We all know which beauty products are essential for every collegiette - a bold red lipstick, some lengthening mascara and a calming facial cleanser, to name a few - but what about the underdogs of the beauty industry? There are plenty of other noteworthy products out there, and they can really benefit your entire beauty routine. Check out our top picks for skin, hair and cosmetics, and have fun shopping!

You work hard to make sure your hairstyle is exactly how you want it to be, so you’ll want to be able to maintain that style for as long as possible. A style extender cream helps your hair to repel dirt and oil, giving you silky and smooth locks until your next wash. Simply rub a nickel-sized amount of product into your hair from mid-length to your ends before styling. It will also work to prevent frizz and protect against humidity. Feel free to use extra products in addition to your style extender, since it can be used on its own or as a primer for your other favorite products.

We Recommend: The Prime Style Extender from Living Proof ($20) and the Deja Vu Do Style Extender from Not Your Mother’s ($9).

Many collegiettes are guilty of moisturizing directly after cleansing (and sometimes, not moisturizing at all—yikes!), but incorporating a facial toner into your routine is an easy way to amp up your routine an extra notch. A facial toner aids in removing any leftover cleanser you may not have washed off during cleansing, removes excess oil, gives the appearance of smaller pores and restores your skin’s pH balance. It also gives your skin a fresh surface before applying your favorite moisturizer to ensure you are getting the most out of your products.

We Recommend: The Rose Floral Toner from Fresh ($40) and the Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner from Neutrogena ($8.49).

You may have been skeptical about the miraculous benefits of facial oil, especially if you have combination or oily skin, but collegiettes of every skin type can benefit from a facial oil. Many facial oils contain a rich blend of skin-loving oils to deeply hydrate and nourish your skin. For collegiettes with oily skin, look for facial oils that are “balancing” to ensure your skin gets the perfect amount of moisture without becoming too greasy. One of the best tips to keep in mind when using facial oils is to remember that a little can go a long way. A drop or two may be all you need, so start small and add more if you need to.

We Recommend: The Skin Balancing Face Oil from Jurlique ($50) and the 100% Pure Argan Oil from Josie Maran ($40).

For mani-obsessed collegiettes, this may seem like a no brainer, but so many girls are still skipping out on base and top coats when painting their nails. By incorporating a base and top coat into your nail routine, you’ll instantly add extra time and durability to your manicure compared to using your favorite color only. When you start with a base coat, you give your nails a clear, smooth surface of protection before applying nail color. This is an essential step when you are using ultra bright and super dark nail polishes in order to prevent staining your nail beds. After applying two coats of color, seal in your hard work with a top coat to protect the color all week long. For additional durability, re-apply top coat every other day to keep chips at bay.

We Recommend: The Top 2 Bottom Base and Top Coat from Orly($10) and the Dry Fast Top Coat from Seche Vite ($9.95).

You might be a master at picking out the right makeup brushes for defined contouring and the perfect romantic smoky eye, but did you also know that you should be cleaning your brushes on the regular? Failing to clean your brushes results in clogged pores and annoying breakouts. Regular cleaning will help to remove dirt, debris, dead skin cells, oil, and old makeup—even bacteria that get stuck in the bristles. This is a routine that preserves the life of your brushes, helps to apply your makeup more evenly without leftover product in the way, and keeps your skin clear. We suggest that every time you use your makeup brushes, you provide them with a quick cleaning using a daily brush cleanser. You just spray the formula onto your brushes and wipe them clean onto a paper towel. Then once a week, provide your brushes with a deeper cleaning using a richer formula.

We Recommend: The liquid blendercleanser from beautyblender ($18) and the Master Cleanse Daily Brush Cleaner from Sephora ($8.50).

With these beauty essentials, you’ll be able to take your routine from drab to fab in minutes!

We’ve all heard that the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else, and a recent study out of the University of Missouri shows that a lot of college students are heeding that very advice. Out of 170 undergrads surveyed, 35 percent had sex with someone other than their ex-partner—that is, engaged in rebound sex—within a month of their breakup.

But what does that mean for collegiettes? There’s no doubt that rebound sex is a thing that happens, but when it comes to whether it will help or hurt you, things get a little murky. So, should you or shouldn’t you? Let’s break it down!

Why do we do it?

There are tons of ways you can try to get over a breakup. You can pull an Elle Woods and watch a bad romance movie, only to scream, “Liar!” at the sexy male lead and chuck a box of chocolates at your TV. You can stay in your sweats for a week and develop an intimate relationship with GrubHub, or you can gather your girls and drain your local bar of its tequila reserves. You could get over your ex the healthy way, or you could try something else entirely!

But despite the many options, a sizeable chunk of post-breakup collegiettes will likely choose a more physical course of action: rebound sex.

“I think for some people, it’s the kick in the pants they need—literally!—to help them believe that life will go on after a breakup,” says MJ Acharya, the founder of BrokenHeartedGirl.com, a place for the brokenhearted to seek support. “Imagining yourself with another person can be hard to do, so just putting yourself in a position to physically connect with a new lover can help kick-start your brain into imagining a future full of possibilities with another person.”

The dangers of rebound sex

Getting to a place where you can see yourself with another guy sounds great, but before we get there, let’s get the bad news out of the way: rebound sex isn’t all good.

The potential risks of engaging in rebound sex when you’re hot off a breakup and, consequently, emotionally vulnerable may seem obvious: you might get attached or find out that your emotions can’t be so easily plugged by a one-night stand. But according to Lisa Steadman, relationship expert and author of It's A Breakup Not A Breakdown, if you’re hoping to get over your ex this way, you might find that rebound sex has the exact opposite result — you might wind up thinking about your ex even more than before.

“[After rebound sex], we can go, ‘Now I have all these feelings coming up that are making me think about my ex and what we used to have and how I miss him,’” Steadman says. “[You could think], ‘This guy didn’t touch me the same way,’ or, ‘this guy didn’t treat me the same way, and I really miss my ex. I think I’m going to text him or call him.’ And that’s where the rebound turns into more of the breakdown.”

Another risk associated with rebound might have less to do with the what and who, and more to do with the when. The participants in the study who engaged in rebound sex did so within the first four weeks following their breakup, something that Steadman says might stunt the healing process, or at least set you back a few steps.

“There’s no substitute for being in the breakdown of your breakup,” she says. “You can’t avoid the pain. There are five stages of it—the denial, the anger, the bargaining, the depression and even the eventual acceptance—and you can’t shortchange yourself by trying to skip over those steps.”

Meaning? Rebound sex might seem like a good distraction the day after you get dumped, but in the long run, it might be better if you wait until you’ve healed on your own first. 

Alternatives to rebound sex

Want some serious post-breakup catharsis without the sex? We have good news: you have options when it comes to getting that boost and letting off some newly single steam.

“Maybe it’s rebound kissing or a rebound make-out session,” Acharya suggests as alternatives that run a smaller risk of attachment or regret. “And if that’s not something the person would normally do, she could just put herself on an online dating site to just garner attention from prospective mates in order to help her visualize herself in a future that doesn’t include her ex.”

And if those options still sound a little daunting, there’s always the option of just going to a bar and getting your flirt on with your best girl friends, no physical contact necessary!

Or for those collegiettes who don’t even want to think about guys right now? Steadman suggests getting a Breakover. That’s right, a breakup makeover.  “Nothing makes a woman feel sassier than a new ‘do,” she says.  

If you already have a ‘do you love, find something else that involves pampering and treating yourself. Self-love is a crucial step in the breakup recovery process!

Still want to rebound? Things to consider

Even with the potential pitfalls, there’s no denying that rebound sex is popular for a reason. Steadman describes it as a great ego boost: a way to reenter the market and remind yourself that your ex isn’t the only one out there. Not to mention, it’s probably been forever since you slept with someone besides your ex, and admit it: things were getting tired with him anyway.

It might also be a great distraction.

“I'm so pleased that I did, because although I'm no longer in contact with the guy I had sex with, for a few weeks I was excited again,” says Jasmine Walker, HC campus correspondent for the University of Manchester. “I… had something to talk to my friends about other than my ex-boyfriend. I was completely distracted by what I'd done, what I'd learnt and how sex could be with someone else but still feel good.”

So if you decide you are willing to take the risk, there are things to keep in mind to make sure you have the most positive experience possible.

“I think it's important to self-analyze,” says Acharya, who also wrote The Breakup Workbook: A Common Sense Guide to Getting Over Your Ex. “If you're typically not a one-night-stand kind of girl, then chances are, having a one-night stand could potentially diminish your self-esteem. In this situation, you want to feel good about yourself afterward.”

