February 22 to 28 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. We'll be sharing information about this important issue throughout the week, from what to do if you or a friend is suffering from an eating disorder to how to love your body just the way it is! Be sure to check out all of our content here.

College makes the most bizarre behaviors—keg stands, theme parties, and trekking home from the library at 3AM—seem totally normal. That is, until you're back at home over break and someone invariably points out how strangely you're acting. Nobody can fault you for indulging in your favorite junk foods every once in awhile, but when your midnight snack of Hot Pockets and sugary cereal becomes routine, it's time to take a look at how out of whack your eating patterns have become. Whether you're skipping breakfast in order to shave a few minutes off your morning routine or subsisting solely on coffee to get you through hours of back-to-back classes, it's important to learn how to nix these bad habits for good.

Her Campus consulted Connie Diekman, Registered Dietitian, past president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Director of University Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis for the 411 on healthy eating in college.

Why do eating patterns change once you start college?

No more Mom and Dad

When Her Campus polled collegiettes last year about what they missed the most about high school, the top answer was a no-brainer: home-cooked meals! Even if your parents weren't exactly gourmet chefs, you were probably accustomed to a regular assortment of meals you knew and loved, typically served around the same time each night.

But once you got to college, all bets were off. Even if your dining hall is amazing, it's nothing like what you're used to at home. You probably have access to an endless amount of food, so it can be tough to control your portion sizes. If your dining hall is buffet-style, you're likely to pile more on your plate than you would if you were cooking your own meals. And depending on your dining hall's hours, you might be forced to eat when you aren't hungry (hello, dining halls where dinner closes at 7).

At home, Mom and Dad probably footed the grocery bill and paid the bill at restaurants. In college, it's harder to pay for your own food supply – that is, if you can even get to the grocery store on a regular basis – so it's easy to fall back on eating the leftover bag of Cheetos in your dorm room.

Your schedule has changed

Eating was easy in high school: breakfast before school, lunch in between classes, a snack after school, and dinner with your family later at night. But college throws that schedule for a loop. You might not need to wake up for class until 11AM, or you might be running from class to your work-study job all day long. Maybe you're pulling all-nighters in the library or grazing on snacks in the dining hall every hour.

One of the most common eating issues in college is waking up right before class starts, leaving no time for a filling breakfast. You've heard it a million times before, but it's well worth repeating again. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Diekman suggests yogurt and fruit or cereal with milk. A breakfast packed with protein and fiber helps you power through the morning and will keep you fuller for longer. Try egg and cheese on an English muffin or oatmeal and a banana with peanut butter.

For more ideas, check out Her Campus's guide to healthy breakfasts or the Collegiette Eats blog.

Another common issue in college is being busy all day. Class, hanging out with friends, studying, club meetings, work-study jobs, and internships don't leave a ton of downtime to catch a meal!

While taking 20 credits and working 20 hours a week, FIT collegiette Shaye's appetite disappeared. “I was so busy that I forgot to eat and wasn't even hungry. I was so busy that my body just adjusted to missing meals throughout the day.”

According to Diekman, the key to surviving long, busy days is sticking to a schedule. Every three to four hours, pencil in a snack or small meal. Try preparing healthy, on-the-go snacks on the weekends so you can stash a few in your bag throughout the week. With a little planning ahead, you won't be tempted to dash into the dining hall for a bagel on the way to your next class. Diekman suggests choosing a combination of carbs and protein every time you eat, such as:

• A peanut butter sandwich
• Oatmeal made with milk
• Fruit with peanut butter
• Cheese and crackers
• Hummus on pita bread
• A LUNA bar (or another brand with a 2:1 carb to protein ratio)
• Homemade trail mix: 1 cup whole grain cereal, ½  cup dried fruit, ¼ cup nuts

Keep in mind that eating on a regular schedule throughout the day helps prevent bingeing on heavy meals when you finally do have the time to eat!

What are the consequences of abnormal eating patterns?

In some cases, strange eating habits are relatively harmless. You might gain or lose a little weight or feel tired, sluggish, or stressed. But if you let your eating patterns slide too far from what you're used to, you might end up getting sick or get severely overweight or underweight.

Avianne, a student at NYU, says, “Last semester, I had a very busy schedule between a full class load and four part-time jobs. Working from early morning to late nights, I often prioritized the work I needed to get done rather than eating. I often would rush in the morning to classes, only eating a granola bar on the bus. Lunch would probably be my only consistent meal every day, and I often skipped dinner or just grabbed something fast though not exactly nutritious, so I could spend more time on homework and whatnot. Some days, I felt like I was very drained of energy, and I ended up having to see a gastroenterologist after my stomach started having problems from my diet inconsistencies. The days I didn't get as much food sometimes led me to take caffeine for quick energy, but overtime, that fatigued me even more, and I eventually got sick.”

After a semester of struggling with a healthy eating schedule, Avianne is now actively focused on getting back to her status quo. “I am currently trying to get back on a better eating schedule, although I have noticed that my appetite is no longer as big as it used to be when I ate more consistently. I really think that healthy eating is important... it's something I wish I didn't overlook or feel like I had to sacrifice for a busy schedule!” she says.

How should you be eating?

“I recommend students eat within one hour of getting up – no matter what time that is – and then eat every three to four hours from that point on,” Diekman says. “This routine allows for flexibility of schedules and focuses on keeping the body fueled without being tied to breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

But between hours of studying and lots of social time, sometimes your last meal or snack might fall several hours after you finish dinner. If that's the case, don't stress! Eating late at night sometimes gets a bad reputation, but Diekman encourages it as long as you stick to healthy choices.

“Fueling the body every three to four hours should continue until you go to bed, but they key is keeping the right food choices in that plan – and the right portions. When you eat chips, ice cream, pizza, fried foods, or alcohol late at night, you aren't focused on health,” she says.

Aside from your typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner, collegiettes often end up eating a fourth meal in college: late-night drunk food. Check out these tips on how to curb drunchies.

Whether you're eating after a late night in the library or a late night on Frat Row, stick to healthy snacks like fruit, veggies, oatmeal, eggs, lean meats (like turkey), and Greek yogurt.

For girls ages 19 to 30, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends a daily caloric intake of 1,800 to 2,400 calories, depending on how active you are. (You can check your personalized nutritional recommendations at ChooseMyPlate.gov.) The USDA suggests eating from all food groups, with a focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Are your eating patterns safe?

The transition to college can completely throw your eating out of whack. Even if you've never struggled with eating before, some collegiettes develop eating disorders in college from stress, lifestyle changes, new pressures, and being surrounded by new people. Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and extreme calorie counting can all threaten your physical and emotional health and it's important to recognize when you might need help.

If you're seriously struggling with disordered eating or have gained or lost a significant amount of weight, Her Campus urges you to contact your campus health center or make a toll-free call to the National Eating Disorder Association's Help Line at 1-800-931-2337.

How can you fix your unhealthy eating patterns?

Stick to a schedule

Aim to follow Diekman's golden rule: breakfast within the first hour you're up, followed by meals every three to four hours. Take a look at your class schedule and other commitments and pencil meals and snacks into your calendar or planner. Once you're aware of when you should be eating, it's easier to control your hunger and make healthy choices.

Be social

If you have plans to meet up with a friend for dinner at 6:00 PM, you're not going to binge on snacks at 5:30. The more regularly-timed meals you share with others, the easier it is to follow a healthy schedule.

Make breakfast a priority

Kema, a collegiette from Harvard, used to struggle with skipping breakfast until she made a conscious effort to keep her eating schedule on track. “I always wake up early to get breakfast, even if my first class isn't until the afternoon. I noticed on days that I would miss breakfast, I would eat a ton of unhealthy snacks for the rest of the day, and I didn't want that to become a pattern.”

Even if your first class isn't until noon, do yourself a favor and try following Kema's example. You don't need to get up at the crack of dawn, but eating breakfast at the same time every day before class will prevent you from bingeing later on.

Give yourself extra time in the morning

We hate to break it to you, but it's probably not possible to fit a substantial breakfast between your 9:15 AM alarm and your 9:30 AM class. Fortunately, breakfast doesn't take very long. Setting your alarm even ten or fifteen minutes earlier might be all the extra time you need to squeeze in a solid start to your day.

Georgia, a student at the University of Maryland, is a night owl who tends to skip breakfast. “I'm more productive late at night, so I prefer to work later and wake up later. Because of this, I leave myself no time to eat breakfast in the morning, even though I know I should. I usually buy a coffee to drink during my first class and might not get to eat again until dinner,” she says. “I'm working on trying to get up half an hour earlier.”

If you’re still pressed for time in the morning, you can try stocking up on easy, on-the-go breakfasts like fruit and yogurt so that you can just grab them on your way out the door. Or, you can try preparing your breakfast the night before and storing it in the fridge to cut down on prep time. 

Don't tempt yourself

If you know you aren't able to resist unhealthy foods, avoid keeping them in your dorm room. Instead, fill your food stash with healthy options so that making a good choice will be easy and convenient, and you won’t drunkenly polish off an entire family-size bag of chips.  Harper, a collegiette at the College of William & Mary, is a self-proclaimed late-night snacker who's working to reform her bad habit. “Recently, I've been throwing out my junk food. Instead of eating chocolates, I eat boiled eggs and pepperoni. I find the protein really filling. Keeping the offending snacks out of stock is an easy way to stay on track,” she says.

Harper knows what she's talking about—after cutting out soda for a year, she was able to lose ten pounds.

It's never too late to correct an unhealthy eating pattern. Good luck!

Think you might be suffering from an eating disorder? The National Eating Disorders Association has a free and confidential screening to help you determine next steps. If you're looking for more information, be sure to call the NEDA helpline. Looking for ways to help spread the word? Find out how you can get involved on your campus.

Now we're at the end of February, there's probably only one thing (besides midterms, ugh) that you have on your mind: spring break. But, before you head off to the beaches to get your tan on, you still need to pack. After months of wearing only snow boots, packing for warmer weather might be more of a struggle. So, we've done some of the work for you. Here are five sandals that are on sale NOW that you can enjoy all spring (and summer) long!

1. 'Dear Suede Sandal', Nordstrom, $35.96

These nude slides are perfect for any spring break plans you might have. The pair is simplistic enough to match all your outfits and comfortable enough to withstand any activities. 

2. Nine West Leighann Platform Wedge Sandals, Macy's, $49.50

Need a basic sandal that can get you from party to party? This Nine West platform heel is the perfect sandal for you. Under $50, this sandal will get you where you need to go without breaking the bank. 

3. Truffle Collection Rhinestone Toe Post Flat Sandals, ASOS, $25.68

Add a little sparkle to your outfits with this subtle rhinestone shoe from ASOS. The matte stones draw attention to your shoes, without blinding your friends—perfect for warm, sunny days when you want to be a little dressy but still totally comfortable!

4. FOOZLE Guilly Tie Leather Sandals, ASOS, $37Even though gladiator sandals have been around for a while, we're still loving this trend. And, we think this classic black pair will look great wherever you go this spring break. The best part of this trend is that the extended tie-on straps allow for support all day long. 

5. Kenneth Cole Reaction Slim Zo Footbed Sandals, Macy's, $49.99

We're head over heels in love with this sandal. The gold straps add just the right amount of shine, while the textured soles give this shoe a unique, sporty look. You'll never want to take these off—even when you hit the beaches.

