medium-low heat, using only about one to two tablespoons of batter for each.
• Once the baking powder is activated, flip the pancake over and allow it to cook for an additional minute.
• Serve with blueberries, butter and maple syrup. The recipe makes a serving of 10 miniature pancakes.

6. Banana, yogurt and walnut muffins

This healthy muffin recipe from Women’s Health serves the dual purpose of filling you up in the morning as well as fighting PMS symptoms, due to the nutrients in the bananas, the calcium and vitamin D in the yogurt and the magnesium in the walnuts. Since you can prepare a batch of these muffins the night before, you’ll be able to easily grab one in the morning on your way out the door, and they’ll even last you all week for you and your roommates—the recipe makes 18 muffins.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup oatmeal
• ½ cup rice flour
• ¼ cup ground flaxseed
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
• ½ cup agave syrup
• 1/3 cup grapeseed oil
• ¼ cup walnut pieces

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Combine the oatmeal, flour, flaxseed, baking powder and baking soda in a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, yogurt, bananas, syrup and oil. Fold into the other mixture.
• Divide your batter into baking cups and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched.

7. Easy egg white omelet

As we said earlier, a protein-packed breakfast is a sensible option to curb your hunger and help you stay focused. This recipe from The Food Network will take you only about 15 minutes to prepare—and we promise it’s worth waking up those few minutes earlier to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ of a small onion, finely chopped
• 1 finely chopped plum tomato
• ½ cup spinach
• Salt and pepper
• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 tablespoon water
• Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions:

• Use a small skillet to add the onions, tomatoes, spinach and a small pinch of salt to the oil, cooking for about three to five minutes over medium heat until the onion is soft.
• Add pepper to taste, in addition to a second pinch of salt, and cook for another minute before removing the spinach mixture from the heat to a separate bowl. Cover and keep warm.
• In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg whites, water and a pinch each of salt and pepper until the mixture is frothy.
• Coat your skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium heat before adding the egg whites.
• Add egg whites while swirling them evenly in order to cover the bottom of the pan. Cook for about two minutes.
• Using a rubber scraper, lift the eggs up and let the runny, uncooked portion of the egg mixture flow underneath. Spoon the vegetable mixture onto half of the omelet. Fold over and place onto a plate.

With these quick and nutritious options to choose from, you’ll never skip the most important meal of the day. Since these recipes are easy and fun to prepare and work well on a college budget, breakfast may just end up being your favorite meal!

I underwent my first brain surgery at fifteen days old. And since then I have had six more. Five of those six surgeries happened before I was even four years old. By the time I was five, I had had more brain surgeries than birthdays.

To most people, that may seem like a lot, but when it comes to someone with hydrocephalus, it is pretty much the norm. It isn't unusual for someone to have undergone more than 50 brain surgeries. My last one took place when I was eleven years old, but that doesn't mean I’m home free. There is no telling as to whether I will have to have another one. I never know if it will fail again or not, and only time will tell.

At fifteen weeks gestation, I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a medical condition characterized by excess spinal fluid in the brain. The most common way to treat this condition is to insert a shunt, a device that helps drain the fluid to another part of the body. Most shunts fail within the first two years; they have the highest failure rate of any device that is medically implanted. Shunt failure means brain surgery because that is the only way to insert another shunt. Mine failed within a few months of the initial placement, so I went back in for another brain surgery. I wasn't even a year old.

However, I do not let the uncertainty in my health stop me in anything I have wanted to do, including attending college several hours away from home. To be completely honest, it’s not the uncertainty that is the most difficult thing to live with; it’s the various challenges with which hydrocephalus comes.

One of the primary difficulties I face is the challenge I experience in social situations. I am often unable to interpret sarcasm or know how to respond to it, sometimes making it hard to really communicate with my peers especially because sarcasm can be so present in friendships and in people’s personalities. I also struggle to make eye contact with others, which can make it seem as if I do not care about what other people are saying. Another thing that is tough is reading people. There are times where I will truly have no idea as to whether people are being genuinely nice or not. I became aware of these issues shortly after starting high school, and actually being aware of them has affected me because I am more cautious in approaching people and getting to know them. Fortunately, I’ve never been bullied—I don’t think it’s even that obvious to other people that I am having these difficulties. Instead, I’m harder on myself than others are in social situations. I am a little self-conscious because I worry that I might say something wrong or make no sense, and that people will find me strange, but I know I can't let that stop me from living my life.

Regardless, the situation definitely does make it hard for me to form friendships, especially here in college, but I manage as best as I can because I know these problems won't be going away anytime soon. I have learned to adjust to all the changes of college despite the extra challenges that I deal with. I’m working on worrying less about what other people think of me. In the grand scheme of things, their opinions really don't matter. What makes things hard for me, I think, is that I can never truly tell what people are thinking of me. Most of the time, it is that people really are being nice, but it can be hard to recognize that without questioning if they’re faking it or not.

The challenges I face are not just social, but spatial as well. I can’t read maps, and if I go somewhere one time, I probably won’t be able to get there again—I need to visit the same place multiple times before remembering how to get back. Most of the time, I need somebody to actually take me where I need to go. Even just trying to locate a restroom in a restaurant—or getting back to the table—can be a challenge. To a lot of people, this can be funny, but to me it’s anything but humorous. I end up wandering around until I figure out where I am, but it’s always embarrassing. Most of the time, I leave earlier than I need to for class, so I have time to find my way if I do get lost.

Lastly, I also face academic challenges. I have a hard time with math—difficulties that extend outside the normal realm of hating the subject. It doesn't matter how many times something gets explained to me; sometimes I'm honestly never going to understand some of the more complex concepts, such as those in geometry. Sometimes, it can seem that I am not even trying to learn something at all when in fact I have been working diligently to understand. But I just can't get it, no matter how hard I work. This is hard on me because I’m a perfectionist and want to understand it all. College has taught me that that will not always be possible.

As cliché as it sounds, I can only do my best, and I can't do it all every time. I haven’t let this affect my future plans, though—and fortunately, my career goals don’t involve a field that requires math. I aspire to become a special education teacher because I want to make a difference for students who are facing similar or other challenges. I know that I will teach students who face much larger obstacles than I have, but I hope to inspire them and let them know that through patience, persistence, and hard work, many of their goals can be achieved.

Living with a lifelong medical condition has taught me so much throughout the course of my life, and I know that just because I am in college now, I will never stop learning from hydrocephalus. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that we should all be more empathetic and less judgmental towards other people.

Hydrocephalus has also taught me what I am truly capable of. I never even dreamed that I could get an A in math, but that was exactly what I did my last two years of high school. I'm also proud of myself for attending college several hours away from home, my comfort zone. I was pretty quiet and never really talked in high school, but during my senior year, there came a time that was a good chance to tell my entire class about why I was the way I was, so I took that opportunity. And let me just say, speaking in front of peers is not easy, especially for me, but I was able to do it. I was so overwhelmed at the response. Everyone was so kind and accepting.

In college, I have tried to be pretty open about my experiences. It is tough to tell people about hydrocephalus because people never really know what it is and I don’t know what their reaction will be. I do it because I want to spread awareness about it. My mindset is, if I don't spread the word, who will? Hydrocephalus definitely is a large part of the person I am today, but it is not the complete me. I will never let it define my abilities or me. It will not deter me in my future aspirations and goals.