Another invaluable resource for safe rebounding? What Steadman calls the Boohoo Crew, a group of friends, who will make sure you don’t make any bad decisions while you’re still in the bad stages of your breakup. You know, the ones who are going to make sure you don’t drunk-text him or beg him to take you back—or, in this case, make sure you don’t have sex with someone new until you’re ready.

“Be sure that when you’re going through a breakup, you surround yourself with people who have your best interests at heart and who really want to help you through it,” Steadman says.

And of course, no matter the type of sex you’re engaging in, Steadman reminds you to stay safe and always be prepared. You don’t know where your rebound has been!

At the end of the day, how you go about your breakup should be about one thing: finding acceptance and the ability to move on. If you take your time to do that, you’ll learn why your breakup might have been one of the best things that ever happened to you.

“You’re free to be yourself, you’re free to move on, you’re free to meet someone who’s more suited for you, and those are all the upsides of a breakup that we often forget when we’re thinking about revenge or rebound sex,” Steadman says.

Still not convinced? Just trust the process.

“I've been in the breakup business for 10 years, and the old saying is actually true: ‘Time heals all wounds,’” Acharya says. “It's what you do in that time that will either make you come out of your breakup a bitter person—or a better person. Strive for the latter.”

Canada may be right next-door but there are a lot of cultural differences! Here are some signs you go to school in Canada:

1. Snow days don’t exist.

School doesn’t close during snowstorms/icestorms/hailstorms/any kind of winter storm. School is always opened, even if you have to plow your way to class. 

2. You can drink legally.

The legal drinking age in Canada is 19 years of age (18 in some provinces), so you can enjoy your college experience not worrying about cops or fake IDs.

3. You have a love/hate relationship with Microsoft Word’s autocorrect function. 

Autocorrect changes words like “colour” and “favourite” to “color” and “favorite” without you noticing until after you get your paper back from your professor with all of the words circled and a comment along the lines of, “Are we in America?”

4. You reap the benefits of free health care. 

It turns out to be a pretty cheap night if you happen to get injured on one of your drunken evenings. 

5. You LOVE Tim Hortons. 

AKA the Holy Grail. Forget ramen noodles and Starbucks, in Canada there’s Tim Hortons, which is delicious and affordable. If you’re not rockin’ with Timmies, you will not be accepted into the country. End of story. (We still love you Starbucks, but only on payday.)

6. You start classes in September.

While some states in America begin school in late August, Canadians begin their first semester in the first weeks of September.

7. You're SUPER polite. 

You’ve probably noticed the countless apologies strangers send your way for doing something that didn’t even require an apology. #SorryIReallyAmSorry

8. You’re unfazed by Canadian slang.

When the weatherman reminds you to wear your toque, when your friend tells you to buy a mickey for the party or when your prof leaves lecture to grab a double-double, you know exactly what they mean.

Rushing a sorority may well be one of the most bizarre things you ever do in your life. It’s unlikely that you’ll ever spend another week running from mansion to mansion being sung to, smiled at and chatted to by groups of girls who are all mysteriously wearing the exact same outfit. Feeling a bit nervous is completely normal, but it’s no reason not to rush. Even though you might be apprehensive now, when you find the right house, you’ll be happy you took a chance.

One common worry of potential rushees is that they don’t know enough about the rush process, so we put together some info that we wish we’d known before setting off down Greek Row. With this insider advice, you’ll feel like a recruitment veteran before rush even begins! Here are the four things they won’t tell you on your school’s recruitment website.

1. Rush will be your entire life (for a week, that is)

Warning: Once the week starts, you are going to eat, breathe and speak nothing but rush. Most rush events are all-day affairs, and even when the day is over, you’ll likely be consumed with thinking about which houses you liked best and planning your outfit for the next round. On the first day you’ll end up going to every single house on campus—which, at many schools, is an extensive list. Though subsequent rounds require you to go to fewer houses, each “party” (i.e., the time spent in each house talking to its members) lasts longer as recruitment week progresses.

Rush is more or less a nonstop talk-a-thon. At every house, you’ll chat with multiple girls, and for the first few days, you’ll likely have the same conversations (answering questions like, “Where are you from?” and, “What’s your major?”) over and over again.

“I didn't know how tiring simply talking to people would be,” says Hannah, a sorority sister and senior at Indiana University Bloomington. “I basically passed out ASAP afterwards when I went through rush.”

Because rush is such a long and tiring process, it’s important not to try to pack much else into your week. If you’re serious about finding the right house, it’s essential to be well rested and give rush your full attention. If you feel like you’re missing out on all the exciting things happening at the beginning of the semester, just remember that recruitment only lasts a few days, and you’ll be free to do whatever you want before you know it. So get those eight hours of sleep in—you’ll be happy you did.

If you still feel a bit sleepy, you can always use makeup to look more awake!

2. If you don’t keep yourself well fueled, you’ll regret it

Eat! It seems so simple, but it can be easy to overlook. Rush moves at a nonstop pace, so you likely won’t have time to snack in between rounds. Make sure to have a good breakfast and lunch, or you’ll be regretting it. Remember, it’s not just important to eat enough—it’s important to eat well. Sticking to healthy foods will help keep you energized and feeling good.

The same goes for staying hydrated. Bring a water bottle with you and leave it outside the house when you go inside. This will save your voice, too!

3. When in doubt, look nicer than you’re told to

When Oscar Wilde famously stated, “You can never be overdressed or overeducated,” he was probably talking about sorority recruitment. Pay attention to the suggested outfits for each round, and as a general rule, dress as well as you can within the parameters of a given day’s dress code. For example, if the suggested outfit for the first day is “casual,” dress as you might for the first day of school: better than usual, but not over the top.

Brittany, a Zeta Tau Alpha sister in California, says presenting yourself well is the fastest way to make a good first impression. “There are hundreds of girls—you want to stand out in a positive way,” she says. Not to mention when you look good, you feel good. Putting your best foot forward will give you a total confidence boost. Let’s be honest, you can never go wrong being the best-dressed one in the room!

Bonus tip: Bring comfortable shoes in your bag to wear when you walk between houses. Your feet will thank you!

4. Active members are just as nervous as you are

This might bring back childhood memories of adults telling you that the large and terrifying bug you encountered “is just as scared of you as you are of it.” You didn’t believe it then, and you probably don’t believe it now, but we promise it’s the truth! Every active member you talk to wants you to like her and her sorority. Remember that the selection process is mutual. Your opinion of the women you’ve met at a house is used (along with their opinions of you) to determine if you return to that house for the next round.

The thought of having to impress every potential new member who walks through the door is a scary one. “The idea of having an awkward conversation is the most worrying,” says Iris, a junior at UCLA. “The [active] girls are actually as nervous as [the potential new members], and at least as tired – if not more.” Keeping this in mind is a great way to quell your fears about rush.

Another good way to keep your own nerves at bay is to keep in mind the reason you’re rushing in the first place. Ideally, you want to join a sorority because you’re interested in finding a group of women who share your values and who will become your best friends. Thus, treat each girl you meet as a potential new sister. “Make a friend,” Brittany says. “You are first and foremost joining a group of women, not a national organization.”

If you still feel intimidated, just remember that every current sorority member was in your shoes once. Of course, they may act like pros now, but as little as a year ago, they were in your position and feeling just as nervous you are!

With this insider knowledge under your belt, you’ll be a rush pro. Good luck!

6 things you didn't know you could do with coffee. [Spoon University]

How birth order may affect your weight. [Newser]

Anxiety doesn't have to be a bad thing. [The Huffington Post]

Don't call us 'Millenials.' [The Atlantic]

This was one very unique Make-a-Wish experience. [xoJane]

What Hilary Clinton's emails revealed about her personality. [New York Magazine]

New songs from 'Empire' season 2! [Jezebel]

Carrie Underwood's go-to workout moves. [People]

The real meaning behind the 'Macarena.' [theBERRY]

Trying out life as an Instagram celebrity. [Cosmopolitan]

When you're on a collegiette budget, most of your beauty products come from the aisles of the nearest drugstore. But there's one thing we'll all splurge on—Urban Decay's crazy good palettes. So when we learned that Urban Decay is release its brand new Vice 4 palette this month, we sort of freaked.

As expected, the palette is spot on. Inspired by the colors you'll find in an oil slick, the set includes hues like bold metallics, sultry dark shades and pale neutrals—meaning the collection is perfect for everything from a night out to date night to sorority rush. 

You'll be able to score the palette on Urban Decay's site starting September 12, and at Sephora, Ulta and Macy's on September 25.

Mark your calendars, collegiettes—this is one you won't want to miss out on!

Fall internship season is here, and you’ve probably already settled into your rhythms at work and are feeling pretty comfortable about your performance, but that doesn’t mean you’re exempt from embarrassing office mishaps (although we wish you were!).  