What shoes will you be packing this spring break, collegiettes? 

February 22 to 28 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. We'll be sharing information about this important issue throughout the week, from what to do if you or a friend is suffering from an eating disorder to how to love your body just the way it is! Be sure to check out all of our content here.

We’ve seen it happen in the Hollywood spotlight all too often: A young starlet with a promising career quickly starts eating less, dropping weight, and partying more. She quickly graces the covers of tabloids everywhere, not for her talent, but for her dangerous lifestyle. More often than not, said celebrity ends up in rehab, or in more extreme cases, when her actions harm others, jail.

As surprising as it may be, the Lindsay Lohans of the world aren’t only celebrities. College women all over the country can pick up these dangerous drinking and eating habits as well. As starvation mixed with binge drinking became more common, the buzzword "Drunkorexia" was born.

 
One Harvard student explains her own experience with drunkorexia.
 
“When I was a freshman, my roommate and I would consume less than 300 calories on days that we were going to go out drinking. We would eat egg whites for breakfast and then a vegan boca burger with mustard and no bun for lunch and dinner. We would also only drink water and black coffee. We would eat our meals together and encourage each other not to eat anything else. I cringe now thinking about it.”

What is it?

Drunkorexia is not exactly a medical term. While no one can exactly pinpoint where it came from, medical experts across the country are using it to describe a new eating disorder phenomenon. “The original concept was when women and girls, or anyone, don’t eat all day and then they drink all night,” says Dr. Kevin Wandler, the Chief Medical Officer at Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders who has been working with patients with eating disorders for 15 years. “That’s about all the calories they get all day.”
 
Drunkorexia can be described as a hybrid between anorexia, bulimia, and alcoholism, although the symptoms are not exactly like any one of the diseases. Anorexics typically don’t eat anything all day, and bulimics typically binge and purge, says Wandler. Drunkorexics typically only binge at nights, and while in some cases they have no problem eating copious amounts of food while drunk, often times, they only binge drink. Wandler also points out that many drunkorexics binge eat while drinking because it’s easier to throw up.

 A Cornell University student explained a tendency of drunkorexia leaning towards bulimia she had seen in her friends.

 “One of my friends wouldn't eat at all before she went out, then would get super drunk, and drunk eat a lot—pizza, macaroni and cheese, whatever she could get her hands on and would make herself throw it up. She'd claim she was so drunk and didn't mean to throw up, but it was clearly intentional.”
 
And these binges can lead to caloric remorse, like for one student at James Madison University:
 
“I had a suitemate freshman year who was very weight-conscious. She would not eat dinner and then go out so she could get drunker faster, but save her calories to spend on alcohol. She would come home and then completely binge on everything in sight and even order out for food. The next morning, it wasn't uncommon for her to look at the wrappers that had accumulated and freak about the calorie amounts.”
 
While binging can be more obvious, anorexia is just as prevalent.
 
“I had a friend who didn't drink all that much, who would refrain from eating as long as she possibly could before her or her boyfriend's formal events,” another college student explained.
 
“The week before one of these events she would eat next to nothing and then the day of the event she would actually eat nothing—citing that she wanted to be able to get drunk fast and look good at the events. However, this would almost always result in her profusely vomiting at the event due to a lack of frequent college binge drinking and never eating. It would lead to her throwing up bile/alcohol and her boyfriend fighting with her for not eating.”

“Drunkorexics are probably starving, because they’re not getting any nutritional value,” says Wandler. “But they’re probably not losing weight because they are drinking their daily calories in alcohol.”

 How dangerous is it?
 
Drunkorexia is such a serious condition, but often times, young women don’t realize the serious risks associated with it, or that it’s a problem at all.  “A lot of the patients I see binge drink and have eight to 10 alcoholic beverages at night over only a few hours,” says Wandler.  When you don’t have anything in your stomach to absorb the alcohol, this is a serious amount of drinks.

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 who have eating disorders have the highest risk of death, and the death rate is 12 times higher for people in that age group.  This stat covers only the eating disorder, and doesn’t even include the binge drinking associated with drunkorexia.  “Now you have a patient who has a drinking problem on top of an eating problem, that’s a double whammy,” says Wandler.

Who suffers from it?

In general, women typically suffer from eating disorders more often than men.  Ninety percent of those with eating disorders are women, and only 10 percent are men.

The serious binge drinking occurs in both sexes, but many more women suffer from drunkorexia than men.

What are the signs of it?

The signs of drunkorexia are pretty straightforward and easy to spot, but often times, those who suffer from it try to hide their symptoms.  Drunkorexics go out and party all the time, skip multiple meals per day, and almost always have a hangover.  Another sign is malnutrition, which comes with passing out, getting extremely thin extremely fast, and having problems with cognitions.  “Like bulimia, the signs of drunkorexia are hard to spot because most of the patients are normal weight,” says Wandler. 
 
Amy Campbell*, a rising senior at Michigan State University, saw drunkorexia occur right before her eyes freshman year.  She recalls that her roommate was always counting calories, and once she found the college party scene, she limited her intake to just shots.  “She originally started counting the calories in beer, wine and hard alcohol, but once she realized that she could get drunk quicker and easier when she had nothing in her stomach, she barely ate during the day,” said Campbell.  “She calculated that shots [with] no chaser had the least amount of calories, so she’d just starve all day, take four or five shots, and be ready to go.”

Things progressively got worse for Campbell’s roommate, and eventually, after getting her stomach pumped three times, she finally got help.

Having any kind of eating disorder is serious, and if you or someone you know is engaging in any of these habits, it’s best to reach out for help.  Contact your school’s health center to set up an appointment to speak with someone.
 
For more tips on how to help a roommate struggling with an eating disorder, check out this Her Campus article.

 
Think you might be suffering from an eating disorder? The National Eating Disorders Association has a free and confidential screening to help you determine next steps. If you're looking for more information, be sure to call the NEDA helpline. Looking for ways to help spread the word? Find out how you can get involved on your campus.

It’s no secret that the off-duty model, no effort hairstyle actually requires a lot of… effort. Sigh. 

         Rodarte F/W 2015                           Michael Kors F/W 2105                        Rebecca Minkoff F/W 2015     

When models march around during fashion week with “I woke up like this” tousles, it’s after a team of hairstylists have gotten their hands on them. They have to blow dry, curl, and finger comb their way to make the hair only look like its effortless.

The thing is, we love no-fuss hair, but there isn’t always time to make it happen. Well, we’re letting the cat out of the bag. There are easy ways to achieve that casual perfection, and it all starts with the right hair products.

1. TRESemmé Expert Selection Perfectly (un)Done Wave Creation Sea Foam, $6.99, walgreens.com

We all know the old trick of using salt spray and scrunching your hair while blowdrying, but this salt foam from TRESemmé has sea kelp extract to give your hair a soft natural finish. Apply all over to damp hair and either scrunch your hair while drying or throw it into a bun/braid overnight for perfectly "(un)done” hair.

2. Johnson’s No More Tangles Leave-in Conditioner, $3.59, target.com

Yes, it’s for babies, but trust us. This leave-in conditioner makes your hair silky soft, which is often an overlooked part when we’re trying to get textured hair. Sometimes, we add too much texture... and crunchy hair is not cute. 

3. Big Sexy Hair Powder Play Volumizing & Texturizing Powder, $16.95, ulta.com

Come on—we always turn to Big Sexy Hair when we want to up the oomph, and this powder instantly absorbs into our hair for added texture and volume. Sprinkle onto roots and/or throughout hair, and say bye-bye to flat, lifeless hair. 

4. Bumble and bumble Bb. Texture Hair (Un) Dressing Creme, $30, sephora.com

(Un) Dressing Creme has been around for years and is a staple in any stylist’s arsenal. It’s super easy to handle, too. Just use your fingers and palms to run it through your hair, scrunching and tousling as you go. We like to finger twist some sections of hair for undone, free-hand waves.

5. Living Proof Instant Texture Mist, $26, sephora.com

This mist is a do-it-all lifesaver. All you have to do is spray on damp or dry hair and decide what look you want for the next day… or 48 hours. That’s right, it holds your style for that long! It gives you that perfect no-fuss texture with a dash of volume and definition. 

Collegiettes, what's the best way you've every achieved “I woke up like this” hair?

Mashup proves that ‘Style’ and ‘Blank Space’ are kind of the same song. [Digg]

Wesleyan struggles with student drug use. [The Huffington Post]

Optical illusions just as trippy as #thedress. [Bustle]

Study finds that poor women are ‘priced out’ of family planning. [Jezebel]

What it’s like to see 100 million colors. [New York Magazine]

Seth Meyers answers 73 questions. [Vogue]

The laziest ways to exercise. [Betches Love This]

The most delicious things you can do to Girl Scout cookies. [BuzzFeed]

Why isn’t sex education part of Common Core? [Pacific Standard]

These body paint pictures are crazy! [PopSugar]

Milan Fashion Week has us dreaming of walking down our own catwalks. From flirty, flouncy skirts, to furry vests, we can't wait to take campus by storm...and go on a shopping spree. Here are 7 ways to make the looks from Milan your own:

1. Max Mara oversized coat

Gigi Hadid looked positively cozy in this oversized tan jacket. We're gonna ditch the grandma shoes and wear this Top Shop Faux Fur Hooded Duffle Coat ($170) with pretty much everything until spring finally rolls in. 

2. Chicca Lualdi graphic mini dress

3. Simonetta Ravizza fur vest

This giant fur vest is pretty much everything. This look is doing a lot, so we thought we'd go a little shorter for the classroom with this Chicnova faux fur vest ($59). Plus, how cute is it over a striped shirt?

4. Luisa Beccaria jumpsuit

This jumpsuit is such a power piece. We're not huge fans of that beret, but we love this Forever 21 Paisley Floral Surplice Jumpsuit—and the fact that it's only $25! Throw on some wedges to totally stand out at your next semi formal event!

5. Gucci tea length skirt

This pleated skirt is surprisingly versitile and it's in one of Pantone's top 10 fall colors, Oak Bluff! This textured skirt by MSGM ($198) looks so cute with these sporty details!

6. Philipp Plein Jersey

This jersey is bad a**. We love Wildfox's softer, flirtier version ($88).

7. Genny skirt

This black and white skirt is wonderfully glitzy and glam. Club Monaco's Safiya Skirt ($174.30) is a cute and slightly more subtle version.

How will fashion week inspire your wardrobe?

An honest conversation among women where they can feel truly comfortable speaking about any subject related to their sexuality is hard to come by. A constant component of these discussions is “slut-shaming.” You’ve likely heard about this act of sexual bullying or been on the receiving end of its destruction, but Emily Lindin is exposing its prevalence and seeking to end “slut-shaming” with The UnSlut Project. By publishing a personal diary of her experiences as the school “slut,” Emily is propelling the conversation by imploring young women in similar situations to talk about their sexuality and remove the painful meaning behind the term “slut.” We had the pleasure of chatting with Emily about The UnSlut Project and her upcoming venture, Slut: A Documentary Film.

Her Campus: Through The UnSlut Project, you’ve been able to share your experiences as the school “slut” with a community of young women who are dealing with similar issues. What inspired you to publish your writings on this topic?