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You used to be those friends: the ones who told one another everything, did everything together, laughed at the same things together and gave the stink eye to anyone who dared try separating your crew. Recently, however, you've been noticing that even your closest friends have become increasingly secretive, wary and even jealous of your accomplishments, and it's really getting on your nerves.

Instead of being put under some evil spell or going through some serious personality changes, your friends are probably just feeling the effects of the college admissions season, so don’t stress too much – it’s probably only temporary. With everyone taking the same tests and trying to get into the same super-selective colleges, it's no wonder that the college applications process can bring out the worst in people. Luckily, all of this craziness will pass once graduation comes around, but until then, check out these four tips for dealing with college admissions competition among friends!   

1. Don't brag

There's always that one kid who gets admitted to college in December and then feels the need to share her absolutely fantastic news on Facebook with the whole world... repeatedly. Aww, isn't that thoughtful of her? But actually, don't be that kid. Although doing well on your SATs and receiving offers of admission definitely deserve celebration, bragging about it to your friends during college application season can come across as being insensitive to their feelings.

"Social media is a huge source for the competitive friend to bring attention to [his or her] success," says Kerri Kingery, a counselor at Canon City High School. "[That friend] seem[s] to get so caught up in [his or her] fame and forget the others that may be affected."

Remember the stress you went through to achieve those accomplishments? Imagine the pressure that your friends are under right now. It can be tough for even the nicest people to be happy for you when they don't know how their applications are going to turn out.

Your friends might not hear back from colleges at the same time, and some may get waitlisted or receive rejection letters. So make sure you don't rub it in when you find out that you were accepted to a college and others were not. Share your wonderful news, of course, but try to leave it at that. Limit the celebrations until each of your friends has found a school, and then rally up the crew and go all out!

And if you're in a position in which a close friend is the one who won't stop bragging about her college acceptances, be honest with her. Maybe try telling her point-blank that you're feeling anxious about your own college applications and that you could really use some support right now. Or, the next time you catch her bragging again, try to respond with some humor and a lack of encouragement instead of going with the flow and pretending to be impressed. Maybe even try paying her a compliment, which will probably make her day and give her less of a reason to continue bragging. Hopefully with a little confrontation she'll get the idea that real friends should be considerate and supportive of each other during these drama-filled times.

2. Curb your jealousy

On the flip side of things, your close friends might be doing really well with their college applications, and you're simply waiting for things to look up a bit on your end. It doesn't make you a bad friend if you feel jealous of their achievements; trust us, it's totally normal! But curbing this jealousy will make things a lot easier for everyone involved.

Natalie* and her best friend both applied early decision to the same Ivy League school, and it definitely put a strain on their friendship.

"Originally, we didn't really talk about the school we applied to at all because it was just too uncomfortable ... which was helpful—until, of course the official decision came out," Natalie says. "Because it was early decision ... it was the only school we had both heard back from, and I got a flat no and she got deferred.

"When we found out, we told each other right away," Natalie says. "We were best friends, so I would've told her any college news first anyway. She was gentle about it, and I think I was very insecure right away since I was the one who got the flat-out no."

For someone as competitive as Natalie, it was difficult not to be envious of her friend's deferral. But talking about it instead of being sneaky or secretive helped them work through this bump in their relationship. Stay open and honest, prepare yourself for the possibility that some of your friends may get accepted and you might not and remind yourself that it's not their fault if that happens.

It's a natural response to want to blame your friends for your own college decisions, but keep in mind that they really aren't the ones who ultimately send out those acceptance letters. Try not to take things personally.

"There could have been any number of factors for why they deferred her and rejected me, but in the moment it feels very personal and was really difficult for me to get over," Natalie says.

Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on your achievements, who you are and how proud you are of your own accomplishments. Feeling good about yourself will make it easier for you to be there for your friends and lessen the strain that inevitably comes out during college admissions.

3. Stop comparing yourself to others

All this competition among friends can really take a toll on everyone involved, and on some not-so-great days, it might feel like you're just not good enough. Don't let yourself feel defeated! Everyone comes from different backgrounds, has access to different resources and has different goals, so knowing your own limits and thinking realistically about your future can help you be the best you can be and achieve the best you can, which is all you can really ask for.

"Be real with yourself," Kingery says. "If there are limits that you have [to deal with] in making a decision about your post-secondary choices, realize those limits and shoot for the stars within your reality—feel power within your decisions and choices and know your own success. When you can positively act and think about how successful you can be, then your feeling and physiology will help drive you towards that success."

There is definitely a lot of truth behind the saying "just be yourself." Instead of worrying about how you look to other people, focus on all the hard work that you've put in and bask in the knowledge that you've picked the perfect college for you, not anybody else.

Letting bragging rights or rivalries color your college choice can potentially harm you when it comes to choosing the college that fits you the best, since the school that sounds the best on paper might not be the best fit for you. Instead, be true to yourself and you'll feel a sense of accomplishment and empowerment.

"I encourage students to think realistically about who they are, their goals, expenses, location and financial aid available," Kingery says. "Once they have their own sense of reality and accomplishment, then they begin to feel success in their choices."

So it doesn't matter that your fellow classmates might be getting accepted into more prestigious schools. You are your own person, and you should be proud of everything you've done. Don't let a little competition get in the way of that.

4. Look forward to the future

As high school seniors, college choices seem to define everything about you, and, let's be honest, it sucks. But remember: college isn't everything. It's what you make of your own education that counts. So while there might be petty squabbles and competition over colleges now, you'll be surprised by how little it will matter in a few months' time.

"There's seems to be a sense of prestige when it comes to college/universities students select or have been accepted to," Kingery says. "There's a ‘one-up’ ideal when students win or feel more successful than others."

Sarah Engstrand, a recent college grad, recalls an incident during college applications in which a classmate found out that another girl had applied to "her" school and started freaking out.

"We went to a very small school and the thought ... was that only one person would get in to each school," Sarah says. "With a big smile on her face, Joker-style, she went up to the girl and started screaming at her, in front of everyone! The pressure is so high at that stage of your life to get into the perfect college, you will sacrifice almost anything, or anyone, to get what you think you want."

The competition surrounding college applications can definitely reach reality-TV-level drama sometimes, but in the end you'll look back and probably chuckle to yourself at all those memories as you lounge in your awesome new college suite. Oh, and whatever happened to that girl from Sarah's high school?

"In the end, she didn't get into that college, but she ended up loving the one she did go to," Sarah says. "I wonder if she even remembers the little episode now?"

For Natalie and her best friend, what felt like such a huge deal senior year is also in the past; They ended up at different schools and are both happy now. So don't worry, it does get better!

For now, though, try to take your own mind off your friends' comparative successes and failures by using all that time you would've spent worrying on something productive, like researching the schools on your list. Looking at the degree programs, courses, extracurriculars and study abroad options that your schools offer is not only cooler than flailing about in all that drama, but will also help you find the right college that fits your needs and expectations!

There will always be people who will try to ruffle your feathers during college application season, but know that there's a lot more to look forward to in the near future: the work that you put into your education, the degree you receive, the experiences and opportunities that await you and more. So if your classmates want to compete and brag, let them; you'll have the satisfaction of being able to think ahead and daydream about all the things you'll be able to do as a college freshman.