Whether you’re the star intern (of course you are, you career-minded collegiette!) or you’re still trying to get on your feet, office disasters happen to everyone at one time or another. While there’s no doubt that an unexpected catastrophe can seriously throw off your workplace game, HC is here to make sure you know exactly how to handle that cringe-worthy moment and keep your office reputation intact.

1. Computer failure

There is nothing, nothing more terrifying than thinking you just lost the last three year’s worth of data on your computer. We’ve been there, collegiettes, we really have, and we feel for you. Unfortunately, the computer gods don’t always understand the critical importance of our Excel spreadsheets, and crashes do happen, so it’s important to know how to deal when they do.

First and foremost, back up your computer. Seriously, do not ignore this tip. You can use an internal backup service, like Time Machine for Macs, or an external hard drive. An external hard drive is a device that you plug into your computer to back up your data. Once you back it up, you should have all of your data stored on the physical device (slightly larger in size than an iPhone), and you can plug the hard drive into your computer to restore all your data if it crashes. Regardless of how you back your data up, make sure you’re backing up your computer at least once a week, if not more often.

Collegiettes, computers are fragile things. If you drop them, spill water on them or simply don’t take care of them, they’ll have a high chance of breaking. If one of these things happens to you while at work, don’t panic. Stay calm and do what you can to prevent the situation from getting any worse.

Aja, a sophomore at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, handled a terrifying tech-related situation perfectly when she spilled coffee all over her brand new laptop at her internship.

“Internally, I was panicking, but I didn’t want my first impression to be a bad one!” Aja says. “I grabbed some rice from a nearby grocery store, put my computer in a bag with the rice, then calmly asked my supervisor if I could take my laptop to a repair store. She was super nice about the situation and told me to take as long as I needed.”

If you don’t have access to rice or you can’t leave work to take your laptop to a repair shop, stay calm. Immediately remove any chargers or plugs from your computer and turn it off completely to avoid an electric charge interacting with the liquid. Clean up whatever you can, making sure to get in between keys on the keyboard (Q-tips are good for this) and underneath the computer so it’s not sitting in liquid. Use baby wipes to get rid of sticky residue from coffee.

Once the excess liquid has been removed, go to the bathroom or step outside and breathe in and out, call your mom if you need to and try to pull yourself together. As dramatic as it sounds, remind yourself that your life is not centered around your computer, and think of all the amazing, technology-inclined people out there who are going to help you recover your data.

Once you’ve calmed down, head back into the office, inform your supervisor of the incident and prop your computer open and turn it over to try and allow gravity to remove some of the liquid. Experts say it’s normal for a computer to take up to 48 hours to dry out completely after liquid damage, so don’t be panicked if it doesn’t turn on that night. Grab a notebook and pen (or use a computer at a local library) and do your best to keep up with your workload until it starts working again or you can take it to a repair shop.

If you can stay calm in the office, you’ll impress your office and keep your computer crash in perspective.

2. A nasty coworker

Are mean girls the worst or are mean girls the worst? We wish we could say that catty girls don’t exist outside of high school, but, unfortunately, they do. Maybe she’s ultracompetitive and determined to outshine you at every opportunity, or she’s eyeing the same office cutie and intentionally flirting in front of you, or maybe she’s just a good old-fashioned Regina George, the leader of the office clique. No matter who she is, it’s important to be able to stand up for yourself and not let her catty ways affect your performance on the job.

If she’s a gossiper, it’s best to steer clear of her. The whole idea of “kill her with kindness” is all well and good, but you shouldn’t feel like you have to be overly nice to someone who isn’t nice to you. Don’t retaliate by gossiping about her, but don’t be afraid to call her out if you overhear her talking about you—it’s your right to defend yourself in the workplace, especially if her attacks are genuinely offending you, becoming detrimental to your performance or making it difficult to concentrate at work.

“If you sense negativity or experience outright attacks and defensive behavior, try your best to approach the person directly about it—alone,” says Joan Snyder Kuhl, founder of Why Millennials Matter, a Gen-Y speaking and consulting company. Just make sure you’re being calm, composed and professional in your delivery. Say something along the lines of, “Is there something that I did to upset you? I would hate for there to be animosity between us. I know we’re both dedicated to this job and I want us to both be able to perform at our best.”

If that doesn’t work, talk to your supervisor about being relocated within your department or switching to a different project. Try something like, “I really love the project I’m working on, but I’ve always wanted to learn more about marketing and I think I could offer some valuable contributions to the department project.” No need to slam your coworker (you’re better than that!), but putting some distance between you and the office mean girl will allow you to focus and excel at work.

3. A wardrobe malfunction

It’s the morning of your big presentation, and you’re minding your own business, sipping your Starbucks venti iced caramel macchiato, when a woman on the street runs into you head-on. Before you know it, you’re left with an empty coffee cup and a massive stain. What’s a fashion-forward collegiette to do?

Well, for starters, break out those paper towels and get to work on damage control. Once you’ve cleaned up, assess the situation. Do you have time to run home and change before work? If so, run like the wind. If you don’t and your office requires a more professional look, consider borrowing a colleague’s sweater to disguise a stain or ducking into the nearest Ann Taylor to purchase a replacement dress or skirt. If you’re pressed for time and can’t, walk into the office with your head held high—it happens to everyone!

If clumsy mishaps are an unfortunately common occurrence for you, Kuhl recommends putting together an “emergency kit” for just such an occasion.

“I have an extra pair of black heels, lightweight walking shoes, Spanx, an umbrella, clear tape used for closing a blouse (if a button pops), hairspray, static guard, mouthwash/mints, etc.,” Kuhl says. “If you have room to fold a non-wrinkle blouse/sweater, then you are prepared for the inevitable coffee spill!”

If your wardrobe malfunction is more along the lines of see-through pants with patterned underwear or your skirt blowing up around an air vent and flashing the office, the best thing you can do is laugh it off. Stressing about your malfunction will only make it into a bigger deal, whereas if you act like it’s nothing, people will forget all about it by lunch—we promise!

4. Hooking up with a coworker … and regretting it

We know; there’s something super sexy about a man with ambition who’s interested in the same things you are (and the professional wardrobe doesn’t hurt, either). Most people will tell you to stay away, far away from an office romance, but sometimes a coworker hook-up just happens, completely unplanned.

Maybe you were all out at the bar last weekend, you had one too many Long Island Iced Teas and things got a little handsy at the end of the night. Now it’s Monday, and you have no idea who in the office knows about your hook-up or if people in the break room will gossip about you.

The first tip is an obvious one: Don’t tell anyone! The more people you tell, the more likely your gossip is to get back to your supervisor or your colleagues. If you’re worried he’ll be the one to blab, talk to him about it beforehand and make it clear in a friendly tone that you don’t want your hook-up to distract you from your work performance: “Hey, John, I know we had a little too much fun the other night—let’s keep this one on the DL so we can focus on the tasks at hand without worrying about petty office gossip!”

The alternative is completely ignoring your hook-up out of sheer awkwardness, which is definitely not the way to go (although it’s tempting!). Let him know that you’re mature and not embarrassed by what happened (even if you are) by acting as normally as possible. Being friendly but professional will let him know that things aren’t going to be awkward but will make it clear that your job comes first.

If word does get out, do your best to play it cool. Take responsibility for your actions and don’t deny it or be immature by talking about how bad he is at kissing to try to deflect some of the heat. Acknowledge that it was a mistake and a one-time deal, and stress how important your job is and that you’d never want to jeopardize it. Everyone slips up now and then; just make sure you’re clear about your priorities. 

5. Running (really) late

Sometimes that custom Beyoncé alarm tone just fails you … or you fail to set it. Either way, even the most organized and punctual collegiette will find herself running late from time to time.

While knowing you’re going to be late can strike panic into the heart of even the most pulled-together girl, it’s important to recognize that this happens to everyone, and your supervisor will most likely be understanding … at least, the first time. Your boss was once an intern or an entry-level employee, and he or she has most likely been in your shoes. Just don’t make a habit of showing up late!

Kuhl stresses office etiquette if you find yourself running late to work. “Own up to this mistake immediately. No excuses,” she says. “Text or email them to let them know your estimated time of arrival.”

When you finally plop your stuff down at your desk, it’s important to make up for lost time by really buckling down. Show your supervisor that you’re serious about your job and you regret being late by going the extra mile or staying later. Kuhl also suggests coming in “at least 15 minutes early the following day.” Ending the incident on a good note will make it much easier for the higher-ups to forgive your lateness!

6. Accidentally sending a personal email to the whole office

We’re not gonna lie—this one is rough. How you handle this sticky situation completely depends on the content of said email. Was it a quick note to your office BFF about what time you’re meeting up for drinks on Friday night? If so, chances are it will be easy to brush off. Fire off another brief email to the whole office apologizing for the mix-up by saying something like, “Whoops, sorry about that! I’ll definitely be sure to check (and re-check!) my email addresses next time!”