Emily Lindin: I decided to publish my diary when I realized that, fifteen years after my own experience, girls were still suffering for the same reason. In fact, with the ubiquity of social media and photo sharing, it had actually gotten worse. It struck me as a good time to make what had been a really unfortunate time in my life into something that could be positive.

HC: What do you hope young girls who have been in your position take away from your writings?

EL: Sometimes, it's as simple as knowing you're not alone. When I was labeled a "slut" in middle school, I would have loved to know other women who had gone through something similar and not only survived, but became successful and happy. Sexual bullying can be particularly isolating because often, girls don't feel comfortable confiding in their parents or adults in their life about it. It's hard enough to start a conversation about sexuality with adults when you're that age—let alone when you've been labeled in a way they might actually blame YOU for. So I hope they can gain some perspective that even though what they're going through right now is terrible and unfair, it's not all there is.

HC: Why is “slut” shaming such a problem for females?

EL: There's no simple answer for this question. It's about control, when it comes down to it. Female sexual expression is expected to look a very specific way, and once it seems like a girl or woman is embracing something other than that, something that might feel authentic to her, she's seen as out of control and there's an impulse to shame her for it, and this is sometimes seen as "helping" her. Many of us are taught from a young age that our "purity" is something to be treasured and even "saved" for marriage (saved from what?!), and that it's equal to our worth as a girl. So when we lose that image of ourselves, it's easy to feel like we've lost our identities. It's easy to feel like we're completely worthless.

HC: Why do you think young women are insecure about their sexuality? Is there societal pressure to hit “milestones” (kissing, sex, etc.) by a certain age?

EL: We see pretty clear representations in all kinds of media sources about what women are supposed to look like, and usually that's some form of what is typically understood to be sexy. Most of us don't look like that. And when young women DO look typically "sexy," they are still at risk of being "slut" shamed for it. So of course they're insecure. They can't win! Many young women who read my diary on Wattpad comment that they are embarrassed or feel silly because when I was making out with boys at age eleven, they are now in their late teens and haven't kissed anyone. When I see those comments, I always reply that there is no right time to start figuring out what you want to do sexually—I went through puberty at age ten, so I was masturbating and fantasizing about boys WAY before most of my peers. Some women take much longer and some women just don't feel very sexual ever in their lives. That's all fine. Part of undoing the idea of a "slut" is realizing that female sexuality isn't a concrete, static thing, and the same rules don't apply for everyone.

HC: Why is there less pressure for guys to live up to a standard of sexuality?

EL: The idea that female sexuality is dangerous, dirty, or shameful is rooted in a lot of our cultural mythologies and religions all over the world. For much of human history in most cultures, women were traded as property and a huge part of their value depended on their virginity. That's going to take a lot of work to undo—especially since it's still the case in some parts of the world. I do want to point out, though, that guys face sexual pressure, as well. The same line of thinking that leads to "slut" shaming enforces a specific type of aggressive masculinity that is damaging to guys just as much as it hurts girls.

HC: When we think about bullying, we often don’t associate the term with sexual bullying—especially in our own country. How prevalent is “slut” shaming in the U.S. and what can we do to prevent it?

EL: Well, given just how many people have come forward to share their stories through The UnSlut Project, I'd say it's incredibly prevalent. Anecdotally, almost every woman I speak to about this project offers a story from her life in which she or a girlfriend or sister was "slut" shamed. Talking about it and sharing our personal stories will bring to light how prevalent it is and, I hope, inspire some academic studies so that we can get more solid statistics. The first step to preventing "slut" shaming is to consider our own biases and assumptions. It's a hard thing to do, but once we commit to examining our private reactions to different women in our lives, news stories, etc., we can begin to change other people's minds, as well. And that's the next step: starting conversations with people in our lives and speaking up about our experiences. Once we establish what a widespread and devastating issue it is, we'll be much more likely to see bullying prevention strategies that encompass sexual bullying, as well.

HC: Since publishing your work on Wattpad, you’ve started a Seed and Spark campaign to fund Slut: A Documentary Film. What can you tell us about this film and how it speaks to your message?

EL: When I realized how many people were interested in reading my diary on Wattpad, I wanted to expand The UnSlut Project. That's because the only thing unique about what I went through is the fact that I saved my diary from that time. My experience can't stand as a representation of ALL women’s experiences with "slut" shaming, so I wanted to find a way to share other women's stories with a broad audience. Rehtaeh Parsons, who took her own life after being gang-raped and then sexually bullied, inspired me to start The UnSlut Project in the first place—and her family tells her story in Slut: A Documentary Film. We also interviewed four women in North America who have survived various types of sexual shaming over the past four decades and discussed the issue with experts who shed light on how we got to this point and how we can get OUT of this place we're in. I'm really proud of the footage we have, and I'm confident that when we meet our funding goal, we'll be able to turn it into a wonderful film!​

HC: One of the main concepts from your documentary is working toward a world where “slut” would no longer make sense as an insult. How can we strive to make this a reality?

EL: For the word "slut" to be an effective insult, everyone involved—the person doing the insulting, the person being insulted, and any bystanders—have to share the understanding that it represents something shameful. The definition of "slut" can be whatever the person using it wants it to be, so it's particularly powerful because of its versatility. I'm not pro-censorship, but I'd love for "slut" to fall flat as an insult because it doesn't make sense. If someone tried to use it, their target and anyone else overhearing them would think, "But... what on earth could be wrong with female sexuality?" Comprehensive sex education—that is, mandated age-appropriate programs that include not just safety but pleasure, as well as all genders and orientations—will be a huge part of changing the way we as a culture approach female sexuality.

HC: Why is this a conversation worth having?

EL: In the best case scenarios, "slut" shaming can lead to insecurity into adulthood. Many girls who are "slut" shamed have fraught sex lives when they become adults. Even those of us who are never labeled a "slut" witness others being labeled that way, and it's a constant threat that at any moment, we, too, might be deemed slutty. So, as women, we always have to self-police in a way that isn't healthy or conducive to a full life. In the worst case scenarios, "slut" shaming leads to ​self-harm and even ​suicide.

HC: What’s one piece of advice you would give young women who feel “slut” shamed?

​EL: It's hard to give one piece of advice to all girls in this situation, since so much depends on the specifics of their lives, but I would reassure them that nobody else is allowed to define who they are. If someone wants to label you a slut, that reflects poorly on his or her self-esteem and relationship with sex, not yours. YOU get to define who you are—so define yourself however you want! Focus on something you enjoy doing (like a sport, language, musical instrument, etc.) and get really good at it. There. Now you're a skilled basketball player, or an advanced painter, or brilliant guitarist! And maybe that person is still going on about how you're just a "slut"—who cares? Now you KNOW it's not true.

By now, you probably know the drill: search for jobs, submit a cover letter and resume and ace the interview. But for many collegiettes, the job search will involve recruiters, whose job it is to seek you out. Recruiters come from companies and organizations and will visit college campuses to find students they might like to hire. Sound scary? Maybe a little. That’s why we talked to Louis Gaglini, associate director of employer relations at the Boston College Career Center, about the top ways you can stand out to a job recruiter!

Why go through a job recruiter, you ask? If a particular company comes to your school, you can assume that they’re looking for students just like you, Gaglini says. So if you’re interested in working or interning for a particular company that is known for recruiting, check out the following tips to make an amazing impression!

1. Find out when events are happening—then actually go to them

If you have a company in mind that you’d love to work or intern for, see if and when they’re coming to your school or city. “Your career center will be in a position to help you find [those events],” Gaglini says. “Talk to professors and fellow students, too.”  Some other good places to look? Your school’s daily announcements email, your career center’s website or online system and the websites of the companies you’re interested in.

Don’t have a company in mind? That’s okay, too! Set up an appointment with a career counselor or peruse your career center’s online system to look for companies that pique your interest that are coming to campus. While the prospect of going to these events can be scary, sometimes it’s not enough to just submit a cover letter and resume to a company. Going to the events will set you ahead of other less proactive candidates. “Make sure the recruiters know who you are,” Gaglini says. “You’re taking [your relationship with the company] from paper and email and meeting people live.”

2. Look the part

Need an excuse to buy new heels and a power suit? Here’s your chance. “Make sure you understand what the requirements are for your attire,” Gaglini says. “Find out if [the event’s dress code is] casual, business casual or business attire. Come as expected.”

When deciding what to wear, take into account the nature of the event. According to Gaglini, the recruiting events on campus could be anything from a networking night to a company presentation to a more social event. You might not need the pantsuit for the social event, and your school sweatshirt’s not going to cut it at a networking night. Check out these tips for dressing professionally, no matter what industry you’re interested in! When in doubt, you can always ask an adviser at your career center what he or she would recommend.

“I don’t think you can go wrong with a simple black pencil skirt,” says Vanessa, a junior at Johns Hopkins University. “But I always check with my roommate first before going to events where companies will be represented. A second opinion always helps!”

3. Nail the first impression

It can be scary to arrive at a networking event—what should you do first? Have a goal before you even walk in the door.  “Set an objective, like maybe meeting three people. Maybe meet the person to whom you sent your resume if she will be there,” Gaglini says.

A good starting goal? Be visible. Make sure the company knows who you are so you won’t be a faceless job application in the middle of a stack of papers! Depending on the event, there may be several representatives present from the same company. If this is the case, talk to as many as possible. You want to get your name and face out there.

Once you’re face to face with someone you want to connect with, make a great impression. “Shake hands and say, ‘I came to the event to meet you, I submitted you my resume and I look forward to talking to you again,’” Gaglini suggests.

Other great ways to get noticed? Ask a lot of questions to the people you’re shaking hands with. What do they like about the company? Why did they decide to work there? The best advice, though, according to Gaglini, is maybe the easiest to do: just look happy to be there! “Don’t let them ever think you’re not excited to be there. Let them know you’re thrilled to be there,” he says.

Beyond asking questions and giving a great handshake, think about your body language. “I think nodding a lot and making good eye contact is crucial for making sure employers know you’re actually listening,” says Kathleen, a junior at Johns Hopkins University. Want more tips on body language in a work setting? Check out this article for tips!

4. Perfect your 30-second “commercial”

Commercial, elevator pitch—whatever you call it, the face-to-face interactions at recruiting events are crucial because they let you showcase your personality better than any cover letter could!

“Sometimes you may have only 20 seconds,” Gaglini says. “Introduce yourself: your name, major, what you’re interested in and if appropriate, maybe ask for a follow-up, like, ‘Would you mind if I sent you my resume? Or if we met up?’”

The best thing you can do is practice, Gaglini says. Practice in front of your mirror, to your roommate or to your career counselor—go over possible scenarios and what you would say. “You have to piece it together for [the recruiter] and say why you need to develop a relationship with them,” he says.

How would you be valuable to the company? What would you get out of an internship or job with them? Keep it short, but pique their interest! Confidence is key, which is why Gaglini recommends you practice as much as possible.

5. Follow up

At the end of the pitch, ask the recruiter if you can follow up, like if you can send your resume to him or her or have another conversation. This will show you’re interested and proactive! If appropriate, bring a few copies of your resume to the event. Ask your career center if the event is conducive to handing out copies beforehand, though.

“Once you’ve connected with someone, now it’s your time to stand out without pestering or bothering them,” Gaglini says. “You’re keeping that connection alive by asking them if you can set up some time.”