It's probably like a battlefield out there right now in the high school world, with competition and rivalries happening among friends about college applications and acceptances. Armed with these tips, however, you can take pride in knowing that you're doing your personal best, and that's what matters. Once college comes around, all of this drama will fade into distant memory.

This season, the delicate shapes and gorgeous warm color tones of leaves are serving as excellent beauty inspiration. While nail polish in red, orange, brown and gold hues of fall leaves complement several skin tones and ensembles, there are many amazing ways to incorporate fall leaves themselves into nail decoration. Read on for some intricate and incredible seasonal nail art ideas that will have you looking festive and fabulous!

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Read how to do this design here.

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Read how to do this design here.

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Read how to do this design here.

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Read how to do this design here.

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Get painting, collegiettes!

Happy #ManiMonday! It's time for this week's sorority nail art post, and this week we're featuring Kappa Kappa Gamma. Keep reading to find out how to create a KKG-inspired mani full of blue polishes, glitter and a dainty fleur-de-lis!

Kappa's colors are dark blue and light blue so I used China Glaze Ride the Waves ($4.94) and Essie Mint Candy Apple ($8.50). I used Sinful Colors' Queen of Beauty ($4.34) to add a bit of glitz to the mani.

To begin, paint your thumb and pinky with the light blue and your middle three fingers with the dark blue.

Next, using the light blue polish and a toothpick, write the letters for Kappa Kappa Gamma on the middle three fingers, like the below.

To create the fleur-de-lis, Kappa's flower, start by drawing a line down the middle of your thumb. Finish it off by drawing two small c's on either side of the line.

To add some fun to your mani, paint your pinky with the glitter polish. I used quite a few coats to make the glitter more concentrated, but you can customize it to be as glittery as you'd like!

And there your have it—your Kappa Kappa Gamma mani is complete! As always, use a topcoat and allow sufficient dry time between each layer of polish. Now you're ready to go show off your beautiful nails to your sisters!

Let us know in the comments what sorority you'd like to see next!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Normally, Thanksgiving is the time of year we spend with our family, relax and eat until we’re completely stuffed, but unfortunately, some of us don’t get to head home and spend some time with loved ones.

Not to worry! Bring the spirit of Thanksgiving to your campus and celebrate Friendsgiving. Friendsgiving is simply the celebration of Thanksgiving, but with your closet pals. Bring all your pals together, create some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes and celebrate the friendship you share with one another. Get to visit your family this year? Host a Friendsgiving celebration with hometown friends! We’ve listed six amazing tips to ensure you have a Friendsgiving to remember.

1. Have the host cook the turkey

What’s Thanksgiving without the holiday’s traditional entrée? As the host, you should probably make the turkey just to make the transition from oven to table a lot smoother. But we’re college students, and whipping up a delicious turkey isn’t a skill we all have. Instead, opt for something easier to make, like turkey burgers. Completely clueless in the kitchen? Try the recipe below for easy-to-make but delicious turkey burgers!

Turkey Burgers

Recipe from Allrecipes

Serves 12 people

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds ground turkey
• ¼ cup seasoned bread crumbs
• ¼ cup finely diced onions
• 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Hamburger buns
• Slices of tomatoes, onions, lettuce and any condiments you like

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together ground turkey, seasoned bread crumbs, onion, egg whites, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper. Form into 12 patties.
2. Cook the patties in a medium skillet over medium heat, turning once, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Place 1 patty on the bottom half of each bun and add lettuce, onion and tomato slices as desired. Get creative and add different sauces or toppings!

2. The host should coordinate the potluck

For an even bigger (and delicious!) Thanksgiving feast, have friends bring their own dishes. If you’re the host, email guests different dishes to choose from so you can avoid multiple guests bringing the same thing. You can keep in tune with the holiday spirit and have guests bring their favorite Thanksgiving dish, or you can mix it up and have guests bring whatever dish they desire.

3. Get festive with decorations

Cute, festive decorations will turn this meal into an event. Buy a few holiday-scented candles, get an autumnal centerpiece, carve a pumpkin or two and buy a decorative harvest wreath. You’ll not only get into the holiday spirit, but your friends are sure to feel it, too!

“I celebrated with my girlfriends last year, and decorating was probably my favorite part!” says Taylor Brown, a senior at Iona College. “My parents gave me full control of the dining room, and instead of going out and buying decorations, we decided to create our own. The room was filled with DIY turkeys and pumpkins!”  

If you’re in the mood to get creative and you want to save some extra cash, try this DIY turkey table decoration!

Thanksgiving Turkey Decoration

From Ruche

Supplies:

• Feathers
• Felt
• Googly eyes
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Pinecones

Directions:

• Glue the eyes to the top of the pinecone.
• For the beak, cut a small triangle from the felt and apply with glue.
• Glue about 3-4 feathers on the bottom of the pinecone, following the shape of a semicircle.
• You’re all done! Display these cute turkeys as a table centerpiece or spread them throughout the dining room.

4. Don’t forget the entertainment

After the huge feast you and your friends just had, you’ll all probably feel stuck in a food coma. But that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! Below are some fun activities you and friends can do after your delicious dinner. You can even pair this time of night with some dessert if there’s still room!

• Bust out some board games: Traditional board games are always entertaining, so why not enjoy your favorite childhood board games surrounded by close friends? Trouble, anyone?
• Play some charades: This game is a classic, and engaging in some friendly competition is sure to keep everyone awake and involved!
• Watch a game of football: Gather in the living room with some snacks and a few drinks, and watch your favorite football team score a winning touchdown.

5. Give thanks

Some traditions just never get old. Don’t forget the most important part of Thanksgiving: being grateful for everything we have in life. During any time of the night, go around the room and have each person say one thing he or she is thankful for. It’s tradition!

6. Make it unique 

It’s Friendsgiving, after all – make it a celebration worth remembering! Since you won’t be celebrating with Mom and Dad, you don’t have to do the same thing you do every year. Start your own cooking ritual, or have you and your friends match one another in adorably tacky holiday sweaters.

“Every time we celebrate, my friends and I trace our hands on colored paper to make the turkeys we used to in grade school – it’s so funny!” says Alexandra Howell, a junior at Manhattan College. “After we’re done, we staple them together and hang them along a doorway. We don’t even remember who came up with idea for the very first time, but it definitely became a tradition that I’m sure will last forever.”

Before it’s back to school and finals roll around, set a day to celebrate with your closest friends and share what you’re truly thankful for. You never know—you may create a tradition that will last for years to come. 

There's no better way to spend a crisp fall day among all that gorgeous foliage on campus than in your coziest sweater. That's why everything from buttery-soft cashmere to layerable knits should be staples in every collegiette's closet.

Since you can never have enough fall sweaters in your closet, we've partnered up with Design History, the destination for on-trend cashmere and knits, to give away three $400 shopping sprees! A favorite of celebs like Olivia Wilde and Nikki Reed, everything from this NYC-based brand is made with super-luxe yarns in all of the season's top silhouettes. Crafted thoughtfully, each piece features unique details—such as in the stitching or embellishments—that bring personality to every sweater. Need some fall fashion inspiration? Be sure to follow Design History on Instagram for days on days of chunky knits, cozy cardigans and more.

Ready for a new sweater collection? Enter below now for a chance to win one of 3 $400 Design History shopping sprees!