If the content of your email was a bit more, shall we say, personal, like you complaining about that super annoying girl from the marketing department, you need to do a bit more damage control. You really shouldn’t ever be sending emails through cyberspace regarding your issues with your workplace—it’s not professional and, frankly, it’s just not nice! Start by talking to your boss or supervisor in person and apologizing for the email, acknowledging that it was a mistake to send it.

At this point it might be a good idea to send another email to the office apologizing and, if it was a legitimate criticism of the company, asking to clarify your thoughts, as they were misrepresented but ultimately genuine. For instance, if you slammed your company for mishandling a big project, make amends by emphasizing that you really care about the success of your company and making suggestions about how to handle a similar project going forward.

There’s really no easy way to handle an email mistake, but handling an immature situation with professionalism and maturity can make things go a whole lot more smoothly.

7. Being reprimanded by your boss

No matter how stellar you are at your job, there will be the occasional assignment that you just don’t fully understand, and sometimes that means botching a project and letting your supervisor down. As terrifying as it can be, being reprimanded by a boss happens to everyone at some point during a career, and it can actually be constructive if you take the time to listen to what your supervisor is saying.

If you do end up getting the dreaded email from your boss asking to meet with you, stay calm. Acknowledging where you made a mistake will show your boss that you’ve been listening to his or her critiques and are taking responsibility for your actions. “Show your ability to take feedback—the good and the bad,” Kuhl says.

Once your boss knows that you’re receptive to criticism, it’s time to offer up solutions. This is something you should think about before meeting with your boss so you can demonstrate your commitment to the company and desire to make it right. “Show how strong and open you are to getting things right to succeed at the job,” Kuhl says. “If your boss is not clear in explaining what needs to be done on the assignment, then ask a couple of clarifying questions.”

The more quickly you can offer up solutions and follow through with them, the more likely your boss will see you as good under pressure. Everyone slips up, but not everyone can recover gracefully.

Knowing how to handle an office misstep is a must-have skill for any career-minded collegiette. Remember, everyone makes mistakes at work; it’s how you handle those mistakes that makes a difference!

Meet fifteen-year-old Katherine Haik: She's a student athlete, a dancer and a new member of student council—oh, and she was recently crowned Miss Teen USA 2015. We talked to this inspiring young woman about her past challenges, current goals and future as Miss Teen USA!

Name: Katherine Haik

Hometown: Franklinton, Louisiana

Age: 15

Did you know? Katherine is the youngest woman to ever be crowned Miss Teen USA.

Her Campus: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Katherine Haik: My name is Katherine. I’m 15 years old and I’m from Franklinton, Louisiana. I’m a sophomore in high school and I’m very involved at my high school with the dance team and the softball team. I recently just made student council, which is pretty exciting. I love to dance, be involved in sports and I love being well rounded. I love working with special needs children, and that’s what I’m really hoping to do a lot of this year. I’m just super excited for this amazing year ahead of me!

HC: You work with different organizations to support children who have special needs. How did you get involved with these organizations?

KH: Even before I was a titleholder, I was really interested and passionate about working with special needs children. Last year I worked with the Special Olympics and some other organizations that do the same types of things. I’m super excited about working with Best Buddies this year.

HC: What is your favorite part of spending time with the kids?

KH: I love working with them, because—especially in the Special Olympics—they’re able to show other people what they’re capable of. They are capable of doing anything they set their minds to and I just feel like we should show them the love and support that they deserve.

HC: What do you hope to accomplish in the next year as Miss Teen USA?

KH: Really just to be the best I can be and represent [the Miss Universe Organization] the best I can. [I hope] to be a positive role model to anyone out there by doing as much as I can.

HC: What are you most excited for in the upcoming months?

KH: This week is media tour week, so I’m getting used to being in New York and staying in the apartment. I have a Yankees game that I’m attending tonight with Miss Universe and Miss USA, so that’s going to be our first official experience together which is going to be lots of fun. Then I have my first official Miss Teen USA photo shoot with Fadil [Berisha]. I can’t wait for that as well. Fashion Week is coming up very soon, so I’ll be back in New York. That’s going to be another exciting event that I’m really looking forward to.

HC: Will you be walking in NYFW, or just attending?

KH: It might be a little bit of both, we really don’t know yet. I hope to be walking in some! I have some modeling experience under my belt, so I’m up for anything!

HC: The Miss Teen USA tagline is “Confidently Beautiful.” What makes you feel beautiful?

KH: Just being myself and showing others what I am and what I have to offer. It’s all about staying true to who you are and being beautiful on the inside [because] that makes you shine even more beautifully on the outside.

HC: As a model and an athlete, what are your thoughts on body positivity? How can girls remain confident about their bodies with so much outside pressure?

KH: I really believe in a healthy lifestyle. I don’t believe in trying to look a certain way for a certain time or event. It’s all about being healthy for the rest of your life. It’s a really important thing in my life. Being an athlete and a dancer, [I know from experience that] it’s really hard to perform your best when you’re not living a healthy lifestyle. I’ve learned that living a healthy lifestyle makes me perform so much better in all that I do.

HC: Do you have any personal advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle?

KH: Drinking a lot of water helps a lot. Watching what you eat and put in your body and staying involved in different sports and activities—just staying healthy overall.

HC: How has being a part of the Miss Teen USA competition inspired you to make a difference in the lives of girls like you?

KH: Miss Teen USA has a really big job of being a positive role model, and after getting to meet all of the girls at the Miss Teen USA Pageant [I see that] we all have so much to offer. We are very well rounded women who are capable of doing so many things in this world, changing other people’s lives and being positive [people].

HC: You’ve spent time with many inspiring women—how has this experience affected your views on female empowerment?

KH: Throughout this pageant, I met so many girls and [formed] friendships that are going to last a lifetime. We already have a group text, and we text in it every day. It’s so funny—after the pageant, people were sending pictures of what they were eating like, “Oh my gosh I just got ice cream.” We’re definitely all about building each other up and staying connected after this awesome opportunity.

HC: If you could share one piece of advice with young women everywhere, what would it be?

KH: Throughout everything that you go through in your life, there are going to be challenges. You just need to stay positive and have the mindset of, “I can do this, I can get through it” and stay true to who you are. That’s the biggest thing that has helped me throughout everything I’ve done and [helped me] get to the place where I am today. People are going to love you for who you are and opportunities are going to come when you’re yourself and [you] show everyone what you have to offer.

HC: Have you encountered any big challenges along your journey? If so, what did you learn from it?

KH: At the beginning of my reign, before I won Miss Teen USA, I was Miss Louisiana Teen USA. I was the youngest contestant, and I won. I was the youngest Miss Louisiana Teen USA to be crowned. So, there was a lot of pressure with being the youngest. Of course I had some challenges [with] some of the things that I had to do, like public speaking. I had some problems at first, but now I’m used to it. It’s all about getting the experience. Sometimes you’re not going to be the best you can be at first, but you just need to practice and build yourself up. Sometimes you fail and you have some hard times, but once you get through them you can take on the world.

HC: You’re still in high school, and you have so much ahead of you! As of right now, where do you see yourself in 5 years?

KH: I see myself in college. I plan to go to college, and I’m really interested in the medical field. I’m not sure what I want to do yet, I’m thinking about sports medicine and possibly a nurse anesthetist, so probably medical school, and doing the best that I can. [Also] getting good grades, because education means a lot to me.

HC: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

KH: I looked at the Her Campus book, and it’s amazing. It really helps cover every aspect of college. College can be very scary, but the book covers anything and everything that you need to know! It’s really going to help me prepare for college.

For more information, photos and to follow Katherine on her journey, check out the Miss Teen USA website.

Photos courtesy of Miss Universe Organization.

You're flipping through the latest Victoria's Secret catalog or you're watching a live feed of a fashion week runway. What do you see? Most likely tall, skinny women—most of them white.

We often focus a lot on how models set an unrealistic bar for how people “should” look; that the industry doesn't feature enough realistic-looking women who represent body types of all kinds. But that's not the only issue we need to be thinking about—what about diversity in race?

A look at last year's fashion month shows that despite increased attention on diversity, there is still much progress to be made; across shows in New York, Paris, London and Milan, more than 80 percent of the models were Caucasian.

Yomi Abiola, a model and founder of Stand up for Fashion, sadly wasn’t surprised that there wasn’t a change in the diversity of woman in Fashion Week. Abiola is worried that no change could hurt who we see as models in the future.

“We can’t underestimate what happens when young people don’t see their image and likeness in the jobs that they want to do,” Abiola told Here & Now.

Nina Garcia, Marie Claire’s Creative Director and a judge on Project Runway, also acknowledges the problem—but she is hopeful for change.