At a minimum, send an email to the recruiter thanking him or her for their time. Feel free to ask some follow-up questions if you have them. Handwritten thank-you notes also make a big impression. “Employers love thank you notes, whether it’s after a short encounter at a career fair, or after an interview with them,” says Devon, a senior at Bryant University. “It proves your appreciation for the company and shows your desire to work for them!”

Of course, there’s a fine line between being assertive and annoying. If you say you’re going to follow up with an email, do that and then back off for a little bit. “Sometimes you just have to be cognizant and self-aware. This takes practice,” Gaglini says. “You have to know if you’re pushing too much. Your career center can assist you. Ask your career center, ‘Do you think it’s pushy if I do this?’ Your career center will be straight with you.”

While every situation is different, an example of being pushy could be emailing the recruiter several times a week if they’re not replying back. If you ever have doubt whether or not your contact with the recruiter is becoming too much, talk to your career counselor. Every case (and company) is different.

While meeting with recruiters can sound intimidating, with a little practice and confidence, you’ll be connecting with companies and getting top jobs in no time! 

With spring break coming up in just a few weeks, most collegiettes will be spending a good few days partying on the beach, relaxing on a cruise or laying out by the pool. No matter where you are, the weather is bound to be warming up, meaning now is the time to be extra careful about protecting your face, skin and hair from the dangers of the sun. Below, we've put together a list of seven products that'll help you stay burn-free throughout spring break (and beyond!):

1. Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster SPF 50 ($48)

If you don't want to ditch your makeup, just add this sunscreen to your favorite foundation or tinted moisturizer. This product is made for all skin conditions and adds UVA and UVB protection to any product!

2. Biolage Color Care Shine Shake Spray ($17)

The sun can really affect dyed hair, so apply some of this UV protectant spray to your precious locks. Mist lightly on damp hair for all-day conditioning and to add shine!

3. Clinique Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen Body Cream ($23)

This sunscreen protects again UVA and UVB radiation. The SolarSmart complex starts an anti-aging process while still defending the skin from the sun's rays. Antioxidants also shield the skin and provide nutrients.

4. Supergoop! Antioxidant-Infused Sunscreen Mist ($13)

This spray-on suncreen is packed with Vitamin C and SPF 50, all while hydrating the skin to make it appear more radiant. This product is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, and can even be applied to wet or dry skin.

5. CoTZ Face Natural Skin Tone SPF 40 ($19.99)

This sunscreen blends with a sheer matte finish and leaves you with a super soft complexion. CoTZ prevents heat build-up on the skin which would otherwise damage it. The balanced mineral complex helps to match skin tone, and it's non-greasy which is perfect for all of your sweaty, hot spring break days.

6. Dermalogica After Sun Repair ($32)

If you feel like you may have gotten too much UV sunlight from a long day at the beach, apply this for a cooling balm that helps calm skin and reduce irritation.

7. Foldable Floppy Brim Hat ($28)

With a four inch brim, this cute hat is bound to keep the sun out of your eyes, all while protecting your hair, face, and neck. Choose from four awesome colors, and easily store it in your suitcase or beach bag.

No matter what you're doing this spring break please remember to protect yourself from the sun. Being tan may look nice, but the dangers of sun damage can be scary, and it's no fun when a vacation is ruined because of a major burn or sun poisoning. Applying sunscreen is easy, and wearing a cute hat just makes your bathing suit look even more fashionable!

"Come to dinner with me," David* said. It wasn’t a request.

I was packing up to go home after working an eight hour Friday shift at my college's IT Help Desk, as I would’ve any other day. At least, until that moment.

"Excuse me?" I spluttered in response, utterly confused. David was my boss: 22 years old and looming over me as I gaped at his crossed arms and smug expression.

"You should come to dinner with me."

This was not happening. This. Was. Not. Happening.

"In what context?" I played dumb to buy myself a few seconds. Anything that would give me even the slightest bit of extra time to process what the everloving f*ck was going on.

"You know what context," David said.

Of course I did. I just never thought it would come to that. A week prior, we’d ended up on the same train and when I’d mentioned amidst small talk that I’d never seen Fight Club, he’d insisted that I just had to “come over to his place” so that we could “get drunk and watch it together.” I’d laughed at the time, said I already had plans to check the movie out with some friends and reassured myself that David was probably just joking. A little inappropriately, perhaps, but nothing to be concerned about. Until now.

"I have a boyfriend," I told him, and it was the truth. Granted, The Boyfriend hadn’t been around very long, and I didn’t even like him that much. But that was not the point. If anything, the point bore repeating, so I did just that: "You know I have a boyfriend."

David made direct, unwavering eye contact before hitting me with a sickeningly unapologetic shrug. "So?"

"So no," I barely manage. People have told me I speak with confidence, that I always seem to know exactly what to say. If only they could’ve seen me then, in all my glory, fighting the urge to vomit on myself. "I'm sorry, but no." Why the f*ck was I apologizing?

I fled from the office, the building, the campus shortly thereafter with a ringing in my ears that I know wasn’t just my tinnitus acting up. Over and over again, I assured myself that this was an isolated incident. That it would be irrelevant by Monday. That everything was fine.

I was, as I so frequently am concerning my own life, wrong.

"Sexual harassment in the workplace" is a heavy term, but one that I've been well acquainted with in an abstract sense since I was very young. Blame my mother's almost obsessive consumption of Dateline, or my own weekend-long Law & Order: Special Victims Unit binges. Either way, I'd heard the stories, both fact and fiction. I understood the concept as well as someone who'd never experienced it could: sometimes a coworker will make unwelcome or inappropriate advances, and it is Not Okay.

It's something that goes widely unreported, and I always wondered why. Who wouldn't leap at the chance to call out someone who was, in less professional terms, a skeevy d*ck? And then you hear about all the women who blame themselves. "I was probably flirting with him without even realizing," they think, they tell people, they justify. "It must've been that skirt I was wearing. My bad. My fault." Me, me, me.

Once upon a time, in the land of naive ideals, I imagined myself a whistle blower. The second sh*t came within even a yard of the fan, I was certain I'd be the first one to stand up for myself. These women hadn't done anything wrong until the moment they chose to justify their aggressor’s actions instead of defending themselves. They were weak, I’d decided. And I, all 20 years of me, was stronger than that.

But when I got home from work that suffocating, humid summer day, getting on Facebook was at the top of my priority list. I composed a frantic message to Lauren*, a recent graduate-turned-full-time staff member of the IT Department. I didn't know her well beyond the fact that she chain smoked in a way that made me wonder how Marlboro was able to keep up with her. But she had known my boss David longer than anyone else I possibly could've talked to, by virtue of her four years of employment to my one.

This is what I wrote:

"So like...not that I'm trying to spread this around the Help Desk or anything, but David like...asked me to dinner right before I left today? And I turned him down and everything, but it was kind of really weird and I just really needed your opinion on whether or not I've been like...inappropriate or flirtatious in any way that would've lead him to do that...? Because I feel like I've always treated him the way I treat all my guy friends, but maybe I was wrong and totally lead him on, and then I'd feel really bad. I don't know, but it was definitely the weirdest experience of my life."

Lauren responded within the hour, her message thick with assurances that I had done absolutely nothing wrong, that none of this was my fault, that David’s pass had been entirely out of line. It was months before I realized two very important things: One, I use too many question marks and ellipses when I'm feeling scattered, and two, I had just become the very thing I thought I was so far above.

David apologized the following Monday. He told me he realized what he'd done was inappropriate, and I believed him. Because hidden beneath my many self-built layers of ironclad cynicism and delusions of embodying a jaded, savvy twenty-something, I really do believe that people are good at heart.

I moved on with my life, continued working. It was once, I told myself. No big deal. My opinion of David from then on was a little colored, certainly, but not so deeply that I disregarded him as an authority figure entirely. Yeah, every once in a while he'd say something a little shady—tell me I looked nice or something, which would be completely innocuous had he not already set a certain precedent—but nothing to raise hell over. School started up again, and Lauren and I began to meet up every other week or so to laugh or b*tch or vent about work.

"I guess my bra tag was sticking out today, and David tried to tuck it in without even asking," I told her once, as we hid in the back of a local coffee shop and snuck nips of whiskey into our overpriced mochachinos. Lauren had been a legal drinker for well over a year, but there was just something daring about doing things on the sly. And that's how Lauren's friendship made me feel: daring.

"In. uh. propriate," she said to me with the added flair of her trademark mid-word punctuation. "That's f*cking bullsh*t." Lauren was one of the few people I'd ever met who swore more than I did.

"I jumped about a mile away as soon as I saw him coming near me," I continued, drunker on her approval than the whiskey-chino. “It’s wildly uncomfortable.”

Lauren grimaced as she took a sip from her own cup, and I knew she was too seasoned a drinker for that reaction to be from the burn of alcohol.

"Oh, God." My stomach tightened, because my body knew what was coming before my brain. "What?"

"He just... said something the other day. Told a couple of the other full-time guys and me at lunch that it turns him on whenever you get snippy with him at work." She took another sip, contemplative. “And that day he asked you out? He’d initially had plans to get drinks with the guys from work. Cancelled them at the last minute and said asking you out would be a sure thing.”

Were that a scene from a movie, I would've smashed my cup against the wall in a wave of righteous fury and sworn to coat the walls of the IT Help Desk in David's blood. Because it wasn't, I let out a quiet string of curses, inhaled the rest of my drink and promptly changed the subject.

But something happened that day in the overpriced coffee shop, something different: I finally found my anger.

My ex-boyfriend and I were fighting again when I finally put it all together. Or "disagreeing with aggressively worded opinions" again, or however the f*ck else you want to euphemize inherent annoyance I'd developed for someone I'd been broken up with for well over a year. More often than not, Peter and I spent our time dancing on eggshells bloated with pleasantries – the curse of both working together at IT and sharing a number of mutual friends.

But something about this particular afternoon, this particular disagreement was different. I can’t even remember what it was that set me off. What I do remember was the exact moment when, in a thoughtless fit of frustration, I dropped a bomb that I didn’t even know I had in my arsenal:

"I mean, do you want to hear about how I'm being sexually harassed by our boss?"

And just like that, entirely by accident, everything seemed to click. If we were dancing on eggshells before, we'd quite suddenly progressed to a full on can-can.

"What?" And with that one word, Peter managed to express every screaming thought pouring into my head.

How did I miss it? A self-declared seasoned feminist like myself couldn't connect the dots? Sexual harassment. Sexual f*cking harassment, so easy to say but near impossible to apply to my own damn life.

I cry a lot. Mostly over stupid sh*t, like my roommate accidentally hitting me in the face with a door or the end of some sappy romantic comedy. But it had been a long time since I'd cried the way I did that day, uncontrollable, heaving sobs accompanied by tears that left dark stains on Peter's shirt as he held my shaking body close to his chest. Suddenly everything I'd spent so much time ignoring was impaling me without mercy: the way David would sit behind the desk while I was on shift, silent. Watching. How he'd linger when he'd borrow my computer to look something up for a customer. That I was irrationally certain my co-workers thought I was some kind of office harpy, teasing my immediate superior with my wiles and never delivering the goods. The way I wanted to crawl out of my own skin and disappear every time I was alone in the office with him. Every f*cking time I pushed away a feeling I couldn't, wouldn't let myself put into words for fear of this very thing: acceptance that I was a victim, but had done absolutely goddamn nothing about it.