As recent grads, we all have expectations of what our lives will look like. Some of what we’ve planned for rings true, but the rest? Not so much—and we just might have Friends to thank for that. As sad as it may be, we must come to terms with the fact that we are not Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Ross or Chandler, and we will not spend the majority of our twenties lounging on a comfy orange couch (although we’ll probably be making more time for that come January 1, when all 10 seasons of the show are released on Netflix… cue the happy tears).

Presenting: “The One Where Friends Repeatedly Lied to Us”

Lie #1: Even as an unemployed actor or mediocre (to put it kindly) waitress, you will be able to live in a large two-bedroom apartment in the hottest neighborhood.

As many graduettes will tell you, the palaces featured on Friends aren’t quite representative of a typical first apartment (read: shoebox). Paying rent on an entry-level salary is a very real struggle that the Friends characters somehow seemed to avoid. Yes, they were always looking for extra ways to earn cash, but how much can you really make by donating fluids (Joey) or selling knives (Phoebe)?

Lie #2: Your friends will always be available and somewhere within a two-block radius whenever you’re looking to hang out.

This might be the saddest lie of them all. Unlike college, you probably aren’t able to spend hours of each day with your BFFs. Finding time for one another during the week can be a major challenge, especially if you live or work in different neighborhoods. The good news is you’ll value the moments you do spend together that much more. Aww.

Lie #3: You’ll know people with pet monkeys, chicks, ducks and rats.

Sure, you might have friends with cats or fish, but you probs won’t be hanging out with any farm and/or zoo animals any time soon. This also means you don’t have to worry about being attacked or humped by a monkey on a first date (we hope).

Lie #4: If and when you have kids of your own, they will demand minimal attention and disappear altogether around the age of 6.

But seriously, what happened to Ben?! Ross’s son ceased to exist in the last few seasons of the show, but anyone with nieces, nephews or a babysitting job can attest that children are a major responsibility and that they sometimes, just sometimes, get in the way of hanging out with friends.

Lie #5: Pizza will always be delivered by a super-hot girl (not to be confused with the equally hot girl who works at the copy place).

Hot delivery girls are hard to come by IRL. Ross trying (and failing) to flirt with said delivery girl? Now that seems pretty accurate.

Lie #6: You will date someone new every week, or, in Joey’s case, every day.

We hate to break it to you, but your dating life will probably pale in comparison to those of the Friends characters. You may not date a billionaire or a scientist or a celebrity, and you won’t meet someone new (let alone someone dateable!) every time you leave your apartment. There’s also a chance that you won’t marry one of your three guy friends.

Lie #7: Don’t worry if you accidentally kiss your interviewer (or scream at him, or forget his name); you will still get the job.

Oh, Rachel Green, if only we all had your charm. On the bright side, we can feel happy with ourselves every time we survive an interview without a makeout sesh. Way to set the bar high, Rach.

Lie #8: You will remain best friends with your ex after multiple messy breakups.

You can also hook up with your ex’s best friend (who happens to be another one of your best friends) and remain BFFs with both of them… JK. Yes, Ross and Rachel shared the love story of the century, and they’re the reason we ugly-cried all of seasons two through four, but that doesn’t mean that their relationship was normal. It’s totally okay if you don’t want to spend all day err day with your ex. 

Lie #9: You won’t get fired for spending half of the workday at a coffee shop with your friends.

Yes, Monica got fired from a restaurant once for taking home steaks, but what about the fact that she worked three hours a day? All of the friends seemed to share the mindset that work was fairly optional. Maybe that orange couch was always available because everyone else was at the office! Mystery solved.

Lie #10: Don’t bother locking your door. Ever.

And if you somehow find yourself locked out, you should knock down the door, naturally. But really—be safe, graduettes.

Now that we’re all questioning everything we’ve ever thought to be true, we should probably mention that there is one thing that Friends actually did get right: No matter what happens with jobs, apartments, financial situations or SOs, your besties will always be there for you (and they’ll know when it’s time to whip out the Ben & Jerry’s and turn on everyone’s favorite show).  

Name: Melissa Johnson
Age: 28
Job Title and Description: Creative Director at lifestyle website Best Friends For Frosting
Website (if applicable): www.bestfriendsforfrosting.com
Twitter Handle: @BfForFrosting

What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day? 

Melissa Johnson: For the past three years, I’ve spent the majority of my time behind the computer managing our contributors, emailing, managing social media, curating content, coming up with content strategies and so much more. Now that I know this part of the business inside and out, it’s time for new ventures. I could not be more excited to switch up my role and finally spend more quality time on the creative side of things. I will be able to focus more on being creative with more photo shoots, video shoots, and creating projects. 

What is the best part of your job?

MJ: Creating content aiming to inspire others to be their best selves inspires me every day. We have an amazing team of hardworking girls who are so passionate about everything Best Friends For Frosting embodies. It’s an honor that we can play a role in sharing creative ways and inspiring others to love their life inside and out!
 
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

MJ: I was a marketing director for my parent’s senior in-home care agency. They sort of handed the position to me. Just kidding… sort of. I loved working for their company and put 110 percent into everything I did. Even though I could have probably gotten away with texting and Facebook-ing at work, I was very self-disciplined and made sure to put my all into my job. Watching my parents operate a 25 year-old company built from the ground up was very inspiring and was living proof to me that, “Your dream job does not exist, you must create it.” 

What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now? 

MJ: Content is king! Focus on amazing quality content versus large quantities of mediocre content.  One incredible original post has the potential to go viral and create a much more memorable experience for readers versus 30 basic posts.

Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?

MJ: Marie Forleo. I am a “B-Schooler” and love her classes and weekly YouTube videos too.  She puts the fun in entrepreneurship and makes it relatable.
 
What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

MJ: “Your dream job does not exist. You must create it!” 

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

MJ: Before I launched Best Friends For Frosting, I helped my husband launch an art/music/fashion website. We actually ended up spending more than $10,000 on unnecessary legal fees to start up our “corporation.” It was an expensive, valuable lesson that we definitely learned from.

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

MJ: Everything! I have so much gratitude to be able to financially support my family while doing something I love and am so passionate about. It’s been surreal to be able to hire people on our team this year. 

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

MJ: They have to be self-motivated and passionate about what we do at Best Friends For Frosting. No matter what degree they have or how amazing they are in other areas, those two are an absolute must!  

What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

MJ: Make sure that whatever you do bounces back to yourself and your brand authentically. Do what YOU love. Take time to find your own unique voice. I know, it’s a hair awkward at first, but you will get there. 

Also, collaborate, collaborate, collaborate! Whether it’s local or online, I think hitting the pavement and collaborating with creatives and go-getters has been one of the most valuable parts of my creative process. When you have a handful of talented people who share your style in one room, magical things are bound to happen.

1. Calling for pizza at 2 a.m. is not a ridiculous request.

2. You can’t get in trouble for keeping pizzas in your freezer.

3. Your friends and family already approve of pizza.

4. You can dress up a pizza however you’d like.

5. Pizza will respect your decision to stay single and keep you company with no expectations of romantic involvement.

6. Every pizza can pull off being “cheesy.”

7. Pizza can be at your door in 30 minutes or less.

8. A surprise visit from pizza is always welcome.

9. You don’t mind claiming leftover pizza.

10. Pizza will always be there for you in your time of need.

11. You never have to settle with pizza — you can order exactly what you want, when you want it.

12. Even when pizza’s not hot, it’s desirable.

13. A date with pizza is never awkward.

14. Pizza knows how to be sweet in a subtle way.

15. You will not regret mixing pizza and alcohol.

16. With pizza, the only baby you need to worry about is a food baby.

When boys are rude and annoying, it's nice to know there's a partner out there that will never abandon us. Pizza, we love you. 