Garcia told Huffington Post, “I think the industry's already addressing those points of view. I think there's not enough African-American girls on the runway—that is a huge problem. There's not enough African-American girls on the covers. But that is changing, and really the change has started, so I feel very optimistic.” 

There's nothing like new workout gear to really inspire us to get to the gym; and splurging on Lululemon is always a special treat for collegiettes. But how often do you walk into Lululemon (or any activewear store, really) and end up feeling overwhelmed by the massive selection? You're left trying to sort through the yoga pants, running shorts, crossfit leggings... keeping them straight is a different story.

That's why Lululemon is making a major change to how they're merchandising their gear. Previously organized by fit from tightest to loosest, Lululemon will now be grouping its pants by "sensation"—as in, you'll shop pants based on how they feel when you wear them. So don't worry, collegiettes; you'll still be able to get all your favorite leggings... they'll just be organized under different groups. Categories include Relaxed, Naked, Tight, Hugged and Held-In; all a part of the "Engineered Sensation" movement that, according to Lululemon, has been two years in the making.

"At its core, Engineered Sensation is about how you want to feel," the site explains. "Touch is a sensation that is defined by everything you feel: the fabrics against your skin, the pressure against your body, the friction, the flow of air passing over you as you move. All of these things are telling you how you’re interacting with the world. For us, understanding sensation is really about understanding how your body is moving and what you make that mean."

What we love about this change isn't just the fact that these new categories will make shopping for workout clothes so much easier. It's that the focus is less on fit and size, and more on how you feel in the clothes you're in—a distinction we're glad to see.

Growing long, healthy hair is important to a lot of us. Unfortunately, we can’t always have a head full of hair that goes inches past our bra straps—because when it comes to hair growth, we can be our own worst enemies. You may not realize it, but there are a few things you may be doing that are stopping your hair from growing.

1. You’re not eating well

 
Hair health isn’t just caused by the way you take care of your hair itself; it’s also caused by the way you take care of your body. You might be slowing down your own hair growth if you aren’t sticking to a vitamin- and protein-rich diet.

We talked to Dr. Nicole Rogers, a hair transplant surgeon, about the ideal diet for healthy hair. “Women should have at least 40-45 grams of protein on a daily basis as well as an adequate amount of iron [roughly 15-18 milligrams],” Rogers says.

To stimulate your follicles and give them a little extra help, try regularly eating protein- and iron-rich foods like salmon, eggs, Greek yogurt and spinach, which are rich in these nutrients.

You might also be putting your hair at risk if you’re a frequent dieter or you’ve ever followed an extreme diet regimen. “Crash diets can be great for losing weight in a hurry, but they can also take a toll on one's hair, with possible shedding two to three months after the sudden caloric deprivation,” Rogers says.

2. You overheat your hair

 
Using heat on your hair can weaken and break it. Try using hot tools on your hair only once a week, and make sure you buy products that allow you to control their heat settings.

“Hairdryers and curling irons should be used at the lowest heat setting possible,” Rogers says. “The best-case scenario, though, is not using any heat at all.”

3. Your hair is overprocessed

 
Overprocessing can damage your scalp and cause breakage. If you use a lot of different chemicals on your hair, such as relaxers, your hair might be overprocessed.

“What’s damaging about relaxers is that some people don’t follow the instructions or they leave the product on their hair for too long,” Rogers says. “Lye-based relaxers like potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide are generally the most damaging.”

Even if your hair looks good in the end, applying any sort of chemicals to your hair may result in damage.

There’s also the issue of how you choose to dye your hair. Some people may think that simply throwing in some highlights is a safer alternative to dyeing their hair bleach blonde, but highlights are actually damaging, too.

“Highlighting the hair can damage it by making it more porous,” Rogers says. “It causes less damage to either leave the hair its natural color or to dye it a darker color.”

4. You don’t take vitamins

Remember those Flintstones Vitamins many of us took when we were younger? As a kid, you may not have realized the effect these vitamins had on your overall health. Although they don’t always taste great, daily vitamins are actually beneficial to hair growth.

“Taking a multivitamin daily can be a great addition to any diet to help improve the quality of one's hair,” Rogers says. You don’t have to swallow a pill in the shape of a prehistoric cartoon character, but we suggest taking a multivitamin that will fill any gaps in your regular diet and result in stronger, healthier hair.

 
Waist-length hair may feel like a pipe dream, but if you reverse these habits you’ll be able to grow a longer mane in no time!
 

We love keeping up with the Kardashians, but sometimes following their eclectic and crazy lives can just be... overwhelming. And then, there's Kylie Jenner's hair. With the number of times she has changed it, she might as well have her own show just documenting her locks. Let's go over her styles thus far (and we're expecting more, soon).

One of the first changes she made was a transition to a honey blonde bob with bangs for a Love Magazine cover—and it's actually adorable.

Then, she removed her hair extensions and showed us her real hair, which she likes to debut from time to time.

All was quiet on the Kylie front and then the young starlet showed off pastel blue hair at the start of this year's Coachella. 

But of course, it isn't Coachella with a major hair change...

... or two.

Coachella died down and so did Kylie's hair (although we still love her long black extensions and her cute short hair!). But then of course, this happened. She's actually glowing. What Instagram filter did you use, Kylie?!

We know that she didn't walk around the streets of Hollywood with these styles below, but how cool are they?

Obviously, she went blonde for her birthday. 

Yes...! She actually did the blue bob with bangs. Always lookin' cool, Kylie.

Shortly after, she retired the unique hair color and stuck with her bold black hair, this time with bangs. So stylish, no?

And just last week, she's back to blonde—a 'do she documented on her Snapchat. Here's to guessing how long this one will last...

We're excited to keep up with what happens next!

What's getting you excited about autumn? For us, it's the chance to switch up our beauty bag and rock bright and beautiful skin all semester long. With gorgeous foliage, snuggly sweaters and all things pumpkin spice comes the chance for a whole new routine to match the season. In turn, we've got suggestions for all of your fall beauty needs and concerns (dangerously dry skin, anybody?), so sit tight, read up and start day-dreaming about your upcoming fall-inspired product haul!

Skincare

Nourish those lips!

Chapped lips are a girl's worst enemy—they flake, they peel, they hurt and they make mastering a fall lipstick nearly impossible thanks to their inability to hold color. What gives, lips?

Avoid chapping from the onset by starting a lip balm routine as soon as the temperature drops. We recommend investing in a heavy-duty balm that protects and hydrates. We're addicted to Vaseline's Lip Therapy collection—in teensy-tiny portable jars, these lip savers pack a serious punch. Try one out and your lips will feel instantly better, brighter and poutier. Better yet, you can savor a sweet, richly fall scent all day long with the one-of-a-kind Vaseline Lip Therapy Lip Balm in Creme Brulee ($1.79, Walgreens). Seriously, we're about to stockpile these!

Ready to start a great new habit? Slap on some balm as soon as you get out of the shower in the morning (when daily drying begins) and right before you fall asleep at night. That way, you'll wake up with plump lips ready to take on the day—and whatever lipstick you're flaunting. Also make sure to carry your balm around with you. Before class—or whenever your lips need it— add another swipe. That brisk fall air will have nothing on you. 

Put a hiatus on alcohol-based products

Alcohol-based toners and cleansers are ridiculously drying, which is the last thing your skin needs when the leaves start falling. Therefore, it's best to store those away for next summer and invest in creamier and more nourishing options. We love Pond's Cold Cream, a rich and cool cleansing formula (at an unbelievably low cost) that swipes away even the toughest makeup instantly ($4.49, Walgreens). Other simultaneously cleansing, hydrating and skin-loving ingredients you should be aware of are jojoba oil and coconut oil, so look for these labels when inspecting your next beauty purchase!

With dead, flaky skin covering up your pores (and trapping oils and residue underneath!) thanks to autumn dryness, exfoliation is a must. But be careful, since many alcohol-based exfoliators can do more harm than good in terms of irritating already-dry skin. Stick solely to oil-based scrubs and exfoliators, like the deeply-hydrating Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder from Boscia ($36, Sephora). 

Double up on moisture

If you have never invested in a night cream, now's the time to try one. Unlike during the summer, where night creams can add excess oil to an already-dewy face, fall's the perfect season to add the extra oomph to your hydration routine. Anything infused with olive oil is great; we love Bobbi Brown's Hydrating Intense Night Cream ($64 at Sephora). And if you can't find an olive-infused formula, Burt's Bees Intense Hydrating Night Cream ($17.99, Walgreens), The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Night Cream ($18, The Body Shop) and The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream ($21, The Body Shop) are all good picks. And no matter what you choose, don't be afraid of rich, heavy formulas that you've been shying away from all summer.