I almost turned David in the following workday. Somewhere amidst all my weeping, I'd managed to grab hold of the growing fire that was my fury and not let it wriggle out of my grasp.

"One more time," I told Lauren over beers in her apartment later that day. "If he pulls one more bullsh*t move, I'm dragging him to HR and tearing him a new as*shole from here to California."

And just like that, it stopped.

David backed off entirely during my next shift. And the next one, and the one after that. Kept to his office. Addressed me only when it was professionally relevant. Barely shot me a passing glance as he came and went for meetings and lunch. It was a complete 180 from just a few days before, and I was glad for it.

Lauren would later confess to me that she warned him. Marched right into his office that morning and told him to back the hell off, or he'd almost certainly lose his job. I got why she did it – she and David had a history. Not a romantic one, not even close. But they were both student staff together once, sat side by side at the IT Help Desk just a couple years ago the same way Peter and I did now. Used to smoke together and talk about life, or whatever. In what seems like a very distant past but was really only a couple years ago, you might've even called them friends. So she allowed him one last chance, told him I wasn't some pushover and would bury him alive if he didn't tread carefully.

So he stopped. And for the time being, that was all that mattered.

It took me a while to realize the full impact of what David had done to me. I’d tried everything in my power to alienate him before his Lauren-inspired lurking hiatus. I'd become outright hostile at work – blatant insults, pointed greetings to everyone in the office but him, barely acknowledging his attempts at casual conversation, whatever I could do short of actually turning him in. But it's what happened outside the office that scared me most.

I have a favorite professor at my school. He's a fiction workshop and literature teacher, one of the few I've met with enough backbone to tell a student what he really thinks of their work. I can openly admit that I've threatened bodily harm on others vying for a spot in his classes over various forms of social media during more than one registration period. And, ideally, I'd like to think he's taken a liking to me as well. I have no actual proof of this, but he generally agrees with my assessment of the stories we read in class and has, on occasion, called my opinions "insightful" and "a positive contribution to the class."

So when, during a typical 15-minute break in a four-hour class, he and I are alone in a room together, we get to talking. While everyone else is hitting up the vending machines or taking a breather from the stale classroom air, my favorite professor asks me about my writing. So I share with him my aspirations to be a young adult fiction writer, or a screenwriter, or a comic book writer – all those wild hopes and dreams that suddenly seem so much more attainable when someone you idolize is nodding along with your excitable words, validating your worth. And it only gets better when he tells me that, from what he's seen of my work, I've already vastly improved from the last workshop I had with him. That if I keep turning out "strong stuff," then there's no reason I shouldn't succeed.

And that's when my world comes to an all-too-familiar screeching halt.

I should be happy. Elated, even. The professor I respect above all others just all but gave me his stamp of approval. Less than a year ago, I would've thrown myself a godd*mn parade the second I got out of that classroom.

But I lived in a post-David world now, one in which no one is kind without an ulterior motive. And the only thing I could think, a thought so heavy and horrible that it was impossible to push away, was, Holy sh*t. Is he hitting on me? He's hitting on me. He must be hitting on me. There's no way he isn't hitting on me.

But this was not Legally Blonde, and I was no Elle Woods. My favorite professor had paid me a professional compliment from an appropriate distance in a manner befitting of our student-teacher relationship. Still I had to fight the urge to bolt from the room, to scream until I'd exhausted my nerves and could return to the room and react like a normal person.

This, for a time, was David’s legacy.

There are times when I feel stupid about all of this. Some girls get groped, blackmailed or even raped, and here I am all, "Um, I think I'm the victim of the male gaze?" Thanks for that one, Feminine Mystique. Women and men alike always have and likely always will suffer far greater indignities and injustices than I did. At the end of the day, all I can really say is that my boss asked me out and then gave me creepy vibes after I turned him down. I had never felt physically threatened by David. He never copped a feel, or said anything overtly explicit to my face. The funny thing is that David is not—nor will he ever really be—the flaming hell demon I spent months conjuring up in my mind as a placeholder for his face. He's just a slightly creepy, socially impaired idiot who doesn't understand the fundamentals of basic human interaction.

I reported him in the spring, just four months shy of a year since he asked me out on that rainy day in June. There was no straw that broke the camel’s back, no moment I can pinpoint and say, “That’s when I knew this all had to end for good.” It was always just a feeling. David had backed off for a couple weeks at Lauren’s behest, but soon he was back to sitting behind me, watching my every move. I could feel his gaze on me, I would shudder every time he’d call out, “Hey, that dress looks great on you.” Despite Lauren’s warning, and despite my own consistent coldness or flat-out ignoring, David continued to address me as though everything was fine. As though we were friends, even. These were little things, but enough to make coming to work every day something I truly dreaded. And one day I just woke up and decided I didn’t want to feel that way anymore.

I left my apartment that day with an incredible sense of purpose propelling me forward. Every step felt charged and powerful, and the further I got, the more I knew that I was finally doing what was right. While waiting for a train to take me downtown, I pulled out a notebook and made a list of all the ways David had made me feel uncomfortable over the past eight months—it was surprisingly extensive. But even with both confidence and evidence backing me up, I still felt jittery when I perched on the corner of Lauren’s desk upon reaching campus.

“Hey sweetie, what’s up?” she asked, spinning to face me. Her easy smile faded the moment she got a look at my expression. “Are you alright?”

“I’m...” I paused for a moment, unsure of how to broach the topic, even with someone as close as Lauren. “How do I lodge a sexual harassment complaint?”

If she was surprised, it didn’t show; her fingers flew across the keyboard without a moment’s hesitation. I left the office shortly thereafter with the dean’s office number scrawled onto my palm and Lauren’s words echoing in my head: “I’ve got your back, okay? You’re doing the right thing.”

If I’d been antsy with Lauren, that was nothing compared to how I felt sitting in one of the worn chairs outside the dean’s office, waiting for him to get off a call. His secretary glanced up at me every few seconds or so, as though she was expecting me to bolt out the door. For good reason, I suppose—it had taken me three tries to properly articulate why I wanted to see the dean. And sure, I was bouncing my leg up and down uncontrollably. My palms sweated against the cardboard cover of the notebook I held. There was absolutely no guarantee I had a real case to my name. But I willed myself to stay rooted in my chair until the dean finally emerged from his office and extended a hand. And though he smiled kindly, his eyes were grave.

“So,” he said, ushering me into his office, “tell me what’s been going on.”

Though I have a well-known and documented tendency toward dramatic language (“That cute couple over there is going to make me vomit rainbows,” “I hate that dress she’s wearing so aggressively that I want to set it on fire and dance around its smouldering ashes”), know that I’m not being artistic when I say that the weeks that followed my meeting with the dean were agony. For a while, despite a handful of meetings with the Human Resources department and several assurances that my claim was “being looked into,” I worried that my complaints had fallen on deaf ears.

My emotions came in jumbled waves—panic and relief and sporadic moments of regret that I’d quickly squash. Fear that David knew I’d reported him, fear that he didn’t, never would, and that the status quo would carry on until I graduated and left the employ of the college for good. I’d sneak glances at him from the corner of my eye when he came back from lunch, keep an ear out for phone conversations he might be having. Any indication that he might know what I’d done, what I’d said, who I’d told. Lauren had read me the college’s immediate-termination policy for employees who sought personal retaliation for a filed complaint enough times that I could practically recite it, but that did little to ease the anxiety.

Above all else, though, I was afraid of what my coworkers would think of me. Which seems stupid and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, perhaps, but the thought of the IT staff—both student and faculty—siding with David plagued me with chest-tightening and perpetually teary eyes. I became irrational and sensitive to everything, taking a handful of innocuous and often entirely unrelated comments from my coworkers and convincing myself that they were mocking or judging me for actions most didn’t even know I’d taken. More than one of them had the distinct pleasure of watching me sink to the floor in a puddle of my own frustrated tears during those first few days after filing my complaint.

David was called into his first HR interview a few weeks later. I had class at the time, but kept a close eye on Lauren’s steady stream of live-texts from the IT office upon my boss’s return. Immediately thereafter, David discovered within him a drive to avoid me at all cost, especially after his second and final HR interview. This was a small but potent pleasure, being aggressively ignored by David. Finally, I felt like I could breathe again.

David was fired during the final week of my junior year, three months after I brought my case before the dean. Later I’d find out that the administration had reservations about “shaking things up” mid-semester but had every intention of getting rid of him the moment school was out. Better late than never, I guess. According to Lauren, David is currently jobless, behind on his rent and without a single chance in hell that he’d ever get a recommendation from the college. I know forgiveness is a virtue or whatever, but I’m pretty sure karma says I get to have this one.

I was reading outside a couple weeks into summer, work a million miles from my mind, when a shadow fell over the book in my lap. I glanced up to see who was standing in my light, only to find Miranda* towering above me.

“Hi,” she said, a little out of breath from the heat.

“Hi?” I’d seen her around at work before, said the occasional hello; she was another Help Desk girl, but we’d never actually had a conversation, so I was more than a little confused to see her when I looked up from my book. Miranda was quiet for a moment, brows knit together like she was trying to figure out how to say what was in her head.

“I was just wondering... if you knew what happened.” she asked, taking a seat beside me. “To David, I mean.”

Sh*t. David and Miranda had been friends, I was pretty sure. I’d seen them chatting at the Help Desk in passing. In my vindictive rage against David, I hadn’t exactly kept quiet about the sexual harassment complaint. Quite the opposite, really—before HR kicked him to the curb, I’d sunk my claws into just about any student worker at the desk who even half-liked me to share my list of grievances with our boss. It was my own brand of vigilante justice, a mission to besmirch his name if I was expected to suffer under his leadership. But I’d made sure to hold my tongue around the few friends he kept, so I wasn’t really sure what to say to Miranda as she sat beside me in the patchy grass that day.

“He got fired,” I told her after a long moment.

“Right,” she said. “For sexual harassment?”

I nodded, and it took everything in me to bite back a “finally.”

“You were the one who made the complaint.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.”

We sat in silence as Miranda squinted at me in the sunlight, her face entirely unreadable. Her scrutiny was agonizing, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take when suddenly she said something that caught me so off guard that I had to ask her to repeat it.

“Thank you,” she said again, one corner of her mouth quirking upward in the slightest of smiles.

“For what?” I was utterly befuddled.

“David has been drunk texting me for months,” Miranda said, waving her phone at me for emphasis. “Saying he wants to run away to New York with me and be my boyfriend, cornering me in the stairways and telling me I ‘make him crazy’ or whatever.” Her shudder seemed out of place on such a warm day. “I didn’t even see how f*cked up it was until HR called and asked if I wanted to talk about David. Turns out I had a lot to tell them.”

As her words sank in, a wave of guilt overtook me. All this time I’d assumed that Miranda enjoyed his attention, even judged her for allowing him to leer at her the way he so often did. But she’d suffered in silence, an experience I knew well.

“So thank you,” she said yet again.

We sat together, for a while. I didn’t know what to say to that. I still don’t.

*Names have been changed.

Do you have a story to share? Submit your story to Her Story!