The media isn't always the most realistic when it comes to depicting relationships (like, say, the sappy, unrealistic happily-ever-after ending), but there are a few lessons we can learn from some of the couples we watch on TV. It's especially easy to pick apart the notorious “will they or won't they?" couples from our favorite TV shows - the ones who constantly flirt, create tension and break up, only to get back together again. Here's our top eight "will they or won't they?" couples from TV!

1. Ross and Rachel from Friends

This one is a given. You might even say that Ross Geller and Rachel Green were one of the first couples of this category, constantly changing their minds about each other from season to season: "We were on a break!" That’s the catch with these types of couples – their outcomes are all different. Luckily for Ross and Rachel, they end up happily together. Though they had a few blips in their relationship, they eventually find each other in the end, simply because it was meant to be.

Ross and Rachel have had their bad moments (read: the Xerox girl), but it's clear that the two belong together. Ross's sassy/smart attitude and uninhibited opinions balance out Rachel's shallow and naive side. Sometimes the relationship is worth it, even through all the drama – and this is definitely one of those relationships.

2. Danny and Mindy from The Mindy Project

Since the show premiered back in 2012, Danny and Mindy have been a couple waiting to happen. Sure, the two characters repulsed each other during the first couple seasons, but once we saw Danny coming around, there was no stopping it from happening.

While some of us loved the Mindy/Cliff combo, there are tons of different reasons that brought Mindy and Danny together. Danny’s stone-faced demeanor perfectly balances Mindy’s babbling behavior. Sure, it’s not a perfect relationship, in the time that the two have been together, we can already see that the characters bring out the best in each other. While Danny and Mindy most definitely have their ups and downs (with Mindy’s drama-obsessed attitude, how can you not expect them to?), their relationship has strong promise.

We like the couple together because they clearly make each other better people. In one recent episode, Mindy smoothed over Danny's relationship with his mother, and in another, she forced him to finalize the divorce Danny had been putting off. And alternatively, Danny has been able to tone Mindy down and help her prioritize what's most important in her life. Though the relationship has its pitfalls, it ultimately makes both characters happier and better.

3. Nick and Jess from New Girl

Nick and Jess are quite the unlikely couple – a grumpy, less-than-motivated bartender and a quirky, bubbly teacher – but that's exactly why fans love them together. Nick tones down Jess's bubbly outbursts and Jess balances out Nick's monotonous daily activities.

When the show began in 2011, we were all wondering what sort of relationships would spring out of a girl living with a group of goofy guys. It was soon established that there was no romantic air between Jess and any of the roommates, but we slowly saw something develop between Nick and Jess during the second season after they're forced to kiss.

And while Nick and Jess have had their cute moments, we don't think they're the best for each other. It became clear at the end of last season when the two broke up, simply because they have nothing in common. While Jess' enthusiasm balances out with Nick's lack of motivation, there's something to be said about their differences. It's clear that Jess wants more out of the relationship and that Nick doesn't mind settling for less. And if the two can't even agree on trivial things, then perhaps they shouldn't be in a relationship together.

While Nick and Jess are no longer together, that's no saying that it can't happen again. Two exes living in the same apartment – and at the moment, the same room? That's a get-together waiting to happen.

4. Jim and Pam from The Office

If there was ever any romantic tension between two TV characters, it was between Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly on The Office. The show, which ran for nine successful seasons, constantly relied on the ever-so-juicy Jim/Pam subplot. Prospects seem rough at the start of the show when Pam was engaged to another guy and Jim relocated to a different office. We watch as the two go through ups and downs of crushes, separate relationships and flirty interactions in between. It’s clear to viewers that Jim and Pam were meant to be from the start (How can you ignore the hilarious pranks, obvious tension and adorable gifts?). Once the couple finally started dating, it took off from there.

Jim and Pam make sense for an array of different reasons, and they’re one of our favorite TV couples because the portrayal of their relationship is so realistic. It shows us that even when the timing is off or when jealousy is involved, a couple can still pull through and be strong. Even though their relationship isn’t necessarily movie-magical (a proposal at the gas station, marriage issues, money problems), Jim and Pam work through their issues to make their relationship strong.

5. Olivia and Fitz from Scandal

If you’re a Scandal fan, you’re well aware of the Olitz relationship. Throughout the entire series, flashback episodes give us more insight to the relationship between Olivia Pope and Fitz Grant. As the show progresses, dramatic discoveries are revealed and more controversy is created over their relationship.

The two characters are both very independent, so one would expect them to butt heads – but just the opposite happens. It’s refreshing to finally see a couple of strong characters build a good relationship together.

Still, Scandal fans have differing views on whether the relationship is good or not. While the Olivia/Fitz relationship does have its strong points, we're hoping it doesn't hold through. The signs are there: It's a forbidden love and a relationship filled with constant drama, so it's likely an unhealthy relationship that won't last. Though their relationship is a good source for some excitement in the show, we don't think it should continue on in the next season.

6. Ted and Robin from How I Met Your Mother

Though the plotline of How I Met Your Mother is overall based on the events that led up to Ted meeting the mother of his children, it generally follows a timeline of his relationship (and lack thereof) with Robin Scherbatsky.

Needless to say, Ted and Robin have a complicated relationship. Ted has relationship problems in all nine seasons of the show, and the tough and independent Robin has her own issues to deal with. While our hope was hindered by their breakups, even through Ted’s relationships with a string of other women and Robin’s marriage to Barney, somehow we knew that Ted would end up with “Aunt Robin.”

While we fangirled over Ted and Robin at the beginning of the series (you can't say the whole blue French horn thing wasn't adorable), fans lost interest in the couple once Barney and Robin got together. Ted and Robin may have been cute together, but Barney and Robin became the cool couple – they were friends turned romantic. The whole How I Met Your Mother series finale wasn't the biggest success, and Ted and Robin's reunion was definitely one of the low parts, as fans were still settled on Robin being with Barney.

7. Luke and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls

What better time to analyze the characters of Gilmore Girls than right after it has been added to Netflix? We knew Luke would be a key character in Lorelai’s life from the very beginning (heck, his diner appears in every episode). A hunky chef and a diner junkie who doesn’t know how to cook? How could they be a more perfect pair?

Needless to say, however, Luke and Lorelai’s relationship was a little rocky. We had hope when Lorelai proposed in season five, but once the relationship became strained throughout season six, there was no going back.

But unfortunately, Luke and Lorelai didn't exactly get the ending they deserved. Sure, the kiss at the end of the series implies that the two end up together, but fans still have a lot to worry about when it comes to their relationship. There are a lot of loose ends that need to be tied up before Luke and Lorelai can have a healthy relationship, like Luke's relationship with Anna, arguments surrounding April, and Luke's past relationships with Nicole and Rachel. While we love the two together, the writers didn't give the characters the ending they should have gotten, what with all the drama in the last few seasons.

The “will they or won’t they?” couple is a great concept for writers to use in order to move the plot along, but after a few breakups and get-togethers, it gets a little old. We wish the writers of Gilmore Girls would have just kept Luke and Lorelai the happy couple that they were meant to be.