We also suggest investing in a morning moisturizer. This one, however, doesn't have to be heavy, because we recognize that oily skin can still happen when it's cold out. Choose a simple but sufficient gel formula that dries quickly and glides on smooth under makeup. We're fans of Garnier's Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream ($7.99, Walgreens).

Treat your whole body

Want to maintain your supple summer skin? Swap harsh soaps for lovely shower gels and luxurious body washes.

Also be sure to invest in a good daily body lotion. While lotions and creams can really weigh you down and make you terribly sticky when the weather gets warmer, there's no such issue when humidity exits the scene. With so many options out there—be it firming, repairing, energizing or age-defying—we'll leave the decision making up to you so that you can decide on a formula that meets your needs. But, if you're really lost, you can never go wrong with some cocoa or shea butter!

Listen to your skin

Finally, recognize that your skin type may not be consistent. Reassess how your skin's reacting to the new climate before re-purchasing your summer beauty staples. A girl who's labeled as oily-skinned in the warmer half of the year may have "normal" skin in the colder months, while a girl with usually "normal" skin may need to switch to dry-skin products once fall arrives. Only you know what your skin needs, and never assume that your skin's style is static. 

Makeup

Eyes

With summer's sweat and humidity finally gone, fall grants you the freedom to experiment with some new eye makeup without fear of creasing or melting. Invest in some new and adventurous eye shadow in some fall-themed color schemes (think jewel and earthy tones, metallics and smoky shades) while you have a climate that's easy to work with! Overall, fall is the time for heavier, deeper and darker eye makeup. So while a light lid lining with a fresh or subtle eyeliner was perfect for the flirtier, natural-beauty vibe of summer, fall semester is the ideal time to bring back wings, cat-eyes and other bold looks.

Lips

Replace your corals, peaches, bubblegum pinks and summery nude glosses for plum, burgundy, brown and berry shades. We also suggest investing in a matte formula, which is fall's best accessory.

Face

Firs things first: change your foundation color, because for many of us, that skin's about to get a lot paler. And if you're not in that boat, rejoice! You've got one less new beauty item to hunt down this fall!

Ready for another tip? Contrary to popular belief, BB creams and CC creams aren't a summer-only beauty bag staple. You don't necessarily need to make the swap to heavier foundation once fall hits—in fact, switching to foundation may actually dry your face out further! Additionally, sticking to tinted moisturizers doesn't mean maintaining that dewy look you've reserved for summer. There are tons of matte formulas out there that'll keep your skin from drying out or from shining out of season. Need a suggestion? We're all about Rimmel London's inexpensive matte BB cream ($6.99, Walgreens).

Nails

Last but not least, get your fix on fall nail colors. Summer's all about vibrancy and shine, while fall favors deep, neutral, vampy and matte shades. Going with a dark red is never a bad choice, and neither is investing in some chic metallics. One color you can keep from your more summery repertoire is orange, although you should stick to burnt shades and foliage-inspired finds.

We know you've got tons on your back to school list already, but these fall swap-outs will up your semester style like no other. Besides, will another trip to Sephora really kill you?

The word “normal” never sat well with me when I was growing up. Whether it was with sports, homework, or even family game night, I always wanted to stand out from the crowd. For the longest time I fought to be anything but normal—but now, normal is all I crave to be.

I can still remember when it was time to start thinking about college. It was the year I had to miss over forty days of school. For most high school students, junior year is the time when your GPA matters that much more, when teachers start grilling you with questions about college and when you’re stressing about applications. Like any other high school student, I was dealing with all of that—but this was also the year I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.

Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. The way that I always describe it to my friends is that on most days, I have significant stomachaches that just don’t go away. It seems silly to describe it in such simple terms, and it can be hard for others to understand just how much the stomachaches can affect my day-to-day life—in my case, I also get daily flair-ups of intense nausea that can last for days.

When I was first diagnosed, I was in constant denial. I was healthy, right? This couldn’t be right. But doctors soon insisted on new medications, multiple tests and strict changes to my diet. I was frustrated, though, and fought any decision that had to be made in the process, even though I knew in the back of my mind they could probably help. With few answers from my doctors and as my constant pain went nowhere, my frustration grew.

I went away to college for my fall semester in 2011, and I couldn’t have been more excited. This was a place where nobody knew me as the girl who was sick all the time.  I had a clean slate with an entirely new community. I craved the entire college experience, and I wanted it in every way possible. At first I joined multiple clubs and I started going out with large groups of friends. What I was choosing to ignore in all of my excitement, however, was just how ill I was starting to feel.

As the year continued most college students started to worry about gaining that dreaded “freshman fifteen.” Meanwhile, I was starting to feel the effects of a deteriorating body. My body was unable to retain sustenance due to the blockages that had formed in my small intestine. I was losing weight quickly, and it became noticeable in my appearance. The more I pushed myself, the worse I felt. But slowing down in school was something I would have though of as failure; and because failure has never been an option in my eyes, I pushed on through the nagging pain.

Eventually, though I wanted nothing more than to feel strong enough to go socialize or join a new club, all I could focus on was making it through the bare minimum each day. I felt weak and needed to rest in bed most days. Even making it out of dorms and all the way to classes felt like a physical struggle—but I still managed to maintain high grades in all of my courses.

I ignored the pain, and for a while, that worked. But I learned the hard way that when it comes to Crohn’s, it’s important to address the illness right away as soon as you’re not feeling well—otherwise, the pain will come back and hit you even harder.

I made it through my first year, but going into my sophomore year, I was at my worst both physically and mentally. My illness was dragging me down—it affected me so much that even my personality changed. I went from being that sarcastic-yet-kind girl to a totally negative version of myself. I realized I had let my Crohn’s take over—I had resigned to thinking there was nothing I could do but stay in constant pain.

That year, my doctors decided to do surgery on my small intestine to help relieve some of the damage and scar tissue that was in my intestine after the years of distress it had been in. Unfortunately, the surgery had to take place two weeks before my final exams that fall semester—but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I was confident that I could take my final exams early and get them out of the way before my surgery, but when I went to speak to the assistant dean about my plan, she had a different idea, suggesting that I take a medical leave of absence instead—which I knew would set me back on my goals of graduating on time. The administration had never dealt with a case like mine before, and much to my disappointment, they didn’t feel I could perform well on exams if I ended my semester two weeks early. It made me feel like they associated my illness with weakness.

This frustration fueled my fire—I like to think of myself as a strong, confident young woman, and I was even more determined to show that I could do this without setting my education back. I went ahead and spoke with each of my professors individually, and set up dates with them to take my finals ahead of time and turn in any last assignments with earlier deadlines. Fortunately, they responded well and were both accommodating and grateful that I was taking care of this ahead of time. Despite my consistently progressing disease and the worsening of my health, I pushed ahead, maintaining my high GPA and finishing my semester successfully.

Winter break is a time for family, friends and of course, rest and relaxation—but my rest was for a whole different reason. I’d had two and a half feet of my small intestine removed at the beginning of break, and recovery was no simply task—in fact, it was one of the hardest things I’d ever faced. What I thought would take around six weeks took closer to six months for me to really get back to my true self. Even though I was back up and walking and able to leave the hospital days earlier than anticipated, the weight loss I had experienced earlier on had reached a frightening low, I was at only ninety-eight pounds when I left the hospital, so frail I didn’t think I could even walk from class to class, and it took a long time for my body to get back to a weight that could be considered healthy.  

But no matter what, I only used this as motivation to make changes in my life. I decided to leave my old school, which didn’t have the tools to support me, and found a new one that could. Not only does my school now help me overcome some of my daily struggles, it’s also encouraging of what I am able to accomplish. Not only that, I’ve met amazing people who make an effort to understand my illness. I feel like I can finally show who I really am, rather than the person that my Crohn’s was projecting.

This new environment gave me the chance to grow further—and I took every opportunity to become more involved on campus. Even as transfer student, I was named the Advertising Club’s president for the upcoming year and I also landed my dream internship with a prestigious, emerging travel company.

Each day is still a struggle, but I have found better ways to manage my Crohn’s and a university with the tools to help. Transferring after surgery gave me the hope I needed for the normalcy I am always seeking. I can finally see my future without the goggles of my chronic illness. I see who I want to be, and I see where I want to go. I may not know the details exactly, but one thing I do know is that I no longer live with my Crohn’s; my Crohn’s now has to live with me.

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

When it comes to career inspiration, Blair Waldorf is the ideal candidate. She's classy and confident with just a dash of diabolical intelligence—and when Blair sets her sights on what she wants, you can bet that she'll get it. What more could you look for in a career idol? 

In case you still need a bit more convincing to channel your inner Blair Waldorf at work, here are a few reasons that will have you donning adorable headbands in no time. 

1. She always looks perfectly put together. 

2. She is honest about her life goals... 

3. ...and she knows better than to depend on "fate" or "the universe" to achieve those goals.