College is full of big decisions, like what you want to do with your career or who you're going to bring to your next date party. Life-changing decisions aside, though, there are a ton of other tricky choices we have to make on a daily basis. Should you shower or are you okay with looking homeless for class that day? Should you call your mom even though you know she's going to get mad that you were too busy watching Netflix to call her for the last three weeks? These are the REAL decisions...

1. Snack on an apple or go for froyo with your friends?

Good enough.

2. Get back to studying or click "Next Episode" on Netflix?

Netflix only gives you ten seconds, and that's just not enough to get up off the couch. Bring it on, Episode 14.

3. Tell your friend that her outfit is totally trashy or let it slide?

Maybe she'll get the hint from a judgmental look...?

4. Sit next to that cute guy you spotted in class last week or keep to yourself?

DO IT. Just DO IT. 

5. Take a shower or use a bun to hide your greasy hair for the third day?

This depends on how many judgmental looks you're getting from your friends come morning...

6. Splurge on groceries at Whole Foods or slum it at a way less expensive supermarket?

Is organic bread even a thing? Really?

7. Wear the same outfit you did yesterday or switch it up?

Remember the Golden Rule: If no one saw you in it, you did not wear it.

8. Go for a run or just skip it?

Can you get all of your steps in by horizontal running? You're about to find out.

9. Put off doing laundry another day or have clean clothes?

You're re-using socks. It's time to make a change.

10. Sleep through your 8 a.m. or attempt to get out of bed and go?

It's all fun and games until you fail the first test.

11. Go out for dinner or make something from what you have in your kitchen?

You have a slice of bread, a container of yogurt, a ketchup packet from Chick-fil-A and a bottle of wine. Go!

12. Pay attention in class or scroll through your Twitter feed?

So many Tweets, so little time, such a boring lecture...

13. Going out when you have class/work the next day or staying in for the night?

This is where you say YOLO, right???

14. Pour yourself another cup of coffee to stay awake or go to sleep?

Answer: Switch to Red Bull, put on some Beyoncé, and feel yourself gain a new energy.

15. Keep sharing "this is so true!"-inducing articles on Facebook or get back to studying?

Hmmm... School can wait.

Are you a smart and savvy pre-collegiette looking for answers to some of your most personal questions about college? You know, the ones about boys, classes, roommates and parties that your school’s guidance office can’t help you with? Jen is here to answer those questions! Whatever your concern, she’ll do her best to help you so you can make sure you don’t just survive college, but rock it!

How do you deal with living in cramped dorm rooms and not having enough space for your stuff, etc.? Any organization tips?– Viveka

Viveka,

Even though dorm rooms tend to be small, there are definitely plenty of hacks to help you make the most of the space available to you!

First, I’d recommend getting bed risers if your school allows them. Bed risers are definitely a dorm room essential and can make a huge difference in the amount of storage space you have. They’ll prop up your bed high enough that you’ll have lots of extra storage underneath. When this happens, you’ll be able to store a lot more containers, snacks, suitcases or anything else you want to put aside and forget about. Any out-of-season clothes or items you don’t need every day can be stored under your bed as well. Personally, I tend to keep my super-sized containers of Nutella under my bed for easy access whenever I’ve craving chocolate-y goodness. #noregrets

Next, I’d get a few organizers for your closet – think one for shoes and one for other miscellaneous items you might have. For example, you can put all of your shoes in a stacking organizer, and then all of your scarves in a hanging scarf organizer so they don’t get in the way of all of your other items. Please don’t be like me freshman year and bring over 20 pair of shoes to campus, since they just take up so much space and it’s a lot easier to store them when you have an organizer! I only ended up wearing my bright blue wedges to class once, and let’s just say I wouldn’t do it again. Ever.

Another helpful idea would be to coordinate items with your roommate before move-in day to decide who will bring what. When you decide this beforehand, you won’t need to worry about how you’re going to store two of every appliance; instead, it’ll be all sorted out prior to your arrival on campus. I definitely think this is a simple and easy (yet very important) step towards making the most out of the space you’re given in your dorm room. Nothing is worse than showing up with two mini fridges, two microwaves and two vacuums if you’ll only need one of each.

If you find that you have a hard time storing all of your belongings freshman year, don’t panic! Soon you’ll learn exactly what you use and don’t use often so that you can decide how to organize all of your stuff, and then you’ll cut down on your packing every year afterwards to make the most of the space you’re given. By the time my junior year rolled around, my packing had improved so much that I thought I had forgotten something, and that definitely says something. Pro tip: You can always take items you find are taking up too much space home with you for winter break as well to make everything a bit more spacious. Best of luck!

You know that old sweater you used to love? The one that still looks great, but just isn’t you anymore? You could let it sit in the back of your closet gathering dust, or you could give it (and your budget) a new life by selling it to someone else!

Let’s face it — whether living in a cramped dorm room, in a modest apartment or at home with your folks, most collegiettes have a thing or two they’d like to purge, and they’d also like to make some money doing it. But selling your things can be frustrating. Online venues like craigslist are popular but sometimes sketchy, and you probably aren’t selling enough items to host a full-blown garage sale. That’s why we’re here to fill you in on some other ways to sell your things, as recommended by deal-seeking collegiettes like you!

Consignment stores

One great way to sell your things is to look up consignment stores (businesses that buy and sell secondhand clothing and other items) in your area. Becoming a seller at most consignment stores is pretty simple: Bring all the items you’d like sell to the store in person, and then an employee will look through your items and decide which pieces the store will purchase and for how much. It’s important to get a feel for the kind of items each consignment store generally buys and sells, otherwise you might leave with handfuls of unwanted stuff and empty pockets.

1. Plato’s Closet

With locations in the United States and Canada, Plato’s Closet is a popular choice among collegiettes who want to sell their pre-loved clothing and accessories.

Alyssa Opdyke, a junior at Fordham University, recommends Plato’s Closet but warns that the store can be picky. “Clothes … have to be super trendy usually, or they won't even take them,” Alyssa says. “But you can get decent money if you have good stuff.”

Specifically, Plato’s Closet asks for current, name-brand fashion pieces that have been gently used, so don’t bother taking a blouse here that you’ve been hoarding for the past few years. If you think your closet has what it takes, then give it a shot! You could walk away with some quick cash.

2. Buffalo Exchange

Take your gently used current and vintage styles to Buffalo Exchange, another consignment store that works a lot like Plato’s Closet. Buffalo Exchange takes retro styles, not just the latest fashions like Plato’s Closet does, but they do ask for quality clothing and accessories in great shape. They also ask that you call your local store ahead of time to see what they’re looking to buy. Although Buffalo Exchange can be a bit picky as well, you can make a great sale if you know what the store is looking for. Plus, Buffalo Exchange donates five cents to a charity of the customer’s choice for every bag refused by the customer, so you can become part of a worthy cause.

Hannah Rupp, thrifter and fashion blogger at An Old Story, a secondhand-style blog, says that ideally she sells at consignment stores like Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange as well as independent local sellers before heading online.

“You get to talk to a real person, know where your stuff is going, and, in most cases, you get payout on the spot,” Rupp says. “It’s a great option for someone who doesn’t have time to wait around on the Internet!”

3. Half Price Books

Don’t think that consignment stores only buy clothing and accessories. Some stores, like Half Price Books, buy pre-loved books, movies, music and other tech. Selling to Half Price Books works just like selling to other consignment stores: Show up at a store with your items, and the staff will make you a cash offer depending on the condition of and demand for the stuff you’re trying to sell. Plus, they donate thousands of books to nonprofits each year!

Websites and apps

You’re always hearing about craigslist and eBay, but there are so many more websites and apps dedicated to helping you sell your secondhand treasures. These venues make selling convenient (you can do it from home!) and virtually hassle-free.

4. Poshmark

Poshmark is a fabulous virtual alternative to a traditional consignment store if you’re looking to sell gently used clothing, shoes and accessories. This app, available for free for Apple and Android phones, lets you create an account, post items you’d like to sell and engage with buyers. 

Although the app takes 20 percent commission from any sale of $15 or more and a flat fee of $2.95 from smaller sales, Poshmark sends you a prepaid shipping label whenever you sell an item, taking a lot of pain out of the shipping process.

Lindsay Wallman, a senior at The College of New Jersey, swears by Poshmark. “[It] is an awesome app that is 100 percent trustworthy and is perfect for selling your extra clothes, shoes and accessories,” she says. “I have had a great deal of success with it and have even found some awesome items for myself!”

Melissa Tierney, fashion blogger at MissyOnMadison.com and deal-seeker, says that she particularly likes Poshmark for its unique interactive features.

“Rather than eBay, where you are just buying and selling items, Poshmark has 'parties' daily that have specially curated style picks from users 'closets' based on the theme of that party,” Tierney says. “For example, a month ago I was asked to host a 'Fall Forward' party on the app, so I went around for two hours and shared fall pieces from my closet as well as fellow Poshers’, and usually that leads to sales because those pieces grab users’ attention!”

With its easy-to-use interface and fashionable community, it’s not hard to see how selling for Poshmark can feel like a fun game!

5. Twice

Twice is another website and app where you can sell your pre-loved clothes and accessories. Twice works like a long-distance consignment store: You send all the clothes you want to sell to them, and they give you an offer for the entire package, which you can choose to accept or reject.

But get this — Twice covers the shipping for you in one of two ways. You can print out your prepaid shipping label (think Poshmark), or you can request a free selling kit that will arrive at your address in under a week complete with a prepaid shipping label. Plus, if your package gets lost in transit, it’s insured for up to $100.

After you ship your package, Twice will make you an offer within the one week. Then, you can choose regular payment (check, PayPal or Venmo) or store credit. If you reject the offer, you owe Twice $4.95 to cover shipping your package back.

Rupp has had some serious success with Twice. “[It was] easy to use, paid for shipping both ways (and included a free mailing bag for my clothes!) and only took about two to four weeks to get a payout,” she says.

Twice is looking for stain-free, current items (less than five years old) from top brands. Send over clothes from brands like Gap, American Eagle and J.Crew, but don’t bother with anything from Forever 21 or H&M. If you have top-notch clothes in great condition, Twice is perfect fit for you.

6. Gazelle

Gazelle buys used smartphones, tablets, iPods, computers and more. The site gives you a free offer taking into account the type of device and its condition. For example, an iPhone 5 in good condition (with no significant cracks but not brand new) can earn you around $150 depending on its storage capacity and carrier.

Unlike Poshmark, Gazelle sellers don’t directly interact with their customers. An online community isn’t right for everyone, so if you’re looking for just a quick sale, Gazelle could be the venue for you.

“It is easy, gives you a fair price and allows you not to have to interact directly with a buyer like eBay or craigslist does,” says Kathryn Balben, a first-year at the University of Virginia who has had success selling her MacBook and iPhone with Gazelle.

Gazelle also covers shipping for items valued at over $1 and pays out relatively quickly after the team inspects your gadget: from three to five business days for an online payment through PayPal or up to 10 business days for a mailed check.

Social media

When you’re thinking of selling your things, don’t take for granted the community you interact with every day. If you’ve got a decent online following already, then you might not need to look any further than your favorite social networking sites.

7. Facebook

If you’re active on Facebook, you probably belong to a few groups. These can be great tools for selling, especially groups for college students. Universities often have “Free and for Sale” or “Exchange” Facebook groups where you can buy and sell items from your classmates. This is a super convenient way to sell all kinds of things because you can easily meet up with your buyer on campus and you’re typically not limited to what you can sell.