8. Emma and Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time has done a great job with keeping us wondering whom Emma will end up with – first it was the Huntsman, then the complicated relationship with Neal. And once she ran into Hook in season two, she knows he’s trouble. After an intense (and flirty!) swordfight in Fairy Tale Land, the two finally break the tension with a passionate kiss. And while Emma may have insisted that it was just a one-time thing, Hook ensures that it won’t be.

Because Hook fell for Emma while she was interested in another man, it changed the way he approached her. Hook made it clear that he would do anything to get Emma to be with him, so perhaps she should give him a chance. This might be the perfect opportunity for her to start steering away from her typical “bad boy” boyfriends!

We just can’t resist the suspense and romance of a good “will they or won’t they?” subplot! These couples keep us on our toes, wondering whether or not the characters are good for each other and will end up together.

When pop culture tries to capture what it's like to live in a sorority house, they usually get it wrong. You know it's not all pillow fights and crazy parties; it's just you and your sisters, driving one another crazy and making memories. Is it anything like what you see in the movies? Not at all. Is it the best decision you've ever made? Absolutely. 

1. You've forgotten what it's like to have people knock before entering a room.

Sweet privacy, how we miss you. 

2. And personal space is a thing of the past, too. 

How many times do you have to say, "I'm gonna go to bed" before your sorority sister decides to get out of your room?

3. You know that even though movies love to show sororities throwing huge parties, the house is usually completely dry.

As in, totally alcohol free. 

4. And boys are only allowed in certain parts of the house. 

Your room? That's off-limits. 

5. Even though you share a bathroom with a bunch of other girls, you're extremely territorial when it comes to your preferred shower stall.

It actually has water pressure that can rinse the shampoo out of your hair. 

6. Someone is always awake in the house.

She's either studying or watching Netflix, so feel free to join. 

7. Quiet hours? What quiet hours?

On the bright side, you've learned to sleep through almost anything. 

8. There are always people asleep on the couch.

And you're never sure if you should wake them or not. 

9. You know that good news travels fast and gossip travels faster. 

You know exactly who lives for the drama.

10. You can always find yourself a ride off campus. 

Just say the magic words: "Please" and, "I'll buy you Starbucks."

11. You've been woken up by the fire alarms in the middle of the night because someone burned popcorn. 

No matter how badly you want to be angry, it's way too funny watching your sisters scramble out of bed to wait for the fire department to arrive.

12. Any time you dress in anything other than Nike shorts and an oversized shirt, you get 1,000 compliments. 

It's a serious confidence booster.

13. On the flip side, be prepared for your sisters to tease you if you come home for brunch in last night's outfit. 

They tease you because they love you. 

14. You've got that one sister who is really great at pep talks.

Who you will hunt down if/when you need to vent. 

15. And you can always count on at least one sister who makes some... interesting life choices.

She's the one you'll hear coming in at 4 a.m. and feel compelled to check on. 

16. You know how important it is to be nice to your kitchen staff. 

How nice you are directly correlates with how many leftovers they will save for you.

17. And how quickly your house mom becomes your stand-in mom.  

She loves you, but she also makes sure the house doesn't burn down. Everybody wins!

18. You know that girls can be pretty gross. 

Just try sharing a bathroom with 40 women and see for yourself. 

19. But at least you know that you'll never run out of clothes. 

Because you can beg from every girl who lives in the house. Just be prepared to return the favor.

20. The temperature in the house is either as hot as a hot yoga studio or cold enough to be considered a tundra. 

You've just got to deal with it. 

21. You're surrounded by people you love 24/7, and you wouldn't trade your experience for anything in the world.

Ever. 

Between jobs, internships and classes, it can be hard for collegiettes to find time to unwind and let loose. After a crazy day, going out partying is a fun and exciting way to hang out with friends and forget about your to-do list for a few hours.

Although parties are a good time, there’s a fine line between having fun and getting out of control. Before you know it, your continuous partying could start negatively affecting your health and life. If you or a friend is struggling with keeping your party habits under control, read on for relatable and reliable advice about monitoring your going-out habits.

1. You’re Sleep Deprived or You Can’t Fall Asleep   

According to Sandra Halbruner, a nurse practitioner at Messiah College’s Engle Center for Counseling and Health Services, sleep deprivation is a main concern and consequence of partying too much.

“By failing to get enough sleep by staying out too late to party, you’re essentially handicapping your brain,” Halbruner says. Since trying to get enough rest is difficult on a regular basis, it becomes even harder when partying is added to the mix. If you find that you’re failing to get the rest you need to stay mentally alert after too many late nights out, your partying habits could be becoming a problem.

Furthermore, drinking impairs your quality of sleep, so even if you are getting to bed at a sane hour, if you’re frequently doing so drunk, you won’t be as well-rested. Since getting enough sleep is so important for your health, if you find that you’re run down from too much barhopping, it can never hurt to take a weekend off.  

2. Your Grades are Slipping

As if being enrolled in several college classes at once isn’t enough, maintaining your social schedule can prove to be daunting and distracting. Schoolwork may be put on the back burner if you’re more concerned about what to wear to that night’s party or if you’re nursing hangovers instead of studying on Sundays.

Although partying seems much more exciting compared to your research paper or upcoming exam, try to remember the importance of your academic life. Halbruner notes that one of the earliest signs of problem partying is when your grades begin to drop.

“The student could originally be strong academically, but they soon find that they are too exhausted from their partying to have any motivation to complete their work, especially if they are using substances like drugs and/or alcohol,” she says.

The same goes for if you’ve been a lot less productive, you’re handing in assignments late or you’ve started to skip class more often to recover from a late night out. Remember, it’s never too late to recover your academic performance—but the sooner you recognize that you need to step it up, the easier it will be to get back on track. If you do find that your grades are going downhill, set up a meeting with your professor to see if there are any extra credit opportunities or if there are other ways you can get back on track for the rest of the semester.

3. Your Mood is Changing  

If partying has caused your sleeping schedule to change and your academic performance to decrease, these new changes to your lifestyle could also negatively influence your mood and how you’re able to handle the day-to-day grind. 

Halbruner says that when you start partying too much, you “may seem more anxious or depressed than usual,” which will have an effect on your motivation to do work, as well as your relationships with others. If you notice that you’ve become moodier than usual, or if small annoyances are getting to you more often, this could be a sign that your partying is taking a toll on you.

4. You’re Having Conflicts with Friends and Roommates

If you become out of control regularly on the nights you go out, your roommates or friends probably bear the burden for picking up the pieces. This can cause frustration and conflict because it can get tiring and stressful to always be the one making sure that someone doesn’t drive drunk or hook up with someone they shouldn’t. If your friends often confront you the next day about what you did last night, or seem upset or annoyed the morning after, don’t take this lightly. Remember, they have your best interests in mind! 

Halbruner notes that being out late partying and getting less sleep will have an impact on your interpersonal relationships as well. If this cycle of unpredictability and uncontrollable behavior is a common occurrence, then your partying may be getting out of control.

If your relationships do become strained, sit down with your friends and hear their perspectives. It can be hard to hear the problems that your friends have with your behavior, but that could be the wake-up call you need.  Knowing that your behavior doesn’t just affect you but can also hurt or bother others can give you the motivation you need to cut back. Your friends will be more than willing to help you think of strategies to get back in control.