4. She is confident in herself and her skills—she is certain she'll succeed in the end. 

5. She's passionate about what she does for a living. 

6. She puts work before absolutely everything. 

7. Even when things get stressful, she knows better than to let her emotions get the best of her. 

8. No matter what terrible things may happen, she knows that everything will be okay. 

9. She'd never let anything get in the way of her happiness. 

10. And most importantly, she knows how to handle difficult situations. 

You know you love her.

XOXO,

Blair Waldorf 

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 I tell my parents I want to rush a sorority? They think Greek life is all about partying. – Rita

Rita,

Greek life can definitely be an exciting part of the college experience. I know many girls who are in sororities, and many who are not, and there are definitely a lot of pros and cons to both decisions.

Regardless, I understand the desire to want to be in a sorority. Heck, I had wanted to join a sorority ever since I watched Legally Blonde back in 2001, even though I was super young at the time. The sorority house just looked so adorable and fun to be part of – hello to girls’ nights all the time! Ironically, I ended up attending a college where Greek life doesn’t exist. Even though sometimes I wish I could sport the letters I see other girls rocking on monogrammed mugs and spirit jerseys, I’m fine knowing that I’ve still met lots of awesome girlfriends in college that I get to chill with.

Since your parents don’t seem too keen about your idea to rush a sorority, I’d make it a point to have a civil and mature conversation with them. Listen to what they have to say and hear out their concerns, and then tell them exactly why you’d like to join a sorority and give your reasons. You should cater the information that you give them to their specific concerns. So if they think Greek life is all about partying, you can counteract that by showing them how much a sorority at a certain school raised funds for charity last year.

Before you talk with your parents, I’d suggest researching information about different sororities at your campus. Each one has its own rules, traditions and events, so this can help you decide which one you’d like to join when the time comes. If you have a particular sorority in mind, rather than just the idea that you want to join any sorority, it will show them that you did your research, and it gives them the chance to look up the specific sorority on their own if they have more questions. Try your best to get in touch with current or former sisters of the sorority you’re considering and see what they say about their experience.

If you can, try to research two or three sororities rather than just one. Since getting into a sorority isn’t a total guarantee, it’s good to have a few backup options. On the other hand, if you really are only into one sorority, let your parents know that you only plan on pledging if the sorority you think is a perfect fit for you accepts you.

After you’ve chosen a sorority you think you’d like to rush, you should look into what volunteer activities or philanthropy the sisters participate in. This is a great point to make to your parents when you discuss your decision with them. This will remind them that you’ll be able to help out in the community with your sisters, not just party all day and night. There are even sororities such as Kappa Alpha Theta that are primarily community-service based, so they do a lot more volunteering and serving than other sororities. Definitely look into these!

The next step would be to remind yourself that there might be a few things you might not know about a specific sorority until you join. Try and do your best to research and figure out exactly what you’ll be getting yourself into, if possible. It’s better to be aware of everything that comes with joining a sorority – such as the time commitment and fees – before you sign up to prevent wasting your time and money on something that’s not right for you.

Good luck with your decision, and know that whatever happens, you will still meet so many great people in college with or without joining a sorority!

There’s nothing more relaxing than getting into bed after a long day, but most of the time, we either scroll through Twitter or watch episodes on Netflix until we manage to pass out. While this may seem like no big deal, it’s actually really bad for us! Not only is our sleep being affected, but other parts of our health as well. With the help of a few doctors, we’re here to tell you why it’s time to put down your phone and turn off your laptop before bed.

Why you need to stop

1. Your electronics are convincing you it’s earlier than it really is

Even if the lights are out, cell phones and other forms of technology can actually fool your brain into forgetting it’s nighttime. Dr. Kent Smith, a sleep dentist from Dallas, Texas says that these devices emit a blue light that tells our suprachiasmatic nucleus (basically, your internal clock) that it’s 2:00 in the afternoon, and not 2:00 in the morning. “When our brains are fooled, they do not secrete melatonin, which is what helps us initiate sleep,” Dr. Smith says. As humans, we actually produce melatonin, a hormone, on our own; however, there are certainly things that can prevent this production, like lying with our phones in bed at night.

If you’re looking for another way to keep your phone in bed and still get some sleep, turning the brightness down isn’t solution enough. While it does help, Dr. Daniel Rifkin, the founder of Sleep Medicine Centers of Western New York, says, “Believe it or not, the blue wavelength remains present. This is what we call a ‘dose response,’ where the lower the lux of light has a lesser effect but there is still some effect!”

2. Sleep debt has side effects

Delaying sleep in itself is unhealthy, but other problems are likely to occur as a result.

“Sleep debt has been linked to weight gain, memory loss and mood disorders, just to name a few unsavory situations most [students] would like to avoid,” Dr. Smith says.

Additionally, if you continue to stay up super late as a result of your electronics, you’re more likely to develop onset insomnia and ultimately sleep deprivation. Olivia, a junior at the University of Tennessee, started having problems after one too many restless nights.

“My sophomore year, I would put off my homework up until around 9 p.m.,” Olivia admits. “I would usually get done around midnight, and even though I was tired, I laid in bed scrolling through Tumblr or watching Netflix on my laptop until I passed out.”

Olivia says that she usually fell asleep around 3 or 4 a.m., only to get up just a few hours later for her morning classes. “In the beginning, I was fine,” she says. “I’d just get a huge coffee the next day or something. But after a while, I started staying up all night.” After an entire sleepless few days, Olivia went to her family doctor and was put on pills for insomnia. Not wanting to be on them for the rest of her life, she used them just until she could develop a normal sleeping pattern again. “Now, I don’t bring my laptop to bed with me, and I plug my phone by my dresser across the room,” she says.

3. Even having your phone next to you can be dangerous

Before dozing off, we don’t even think to put our phones somewhere else besides in bed next to us. Not only does their mere presence tempt us to scroll through social media all night, but having it physically close to us is dangerous for our health. “Having your cell phone close to you during sleep has been shown in studies to delay deep sleep and create more headaches,” Dr. Smith says, “so I suggest leaving it as far from you as possible during sleep,” he says.” If you use your phone for an alarm, just turn up the volume so you’ll still hear it, and also be forced to get up when you need to!

How to stop

Although it may sound hard, your body needs time to wind down before it can sleep. Dr. Carl Bazil, the director of the Division of Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and Sleep Center and a clinical neurology professor at Columbia University, recommends 30 minutes to wind down and rid yourself of electronics, although he says that some people will need more. You don’t even have to lie in bed, according to Dr. Rifkin. “I like to tell patients to turn off all electronics… so they can have a ‘facilitation to sleep-onset time,’” he says. The following list consists of just some of the few things you can do before bed to relax!

• Take a warm bath
• Read something non-school or work related
• Do some quick relaxation yoga
• Listen to calming music
• Write in a journal
• Drink warm milk

It may be difficult to prioritize sleep, but for us collegiettes, it is SO important! So, plug in your phone and set it on a table or dresser nearby, turn off your laptop, shut off the TV and get those z’s! 

The annual Made in America festival took place this weekend, and there was so much going on, we’ve filtered out some of the best moments that took place throughout the concert series.

1. Nicki’s surprise appearance

There were rumors that Nicki Minaj would make a surprise appearance during Beyoncé's set, so when she actually came on stage with her boyfriend, Meek Mill. We shouldn've seen it coming—the majority of the songs Meek was performing were actually Nicki's. The two ended up singing their duet “All Eyes On You,” which had us like, #relationshipgoals.

2. Earl Sweatshirt’s one-liners

Throughout his set, Earl had the crowd yelling and singing phrases that definitely got the entire park’s attention. One of the loudest was, “I’ma f*** the freckles off your face b*tch,” from his track “Molasses.” Shock factor aside, he continually got the crowd pumped up and wanting more.

3. G-Eazy’s dancing

While he may show off his moves at every one of his shows, G-Eazy was definitely on another level throughout his performance on Saturday. Whether it was to one of his classics or to some of his new songs on his upcoming album, he was constantly moving and the crowd was loving it. At the end of his set, he even threw out $2 bills for fans to keep.

4. Nick Jonas covering “Roses”

Yes, Nick Jonas covered Outkast’s “Roses,” and it was amazing. Nick described the song as “a tasteful way of saying, ‘F*ck you,’ to someone you don’t like.” The audience sang along to the entire thing, and stood in awe as Nick hit every high note perfectly, proving that his solo career has a long future ahead of it.

5. Modest Mouse’s classic song

Though the majority of their setlist consisted of the band’s most popular songs, everyone rejoiced when the first note of “Float On” started playing. It was just what the crowd needed to prepare for the following act—Queen B herself.