But what if you college doesn’t have “Free and for Sale” group? No worries — you can always post on a common interest group (think clubs and organizations) or even your class group (for example, “Vanderbilt Class of 2015”).

Many collegiettes recommend selling on Facebook pages, including Georgia College junior Emily Ward. “[On Georgia College’s page] people post pictures and usually have really great luck,” Emily says. “You can buy anything from a rug to Lilly Pulitzer shorts to a taxidermy animal!”

This is an especially great option if you’re selling concert tickets, textbooks or anything else you know your peers will love.

8. Instagram

If you don’t want to limit your customer base to just university students, you might want to try selling on Instagram. Post a picture and description of what you’d like to sell on your Instagram account and collect payments via PayPal. You can find more detailed instructions here.

If you use Instagram to sell items, be cautious. Make sure that you secure your payment before shipping your items, and don’t agree to meet anyone outside of a public space.

Social media, shopping apps and consignment stores have made it easier than ever to make some fast cash off of your used items. The options listed above are just a few of the many fantastic ways you can sell your things, so don’t settle for craigslist and eBay just because they get the most hype!

What could be better than getting rid of the clutter and making money doing it? Dust off that old sweater (or iPod, or textbook) and start selling! And, hey, odds are you’ll find a bargain purchase or two along the way. 

After spending the past month in oversized sweatshirts eating Girl Scout cookies, trying on a bikini is probably right up there with calculus homework and getting your wisdom teeth removed on the list of things you least want to do—and we don’t blame you.

But spring break is right around the corner, which means you can’t avoid the cramped dressing rooms and department stores much longer. Bikini shopping can be downright dreadful, but there are steps you can take to make the experience a little less miserable.

1. Come prepared

 
Before you embark on the search for the bikini of your dreams, make sure you bring along these key accessories:

• A pair of flip-flops—because no swimsuit is going to look right when you’re rocking your UGG boots and wool socks.
• A thong—because trying to fit bikini bottoms over your underwear will be nearly impossible, and you don’t want to violate any of the store’s hygiene policies.
• Your best friend—because she will offer sound advice and suggestions after you’ve tried on your fifteenth bikini and are starting to act delusional.
• Self-tanning lotion—this isn’t a must, but it’s a safe alternative to tanning beds and may make you feel more confident about trying on a bikini in the winter. 

There are also steps to take to ensure that you’re maintaining a positive body image throughout the bikini shopping process. “Before I go shopping or to try on bikinis, I take a shower, wear my favorite underwear, and put on a little makeup,” says Sarah Dilick, a freshman at New York University. “I do whatever makes me feel best because I know I’ll need it that day.”

2. Know what you want

Once you’re equipped with the necessities listed above, it’s time to determine what exactly you’re looking for in a bikini.

Although bikini styles are constantly evolving, there are certain looks that are tried and true. Think back to bikinis you’ve had in the past, and which ones you’ve felt the most confident in. Do you like the look of bandeaus? Do you need the support of an underwire top? Setting out with your preferences in mind will make it much easier to narrow down your choices.

“I think it’s important to keep in mind that not every store or every bikini you try on is going to look or feel good on you,” Sarah says. “It takes time and shopping around to find what you feel best in, but you can’t expect everything to work.”

 3. Follow these bikini rules

You’ve probably heard of some bikini myths before, and while some of them may be true, others may be holding you back from your ultimate bikini. While we can speculate, it’s up to you to determine what you prefer and what you feel the most comfortable in. That being said, we’ve come up with a few rules to help you with the process.

Rule #1: White can work

If you’ve shopped for bikinis before, you’ve probably been told at one point or another to steer clear of white swimsuits, as white fabric and water don’t often mix too well. While this may be true of thinner bikinis, white bikinis with a thick, nude-colored padding or liner don’t pose this problem. If you fall in love with a white bikini, be sure to try it on and check how thick it is before leaving it behind.

Rule #2: Look for patterns and colors that slim

As a general rule, vertical stripes, as well as darker colors such as black, plum and navy create a visually slimming effect.

Rule #3: Embrace the small-chested struggle

If you’re a collegiette with a smaller chest, trying a bikini with ruffles can help to accentuate your shape. It’s all about what works for you!

4. Try on your size and another one (and another one)

It goes without saying that trying on a bikini before you buy it is essential, but be sure to try on a variety of different sizes before making your final decision. When you find a bikini you like, head to the dressing room with one in your size and one in the next size up. Start with the largest size and work your way down until you find a fit that’s just right.

Also, don’t be alarmed if the top size of your bikini is different from the bottom size that you need. It’s completely normal to wear different sizes in the two pieces.

5. Jump around (literally)

Once you’ve found a bikini that you’re confident feels just right, it’s time to put it to the test. After all, you’re not going to spend every day at the pool or beach just basking in the sun (although there’s nothing wrong with that!). Try a few different moves in the dressing room to ensure a perfect fit, such as bending over, lifting your arms above your head, or sitting cross-legged. This will give you a better idea of just how good of a fit the bikini is for you.

If you’re worried about testing out a bikini in the dressing room, you may want to try ordering your next one from a website. Although ordering a piece such as a bikini online may be risky, trying it on at home allows you more freedom for moving around and testing it out. If you opt for online shopping, look for a store with a flexible return policy, and consider ordering the suit you like in two different sizes. After you determine which size is perfect for you, you can mail the others back.

 
Although bikini shopping will never be as fun as spring break itself, there are plenty of ways to make it less miserable. Step out to the stores with an open mind but a certain idea of what you’re looking for, and you’re guaranteed to find the bikini that’s best for you. Good luck collegiettes, and let the countdown to spring break begin!
 

Though the weather may not signal it, spring is on the way. But while these last weeks of winter continue dragging on, now is the perfect time to clean out your closet. We know you probably dread this task as much as we do, but we’ve mapped out 5 easy steps to getting it done so your spring cleaning will be a breeze!

1. Take everything out!

Start simple by taking everything—yes, everything!—out of your closet. There’s no way you can see the massive amount of clothes you have until you lay them all out in front of you. Plus, you wouldn’t want that hideous bodycon dress you never wear to keep its unearned place in the very back crevice of your closet just because you don’t see it while you’re decluttering.

2. Ask the tough questions

If you’re unsure whether or not a certain piece should be thrown out, go through this handy checklist of important questions. Answer honestly and your true feelings about the item will be revealed.

3. Keep, toss, or donate?

Based on your answers to the preceding questions, you’ve decided what things to keep and which to rid from your life for good. Donating clothes that you no longer want is a great way to eliminate them without the guilt. But some items, like those that are irreparably dirty or damaged, need to be thrown away. Take an adventure through this flow chart to make sure those things you want to donate are worthy hand-me-downs.

4. Organize what’s left

Do what works for you. Sort by color and silhouette. Hang as many items as possible; if you can see a piece, you’re more likely to wear it. Those areas of prime real estate in your closet are where you should keep articles of clothing you wear most often so they’re easy to find. If you’re working with limited space, your wardrobe can also double as room décor.

5. Be smart about new items

Now it’s time to look to the future so you don’t find yourself in this situation any time soon. If your closet is still busting at the seams, you need to consider giving up a piece for every new one you buy. Continuing to buy things all the time will only lead to your spring cleaning coming again quicker than you’re expecting. So the most proactive way to avoid this is to give up an equivalent item for each new piece you buy.

Do you have any tips for cleaning out and organizing your closet, collegiettes?

London, Paris, Boston, New York—whichever city holds your heart, you can bet that jewelry from Samantha Faye’s City collection will help show your love!

We’re giving away two $100 gift cards so you can shop the entire collection! Choose from a selection of more than 100 locations, or customize your own piece (in 14k gold plate or sterling silver) to represent your hometown, your college, a place you visited when studying abroad—engrave the city’s coordinates or initials onto a cuff, charm bracelet or a necklace.

You’ve seen lawyer-turned-jewelry designer Samantha Faye’s designs in top publications like Lucky Magazine, Us Weekly and People StyleWatch, as well as on some of your favorite TV shows: Girls, the Bachelorette and The Carrie Diaries.

Home is where the heart is—and what better way to show that than with a customized piece you’ll never want to take off? Enter below now for a chance to win one of 2 $100 gift cards—and get 20 percent off your entire Samantha Faye purchase through the month of March with code HERCAMPUS2015!

Remember those perfectly planned week-long breaks in paradise you got every March or April while you were in college? Unfortunately, after leaving college, a week’s worth of vacation days is harder to come by, but that doesn’t mean you’re not in dire need of a break—especially at the end of these long winter months! We all need a little escape, but when you can’t get away for longer than a weekend, it may be time for a “staycation” or a little getaway in your own city. Here are some ideas for getting away from the monotony of daily life for a day or two this spring!

1. Take a bike tour

Though the incessant snow makes this hard to believe, March and April will finally bring sunny weekends. Take advantage of these days and explore your town or city on a bike! If you’re looking for a whole weekend trip, BikeTours.com provides to tools for finding a local guided bike tour for two nights or longer. The guided tours take you from one location to another with accommodations and routes included.

If you’d rather stick closer to home and sleep in your own bed, see if your city has a bike sharing system. This is great if you don’t have your own bike because you can rent a bike from a station and return it to any other station in the city. Biking allows you to see your surroundings from a new perspective, one you might not necessarily see in a car or on the subway. Break out those cute tennis shoes, stop for a picnic in the park and make sure to wear a helmet!

2. Visit a local museum

Whether you live in the suburbs or in a big city, chances are you can find some type of museum within a day’s travel. Maybe it’s an art museum or maybe it explores local history, but a rainy Saturday spent at a museum can make you feel cultured, educated, and like you’ve been transported to different time and place. Look for some of the smaller, lesser-known museums or historic site rather than a traditional museum for something a little different. Make a day of it by mulling over what you’ve seen over coffee at a café, or if it’s sunny, grab an ice cream afterwards. You’re bound to feel inspired by what you’ve seen!

3. Tour a winery or brewery

If you like to imbibe from time to time, try finding a local brewery or winery to visit.

Breweries often have a fun, laid back atmosphere that could be the perfect escape from day-to-day life. Craft brewing is booming and according to CraftBeer.com, the average American lives within 10 miles of a craft brewery. Many breweries offer free tours that include tastings and offer food on-site or from a food truck. Tour the brewery, stick around for a pint or two, and wow your friends with your new knowledge of beer!

If you’re looking for a more refined experience, see if there are any wineries in your area. Babak Motamedi, co-founder of online winery guide Kazzit, explains that each winery offers something different: tastings, tours, cave tours, and more, but Kazzit can help you find the right winery for you. Referencing California, which boasts more than 4,000 wineries, Motamedi asks of finding the right tour, “How do you even begin?” Kazzit is the guide to “where the wine grows” and provides you with wineries in your area and the tools to plan your tasting or tour! Find a tour that will fit in your timeline, your budget, and whatever you’re looking for from a day in the vineyards.