5. You’re Having Conflicts With Your Parents

The partying scene can also have negative effects on how it feels to go home for a weekend. The desire to play with younger siblings or engage during family dinner may decrease, since going out with friends to the club or to drink might be a bigger priority. Conflicts and arguments with parents become more frequent the less time and effort you spend on nurturing family relationships. If you find that you’re dreaded going home more than usual, you’re nervous to speak with your parents or you fear the consequences of what will happen if they were to find out about your partying, this could be a sign to tone things down a notch.

6. You’re Relying on Alcohol

It’s no secret that there’s alcohol at college parties. Drinking has become so integrated in the college experience that it can be difficult to tell when your habits cross over from social drinking to alcohol dependency. Signs of dependency include craving drinks throughout the day, constantly having thoughts about drinking or being unable to go out with your friends without drinking.

Halbruner says that “if you’re at the point where you’re waking up with hangovers often,” this can be a sign of a problem, despite how much our culture has accepted hangovers as the inevitable aftermath of drinking.

Halbruner notes that medical experts will often use a set of questions known as “CAGE” in order to help determine alcohol dependency in a person. The acronym stands for feeling as if you should Cut down on your alcohol use, feeling Annoyance if someone asks you about your drinking habits, feeling Guilty about your drinking habits and having an Eye-opening experience, such as drinking in the morning to steady your nerves. Asking yourself whether you’ve had these experiences can guide you toward confronting a potential problem.

7. You’re Getting Sick Often

When your partying is out of control, your physical health is often affected. If you’re not sleeping enough or not eating nutritious food (because a salad never really sounds good after a night of drinking), your immune system will take a hit. “Sleep deprivation and stress alone can affect your immune system,” Halbruner says. “Once you had partying to the mix, it becomes even worse.” Since our demanding schedules don’t leave room for sickness, this can become a serious issue quickly.

8. You’re Blacking Out

Nothing is worse than not being able to remember where you were or what you did at the party that you went to last night. When you experience a blackout, your sense of memory and control is impaired, which is a scary concept to think about. The cause of a blackout – ingesting large amounts of alcohol in a short amount of time – causes damage to your physical health, such as liver problems, that could turn deadly. If you find yourself frequently blacking out after a partying, this is definitely a sign that your partying has become out of control.

You also put yourself at risk of getting into countless dangerous situations when you’re blacked out. From going home with someone you shouldn't and getting separated from your friends to losing your belongings or injuring yourself, lacking total awareness when you’re out can end in a number of horrible ways.

Solving the Problem

If anything, simply recognizing that you are experiencing one of the above eight problems can help you uncover the impact of your partying. “Your brain isn’t fully mature until age 25, so until then it’s a bit harder to see the impact and effects of your decisions,” Halbruner says. “Although, if you do begin to notice that your quality of life is starting to crumble – such as lower grades and sleep loss – that’s a huge sign that it’s time to make a change.”

To try and tone down your partying habits, Halbruner recommends working on learning how to prioritize your time.

“Students often want to party to relieve their stress, almost self-medicating by partying,” she says. For a more permanent stress release, decide how to make your schedule work for you, and take care of yourself by making time for enough rest and other healthy habits.

If you’re concerned about your health or the health of a friend, seek help from your campus’s health center, which will have trained professionals who care about your health and safety during your time at college. You’ll be taking one of the first steps towards becoming healthier and happier.

Our knitted infinity scarves, knee high boots and oversized sweaters thrive in the winter, but our hairstyles aren’t always a fan of the unpredictable precipitation. There are few things worse than spending a significant amount of your precious time styling your hair, only to realize the weather isn’t in your favor and having all of your hard work go from fabulous to frizzy.

Despite this news, worry not, collegiettes! A little rain, snow or wind during the winter months doesn't mean you have to go a full season without a proper 'do. No matter how you wear your hair, we've got tips, tricks and the best products to use to keep those locks looking great, even in the stormiest of weather.

Straight

Smooth, sleek and chic, straight locks are perfect for giving off a glam and professional vibe.

Before you begin styling your hair, spray a leave-in conditioner infused with keratin from the middle of your strand s down to your ends. We recommend It’s a 10 Miracle Leave In Conditioner plus Keratin ($20) for salon quality results at home. This formula offers 10 benefits to your hair that go beyond what most leave-in conditioning sprays offer in order to replace lost protein, detangle, de-frizz and add plenty of shine. You can apply the spray to damp hair before blow drying, or add sparingly to dry hair before styling (too much of it can leave your hair looking damp, or worse - greasy).

Next, straighten your hair as normal. For long term anti-frizz protection, we suggest investing in a keratin-infused straightener, such as the Keratin Therapy Flat Iron from Remington($40).

After straightening your hair, making sure your hair is completely dry first, mist hairspray onto your strands to give your locks extra staying power. For a light finish that will still give your hair the protection it needs, try using the Touchable Finish Lightweight Hold Hairspray from Suave ($3). Depending on the severity of the weather, you can put your hair in a loose, low ponytail before heading on the down so it stays together, and then remove the hair elastic once you get to where you need to go. Your hair will have less of a chance of being a frizzy, wavy mess if you keep this trick in mind.

Curly

Sexy, stylish and statement-making, curls are a timeless and glamorous hairstyle.

An easy trick to give your curls staying power is to curl your hair the day after you wash your hair, rather than the same day you do wash your hair. The natural oils your hair produces will give your curls extra hold. When you do wash your hair, use a lightweight conditioner instead of a heavy deep conditioner in order to prevent your hair from being weighed down.

When curling your hair, use hair clips or bobby pins to your advantage by immediately pinning the curl to your head after you curl it while it sets. Then when you’ve finished styling completely, spray with an extra hold hairspray such as the Tres Two Hold Extra Firm Control Hairspray from TRESemme ($4)—after the hairspray dries completely, take all the pins out.

By taking preventative measures such as using the extra hold hairspray and giving your curls plenty of time to set, you’re helping to ensure your style stays put, rain or shine. For added protection, make sure you have a jacket with a hood to put over your hair before heading out the door.

Braids

Weather really getting you down? Braids are perfect for stormy weather—they're the least likely to get frizzy, lose their shape or have strands blown askew. Plus, they're easy to do! However, there are still some precautions you can take to make sure the look stays in point all day.

When you’re ready to braid your hair, make sure you use some product in order to give your hair a bit of grip and to prevent stray pieces of hair from escaping your style. Use a texturizer such as the Texturizing Sculpting Wax($5) from Pantene. Using a product such as this gives your hair the moisture and protection it craves in order to look fabulous all day long.

To amp up this style, you can also add a cute accessory, like a patterned hair elastic or a small hair bow. This way if your hair does get a little frizzy or unmanageable, the focus can be on your accessory instead of any minor hair mishaps that may happen to your braid. You can also go Blake's route and opt for a messy fishtail braid. This way the loose strands that fall throughout the day look intentional—and chic!

Updos

Often reserved for formal events, fancy updos can quickly go from flawless to freaky in bad weather if they are well prepared for the climate.

The biggest asset to a great updo is making sure you use plenty of extra hold hairspray in order to keep the style in place, especially if the weather is unfavorable. Once again, we recommend the Tres Two Hold Extra Firm Control Hairspray from TRESemme($4) so your hair doesn’t fall apart.