6. Beyoncé

This one goes without saying—Beyoncé was OBVIOUSLY one of the festival's highlights. As soon as the doors opened, fans beelined it to her set, camping out in front of the stage for an entire day. With classics like “Survivor” and “Say My Name,” along with some of her recent songs, Beyoncé performed a whopping 22 songs, with additional covers throughout. QUEEN.

7. Big Sean’s speech

Similar to his acceptance speech at the VMA’s, Big Sean spoke to the audience regarding his song “One Man Can Change the World.” He dedicated the song to his grandmother, and again explained her accomplishments throughout her life, like how she was one of the first black female captains in World War II.

8. J. Cole’s “Work Out”

J. Cole threw it back to his hit song “Work Out,” and it was a hit. As if the crowd hadn't spent enough time dancing at the festival, they really broke out the moves for this one.

9. The Weeknd covering Beyoncé

The two headliners combined into one as The Weeknd shocked the crowd by covering Beyoncé’s single, “Drunk in Love.” We have to say, it would be fair to say that he performed the song as well as Bey did the night before.

10. Future’s album announcement

The crowd for Future’s set was insane, with festival-goers trying to get as close to the front as possible. As if there wasn’t already enough excitement, the rapper announced that he’s planning on dropping another album before 2015 ends. Uh, what?! He didn’t give any details, but if Dirty Sprite 2, his last album, is any indication of how this one is going to be, there’s no doubting another success.

Keep checking back with Her Campus to get all of the coverage from Made in America that you need!

Friends. We can’t live with them and we can’t live without them. No, seriously. We all know that friendship (or any sort of human interaction) can be a bit stressful at times. It’s much easier to avoid the general population and declare that Netflix and your bed are your true best friends, but a little party never killed nobody, and your friends are pretty much living proof of that. They can actually give you a little more of a mental boost than you think and we’re here to tell you how.

1. They help you get more sleep

A University of Chicago professor named John Cacioppo completed a study about how beneficial social connection is to mental health. According to Cacioppo, loneliness is a source of unhappiness. The lonelier you are, the more you tend to toss and turn at night. It might be a little hard to believe that as a busy college student, there’s anything that can keep you from passing out as soon as you hit the sheets; however, there is a chance that keeping your distance from the people around you might result in some insomnia-filled nights. 

2. They help you relax

There’s actually evidence (in the form of a psychological study) that proves having a shoulder to cry on can improve your health and reduce your stress levels. According to the observations of Laura Cousino Klein and Shelley Taylor, being able to lean on a friend when you’re going through a rough time can actually benefit you more than you think. The two researchers discovered that women produce greater amounts of oxytocin (a hormone that has an anti-depressant-like effect) during social interaction. Think of all of those times when you’ve been so relieved after venting to your best friend about a romantic fling that didn’t exactly turn out how you expected. Brittany Couch, a senior at the University of Georgia, is the perfect example. "I appreciate having friends around me when I'm going through a hard time because they offer me a different type of support system than other people," she says. "Talking to my friends when there's an issue works out so much better for me because it gives me a chance to get out of my own head and feel like my feelings are validated." This is just another reason to have friends that are there for you when the going gets tough.

3. They give you more self-control

If you have pretty strong friends, you’re in luck. Being around people that have a strong sense of willpower makes it easier for you to exert more restraint in everyday situations. Michelle vanDellen, a psychology professor at the University of Georgia, explains in a study that people are less likely to act out in the presence of their friends because of how their behavior might affect other people. “The take-home message of this study is that picking social influences that are positive can improve your self-control,” she told Best Health Magazine. “And by exhibiting self-control, you’re helping others around you do the same." Brittany also points out that, when it comes to decision-making, it's important for her to look at things from the outside. "Anytime I'm faced with making a difficult decision, I think of the 'eagle eye,'" she says. "I feel like someone is always watching and every decision I make affects the people I know in some way or another."

4. They increase your sense of belonging

College can be a pretty tough journey for some of us, so it's important for us to have friends that we can lean on when it's time to put the books away and have a good time. There's comfort in knowing that you have a group of friends you can call the family that you never had. "I moved from Atlanta to New York and I definitely remember being homesick for quite some time," says Amber Ferrell, a senior at Columbia University. "I can't leave campus and go see my family as often as some of my friends can so it was really important for me to find a group of people that I knew I could feel at home with while being so far away from what I'm used to." According to a piece written in Psychology Today by Dr. Karyn Hall, friends make you feel like you're a part of something bigger. "A sense of belonging to a greater community improves your motivation, health and happiness," she writes. "When you see your connection to others, you know that all people struggle and have difficult time. You are not alone. There is comfort in that knowledge." 

Sometimes growing up means doing your best to avoid social interaction at all costs. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a little alone time but just remember that no matter how often your friends may get on your nerves, you should embrace them because they’re helping you live a stronger, healthier life. 

After college, you have fewer people telling you what to do. There are no professors assigning homework, no floormates dragging you along to Zumba, no parents begging you to turn off the TV (unless you moved back home). Time not spent at work is entirely your own. Without the structure you’ve become accustomed to, it’s easy to squander the hours away catching up on House of Cards, but this can quickly become monotonous. Here are five tips for livening up your days and staying focused on your passions as a graduette.

1. Define your goals

You’ve got the degree – now, what do you want to do with it? It’s important to put together a planand actually follow it. Take the time to write it out and periodically check in on your own progress. Apply for jobs that will set you on the career path you’ve always wanted, even if the first one you accept isn’t your dream gig. Network with professionals in your chosen field to find out how they got to where you want to be, and revise your plan accordingly. Talking to people who were once in your shoes and hearing about their triumphs will recharge your batteries and remind you why this particular profession appealed to you in the first place.

2. Establish a fresh routine

Finding the motivation to get out of bed every morning can be especially tough if you aren’t currently working, volunteering or attending grad school—no one is counting on you to be up and dressed by 9 a.m., so why should you be? The novelty of sleeping until noon every day can wear off pretty quickly, however.

“When I first graduated from college, what made me feel most stuck was a lack of routine. I had trouble putting my mind to anything, despite having more time than I had had in a while,” says Emily Brower, a 2014 Union College grad. “So I started finding part time work that not only gave me a regular schedule, but also engaged my interests. Once I was back into a routine, I was able to set aside time each day to apply for jobs, write and spend time with my family.”

3. Get by with a little help from your friends

Even if you have the perfect plan and a consistent routine, actually making yourself pursue your goals—even those not related to your professional life—is the hardest part. Ask others to help keep you on task. Have you always wanted to write the great American novel? Set up a writing schedule with a former professor or fellow English major and send them pages for feedback when promised. Are you trying to get in shape? Sign up for a race with your friends and train together. Do you keep meaning to check out your company’s volunteer programs but never get around to doing it? Get a co-worker to take on a community service project on with you. If you have someone to answer to, you’ll be more likely to follow through with your commitments.

4. Minimize distractions

You could update your blog, or you could scroll through Instagram again. With so much at our fingertips, it’s not uncommon to plan on simply sending a quick text before getting to work but find that, hours later, you've taken thirty-seven quizzes instead. Oops!

“I quit Facebook and social media for several months,” says Brower. “It helped me to focus on what I wanted and what I was interested in, rather than comparing my post-graduation progress to that of my peers.”

Reducing or cutting out time spent on social media allows you to actually live your life rather than watch others do it. Put down your phone and power down your computer when you can so that you can focus on the people and things that really matter to you.

5. Mix it up

Perhaps your routine is feeling a little too routine. If you’re finding that your job, living situation or social life is feeling too dull, do what you can to shake things up.

“If possible, move to a new place!” says Colleen Murray, a 2014 Siena College graduate. “Not only is it exciting and an adventure, but it’ll also give you a new perspective and time to grow as an individual while following your own routine instead of doing the same old stuff over and over again.”

While such a big move isn’t always an option, you can seek out smaller changes that will still refresh you. If your job really isn’t working for you (and has no chance of helping you get to where you want to be professionally), start searching for a new one, or at least connect with people who can help you figure out your next step. If you’re stuck in a tiny, inconveniently located apartment, think about where you’d like to be when your lease is up and begin browsing for places that meet your requirements. If your co-workers aren’t cutting it as real world besties, seek out new friends wherever you can, maybe by tagging along on your college friend’s after-work happy hour or introducing yourself to people after yoga. Essentially, if some aspect of your life makes you feel stuck or bored, remember only you have the power to change it!

This is the first time you are completely in charge of determining how you spend your days, which is both exciting and daunting. Don’t let yourself feel so overwhelmed that you end up in a rut.

“I think feeling stuck is inevitable. The important thing to remember is that nobody has it as quite together as you might think,” says Kelly Pfleging, Siena College ’14. “Find the silver lining. Embrace the uncertainties and the endless possibilities.” Amen!