4. Explore a new neighborhood

Whether you’re living somewhere you’ve lived all your life or you’ve moved somewhere new, chances are you’re a stone’s throw from somewhere you haven’t explored yet. Look at a map, find a neighborhood or area you haven’t been to and make a day of exploring. Shop local boutiques, have lunch at café, wander through the local park, and enjoy experiencing some place new! Anna Kelsey, a 2014 graduate of Boston University, says, “I like to spend time exploring new neighborhoods now that I live in the city as a non student…I like getting a feel of the different neighborhoods and what their personalities are.” If you have the time and resources for a longer trip, explore a city in driving distance. From Boston, Anna says, “Downtown Burlington [Vermont] is super charming and fun weekend trip to take.”

5. Get outside

As those sunny spring days start approaching, look for an outdoor activity in your area. Maybe you’re near the water and can go kayaking or sign up for a sailing class. Take advantage of the nicer (re: not snowy!) weather and get outside for a day and get moving! Go for a hike; go horseback riding; go fishing: just get outside!

Nikki Snyder, another 2014 graduate of Boston University, is currently living and working in Boston. She says she loves to escape the city every once in awhile. “Though I love living and working in a city, the endless concrete and brick can make me feel really claustrophobic.” A short ways away from Boston, Nikki likes to visit the White Mountains in New Hampshire where she hikes and fills her lungs with fresh air: “To forget all of the stresses of work, of city life, of rent and laundry and instead channel all of my energy into each inclined step is incredibly refreshing. For me, hiking is almost meditative.” Her weekend trips to the woods allow her to find herself and take on the next week. “Crisp air, awesome views, sweating and not caring about my appearance, the outdoors always re-center me so I can return to Boston, rested and ready to kick a** on Monday!” she says.

6. Celebrate spring at a festival

Fall has apple picking; spring has blooming flowers. There’s nothing quite like seeing the colors of freshly bloomed flowers after long gray winters. Look for a local flower show to brighten your weekend and get you looking forward to sunnier months. If you like history, try Virginia’s Historic Garden Week where you can see beautiful historic homes and their blooming gardens or mingle with Southern Belles at the North Carolina Azalea Festival. The tulip fields at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington state rival those in the Netherlands or if purple’s your favorite color, hit the Rochester Lilac Festival, just to name a few. Of course, if you’re in DC, there’s always the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

7. Host a themed dinner

If all else fails, bring the world to you. Invite your friends over for a dinner or small party with an exotic theme. Turn your apartment into a tiki hut and host a Hawaiian luau; make tapas and sangria for a trip to Spain; “visit” an Italian village and serve pasta, prosciutto and prosecco; or answer London Calling with gin and tonics in wellies and a fascinator. Prepare authentic food, decorate your digs, and dress the part! Not only will the party allow you and your friends to escape without actually leaving, planning and preparing for the party will give you something to think about and anticipate.

8. Find a cheap hotel and get away for the weekend

Grab your bestie, your SO, or a sibling and split a hotel for the weekend. Many hotels offer last minute deals to fill their empty rooms. Kayak.com offers an easy way to finding those deals, well under $100 (or even $50!) a night in tons of popular locations across the country. Pick a location and find a good deal. Go out for a nice meal, get in a little shopping, and get a good night’s rest in a comfortable hotel bed, even if it’s in your very own city. You’re bound to feel refreshed for the coming week!

Whether you have a day or a whole weekend, doing something different is bound to make you feel rejuvenated after a long week in the office. These ideas get you outside and away from normal day-to-day activities to give you that extra boost after the past few months of endless snow. And what you’ll remember from those spring breaks in college is that post-SB, summer is just around the corner!

Name: Megan Berry
Job Title and Description: Head of Social Product and Community at RebelMouse
College/Major: Stanford University/Political Science
Website: www.rebelmouse.com
Twitter Handle: @meganberry

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

I run social product here at RebelMouse, and I’ve been here since we started around three years ago. What it means to run social product is, basically I’m looking at our product roadmap to decide which of the features we think are going to help our clients grow and maximize their content.

That involves planning out the features on the highest level, working with design teams and engineering teams to decide how they’re specifically going to look, working with some of the logistics of timing and client needs and working with tech leads to decide who’s going to build it. It’s about getting that whole pipeline in place and then looking back once something has launched and understanding how it did and what that means for our clients.

In terms of a typical day, I usually wake up on the early side (around 7 am) and get on the computer in my PJs to check in with our global team. There are people finishing up their day in India and people in Europe who are at their lunch break, so I need to chime in where I’m needed. Once that’s settled, I get dressed and get into the office. That’s a nice time to catch up on product docs and get myself set up for long-term projects. As the day moves on, I’ll jump into client meetings and then I’ll probably head back to help teams of designers and engineers in other time zones.

I’m a huge fan of exercise, so after work, I’ll do a Soul Cycle class, eat, then check back in with our teams.

What is the best part of your job?

There are a couple different things in particular. One is that we have a really amazing team. When someone on the team has an idea and a designer pulls together something that’s even better than what we dreamed of, or when a design goes into engineering and they have a great suggestion, that collaboration is amazing.

The second thing is when something goes live. For example, we’ve been working on this feature for a long time called “The River,” which is like a Facebook newsfeed for the communities we build, and when it went live and we got featured in some press, it was really exciting.

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

One thing is that this industry is risk-friendly, so it’s better to take the chance or take the lead if you think something might work. Just go for it and really put yourself out there, because it’s an industry that really responds to that. When you take risks and just go for it, you tend to be rewarded and see things happen.

I think with that, on a personal level, I had a tendency in interviews and then on the job to be overly modest. I look back, and even when I interview college students to see if I want them on my team, I just see it so clearly. It’s a switch that you have to flip when you leave school that a teacher won’t be your advocate; you have to be your own advocate.

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

I look at a couple things. First I want to know if someone is a self-starter and a go-getter. The way I’ll notice that is how much he or she has looked into the company and me overall. If you were taking extra time to do your research and read our press and check my Twitter account, that makes me think you’re going to put effort into the job.

The other thing is someone who’s generally really curious and really excited about the industry. When someone tells me that this is the thing [he or she] wants, that gets me excited. When people are unsure of what they want, it’s not as exciting to hire.

Packing can be such an "ugh" moment. Thankfully, we're going for the casual, beachy look this spring break so we're sticking to the essentials. We can't live without our beauty bags, and this is what we're planning on packing for the most carefree week of the year:

1. First things first, the bag:

This vintage-inspired bag by Catseye London is ideal. It's big enough for our necessities (7 by 12.25 inches!) and it's totally beach-chic!

2. Tons of SPF

Finally, a sunscreen that we are excited to wear! COOLA has answered our prayers with a line of organic suncare products. From the SPF 20 Rose Essence tinted CC cream to the replenishing after sun lotion, we are obsessed with this stuff. Grab a travel set ($39.99) to test it out and stay protected against the sun!

3. Waterproof mascara

You never know what could happen if you spontaneously opt-in for some splish-splashing fun over break. Okay, yes you do:

Don't throw caution to the wind with this one. We love Maybelline New York's Great Lash Waterproof Mascara ($4.79). It's a tried and true classic and it's less than $5!

4. Facial spray

Keep hydrated, refresh your skin, and set your makeup with a nice mist. We love the Pink Grapefruit Vitamin Face Mist ($5) from Yves Rocher because it has us smelling like pink grapefruit.

5. Lip balm (yes, with SPF)

We thought there could be nothing worse than chapped lips...until that time we went and got our lips sunburned. Try this limited edition Softlips Pearl SPF 15 lip balm ($7.98). It tints your lips, and comes with a bonus Vanilla SPF 20 stick for extra protection (and insurance in case you lose the other one).

6. Travel sized haircare products

You never know what kinds of shampoo and conditioner you might find at hotels, so save yourself the stress of a gamble, and bring your own TSA-approved travel set! The Surf Set ($28) from Bumble & Bumble is beach-themed just for the occasion.

7. Wet Brush

The Wet Brush is our favorite hairbrush for spring break, because it's specially designed for brushing wet hair! Pick up "The Squirt" ($4.99) is mini version of the brush, and comes in tons of bright and fun colors perfect for your beach bag!

Which beauty products are you using to help you work the surfer-chic look this spring break?

After watching countless episodes of Greek, reading articles and getting advice from your sorority friends, you feel like you’re ready to take on sorority recruitment. But after going through the rounds of the process, you come out without a bid. Unfortunately, life isn’t actually an episode of Greek (as much as we wish it were), and not every collegiette ends up in a sorority after rushing.

However, all hope is not lost for those who still want to experience Greek life! There is a lesser-known way to join a sorority called continuous open bidding (COB). If you didn’t receive a bid, or maybe you decided to join a sorority after rush has ended, COB could be your chance to go Greek.

What is continuous open bidding?

Continuous open bidding is an informal process that some sororities use to take in new members. This process gives collegiettes a chance to join randomly throughout the year in a setting that is relaxed and easy. COB has no set guidelines or formal structure, and it can happen at any time of the year for several different reasons.

Sororities choose to use this process for several different reasons. Susannah Hine, a Kappa Alpha Theta sister and a senior at the University of California, Irvine, says, “Sororities normally have to COB if they are below quota (due to girls graduating, not getting enough girls in fall, girls deactivating, etc.) and they have room to take more girls.”

If you’re interested in joining a newer sorority on campus, it is likely they will have COB as well. “My sorority has continuous open bidding because, as the newest sorority on campus, we are looking to meet the general size of the other sororities on campus,” says Katie Naymon, a sister of Kappa Alpha Theta and a junior at John Hopkins University.

How is COB different than traditional rushing?

Unlike formal recruitment, there is no “rush week” and no formal invitation of acceptance. Sororities are responsible for reaching out to girls and inviting them to participate.

You also don’t make the rounds to different houses, so if you have your heart set on one particular sorority, COB may be a good option for you. “I think that COB is great for girls who know that they want to be in a certain sorority and don't want to have to go through the recruitment process for the others on campus,” Katie says.

How does COB work?

Sororities choose whom they want to participate in COB a few different ways. For example, they can choose from those who rushed and didn’t make it into a sorority. If they were interested in you before but you didn’t make the cut for some reason, they may ask you to come to a COB event to get to know you better. If you didn’t rush but you would like to be considered, most schools have a list that you can sign up for in order to be chosen. Also, if you have friends in a sorority already, they can sometimes recommend you if you let them know you’re interested in joining.

Once you get invited to a COB event, you get to know the sorority and the members and are then able to choose to continue. You get to skip the entire process of recruitment and go right into pledging.

Why should you participate in COB?

The rush process can be intimidating for some girls. “I really recommend [COB] for anyone who is a little freaked out by the process of formal recruitment,” says Christina Madsen, a senior in Alpha Chi Omega at Barnard College.

With so many other people fighting for limited spots, it’s easy to find yourself struggling to show off your dazzling personality and the reasons why you would be a great asset to the sorority. “It's how I joined my sorority,” Christina says. “For me, it was just so much more comfortable than formal recruitment. Formal recruitment is a great process, but for some people it can be a little hard to show a sorority how great you are because it can be exhausting or intimidating.”

COB allows the process of joining a sorority to be more intimate. Because it’s informal, you’re able to relax and connect with the members more than if you were to do formal recruitment. “COB really gives potential new members a chance to come out of their shells and get to know us,” Christina says.

If you want to get to know a sorority in a more intimate setting without a hundred of other rushees, continuous open bidding is your in!

If you have ever thought about joining a sorority but were wary of the recruitment process, participate in continuous open bidding! It may be the perfect way for you to go Greek.