Another tip is to make sure you use plenty of bobby pins in your updo. If it happens to be a style that stays on the top of your head, this step is essential if it’s windy outside! Bobby pins are easy to use and offer great protection for your style without the use of protect.

How do you keep your hair looking fierce during winter storms? Tell us in the comments!

When applying for job or internship, there’s a good chance that employers want you to send a resume and cover letter for the position. While a resume is a good way to outline all your qualifications, a solid cover letter can help you convey your personality, explain your career goals and share stories to elaborate on your awesome accomplishments. 

However, writing a good cover letter can be tricky. It’s tempting to reuse an old cover letter for a different position, research templates online or include those clichéd phrases that make employers cringe, but resist that temptation! HC talked to career experts to find out cover-letter clichés that employers hate and what to do instead to make your cover letter the best it can be.

1. The cliché: Starting your letter with “To Whom it May Concern”

… or “Dear Sir/Madam,” or any other vague salutation. “There are hundreds of cover letter mistakes to avoid, but some of the worst ones include addressing the hiring manager as ‘sir’ or ‘madam’ [or] including the wrong company name,” says Heather R. Huhman, founder and president ofCome Recommended, a digital PR consulting website that help companies increase their online presence.

These phrases are overused and impersonal and tell the employer that you didn’t do enough research to find out his or her name. The last thing you want the hiring manager to think is that you don’t care, so it’s crucial you start your cover letter off right.

The fix: Address the employer by name in your salutations

Some job listings might have direct contact information (which would make this a super easy fix), but otherwise you might have to use your research skills. Check the company’s website to see who holds positions like “hiring manager” or “recruiter.” If the listing is through your career center, ask one of the career counselors if he or she has more information about the position. He or she may have a contact to an alumna/alumnus or someone in the company who might know to whom you should address your letter.

If you do find a name, make sure you’re appropriately addressing him or her with Mr., Ms., Dr., etc. Again, you might have to do some research. A quick LinkedIn search of the person should help you with this. And if you absolutely can’t find the name of the hiring manager? Laura Burrell, assistant director of experiential education at Pratt Institute’s career center suggests using the salutation “Greetings” because it’s considered more up-to-date. Your greeting is literally the first thing a potential employer reads, so show her you care by personally addressing her!

2. The cliché: Using buzzwords like “hardworking” or “team player”

With the number of cover letters employers read, it’s likely that they’ve seen dozens of “hardworking team players” or others with “strong communication skills” who “always give 110 percent.”  The point of a cover letter is to stand out, not repeat buzzwords you think will make you sound more legit.

The fix: Give lots of examples of why you’re a “hardworking team player”

While you probably really are a hardworking team player, there are other ways to convey that idea without using the clichéd buzzwords employers hate. “The best way to avoid these clichés is to be genuine and candid with your cover letter,” Huhman says. “Explain to the employer why you’re the best candidate for the position, and provide supporting examples.”

Burrell says that being genuine is all about self-awareness. “Ask yourself, ‘what am I really good at? What can I contribute to this company or organization based on the job description?’” she says.

The employer has your resume, so he or she knows that you were on the editor of your school’s newspaper. Use your cover letter to tell about a time that you had to rally your staff before a big deadline. Or recount an instance when you had to use your critical thinking skills to solve a problem with another group on campus. The key is to provide examples to show when you were hardworking or a team player instead of explicitly saying it.

“[An easy way to do this] can be, ‘My skills are more developed in X… or… When working on X, I have great command over Y and hope to pair these skills with Z, which I can learn as an intern/employee at your organization,” Burrell says.

If you can’t come up with concrete examples that are applicable to the position, consider why you want to work for this company in the first place. “Think about what [the] organization represents to you and how their work influences your work,” Burrell suggests. “[Describe] what you can learn while there [as an intern or employee], and make connections with the person reading your document.”

And while you might think it’s best to tell your potential employer every single example of when you worked on a team, conciseness is crucial for cover letters. “Ideally, you should be able to explain your relevant skills and experience in about three to four short paragraphs,” Huhman says. “Don’t worry about the nitty-gritty details of a previous internship or project. Simply share the most important details from your experience and talk about your results.” By using real-life, concise examples instead of overused adjectives, you’ll come across more genuinely, which is what employers are looking for.

3. The cliché: Starting every sentence or each paragraph with “I.”

This cliché seems a little counterintuitive because your cover letter is all about you… right? Not quite.

“Don’t start every paragraph with ‘I,’” Burrell says. “This document is about you in relation to the position.”

It’s important show off your accomplishments, but the point of a cover letter is to show how your accomplishments relate to a specific position. Plus, saying, “I did this” and, “I think I would be great because,” sounds a little, well, self-centered.

The fix: Focus more on the position and how you fit with the company’s values.

An easy way to change up your sentence and paragraph structure is to acknowledge the values or beliefs of the company and why you want to work there. “Pay attention to the company’s culture,” Huhman suggests. “You want to market yourself to the employer, so make sure you say things that will grab his or her attention. If you do this and show how your accomplishments relate to the company, it will come off as genuine and more relatable to the employer.”

How do you get to know a company’s culture? Most of your answers will be online. “A great place to start is by reading the company’s blog, the ‘About’ page and following the company on social media,” Huhman says. “This will help students learn the company’s voice and how it reflects that company’s values.”

Once you’ve done some research, connect your accomplishments back to the company. For example, if the organization you’re applying for is really eco-friendly, it would be beneficial for you to mention a time you started a recycling campaign on campus. Maybe the position requires a lot of research and technical work. Include how the skills you learned through an extensive research project makes you the best fit for the position. Cover letters are definitely an opportunity to sell yourself positively, but always remember to connect it back to the company and position. If you show them why you fit so well, it’ll be hard not to hire you!

4. The cliché: Closing with, “I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you for your consideration.”

This closing is basically how every applicant concludes their letters. Simply put, “This is boring and tired,” Burrell says.  Your closing is the last thing the employer will read, so use it to make a standout impression.

The fix: Be direct instead.

Instead of being passive in your concluding paragraph, be more direct. If you want the employer to look over your resume, say so! Do you want to set up a phone call or interview? Don’t beat around the bush; just ask for one.

“Try something interesting,” Burrell suggests. “Offer a nice (short) anecdotal statement about a unique qualification or special impact this company had on you. Try answering the question for them, ‘Why should I bring you in for an interview?’”

You can also reiterate why your skills make you a great fit for the position and express your enthusiasm. It will only reaffirm that you’re not only interested but also qualified to work for them. It can be as simple as, “Based on my experience with X and your company values of Y, I believe this position will allow my passion for Z to grow as an employee of your organization.”

Finally, Huhman suggests adding a sentence about a follow-up in the near future. It can be as simple as, “I am excited about this opportunity and would like to personally discuss the position in more detail. I’ll email you next week to check your availability.” Instead of waiting for the employer to call you, a direct closing allows you to follow up and again show your interest in the company. And, of course, be true to your word and actually follow up when you say you will!

No matter how you end your letter, both Huhman and Burrell agree that it should be genuine and direct. If you have a strong conclusion, you’ll be memorable.

Cover letters allow you to show off your personality beyond your resume. It can be the one thing that sets you apart from other applicants and lands you an interview or position. While it’s tempting to use clichés like everyone else, keep these tips in mind and your cover letter will be awesome and memorable!