Politics has, in theory, always been about the people. Elected officials often start off in politics with a mission to help people and use their power to make the world a better place.

But it remains true that political campaigns will only be successful if people get behind them and become inspired. One example of this kind of inspiration in action is the campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders’ campaign for president was notable because of how much it encouraged young people to become involved in politics.

Though he did not win, his message of social and economic justice still resonates. And now it's up to his supporters to carry it on. Many were dismayed at Clinton’s victory, but I think Bernie supporters can turn that disappointment into something great.

While I personally voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary, I was never anti-Bernie. His message was a great one, but I remained unconvinced that he could actually implement all of his lofty promises. His lack of preparation on vital issues like foreign policy and his puzzling stances on gun control concerned me as well.

Still, I have a lot of respect for Bernie and his supporters. His campaign and the support it garnered were quite impressive. And his message of social justice and equality is something that everyone should be able to get behind, regardless of who you voted for in the primary.

After being cast off as a long shot at the beginning of the primary season, Sanders got more than 12 million votes nationwide, according to Real Clear Politics. The overwhelming support that Bernie had doesn't go away because he lost—it changes the ideology of the Democratic Party, moving it further left as it adjusts to the needs of its ever-changing, diverse voter base.

Clinton even alluded to the influence that Sanders now has in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in July. She commended him on his campaign, and noted that he was instrumental in creating the general election platform.

And though Sanders lost, his message did not.

He shed light on key issues within the realm of social justice, gaining supporters through his authenticity and refusal to move on the stances he's held for years. While Clinton won because of her experience and overall pragmatism, Sanders’s progressive message will live on through the very people that voted for him.

Through activism, young people can now realize that they have the power to help enact real change. If his voters continue to vouch for social and economic justice, then the loss won't hinder the movement. And while Sanders will never be president, it doesn't mean his progressivism can't live on in the U.S. government. In fact, because of his campaign, candidates for Congress of similar ideologies now have a greater chance of being recognized.

Though it may seem tough, change will always be possible, and the way the U.S. government is set up ensures that there are chances for it to come to fruition. By electing more Democrats, both progressive and moderate, to our legislature, the chances of Bernie’s message taking root greatly improve.

It remains true that Sanders alone can't change anything, and in all honesty, it's possible that not much would have changed even if he did become president due to the gridlocked nature of Congress. That's why Congressional elections are so incredibly vital.

If more Democrats are elected, liberal policies will be passed—and from there, real change can happen. The 114th Congress was plagued by an inability to compromise, but a realignment in party control of the two chambers could be instrumental in eradicating harmful gridlock.

Though Sanders took a tad too long admit his defeat, his ultimate coming together with Clinton shows that while progressivism can work, it requires compromise.

And so, if Sanders’ supporters can continue to preach their ideals while maintaining the ability to compromise, there's no reason to feel defeated at the loss of Bernie Sanders.

But please, don't twist this call for the continuation of the Vermont senator’s message into support for “Bernie or Bust.” That kind of pettiness is not what Sanders wants to see from his supporters. Clinton was always the more practical candidate, as her experience qualifies her beyond Sanders or anyone else who has ever run for president. Doubts about her character are reasonable, but what's not is refusing to vote for her despite the fact that she has taken on many of the policies that endeared Sanders to so many.

In the end, it's up to Sanders voters to carry on his message the right way, using his message to promote equality in all areas of government. His message was what made him so likable, and now it's up to his supporters to stay productive and make sure that message doesn't disappear.

There’s been a lot of hype over higher education pretty much since you started high school, but now it’s finally here: your first day of college. You’ve gone through orientation, your room is set up and you’re ready to go. But, of course, it’s normal to get nervous about how the day will play out; After all, you don’t really know what to expect.

But no need to hit the panic button quite yet, because Her Campus is here to get you through a timeline of your entire first day, from the moment you wake up to the moment you hit your pillow at night! We’ll be breaking down some of the biggest snags you could potentially hit (Alarm didn’t go off? No one to sit with at lunch?) as well as how to deal with them should they arise.

7:31 a.m.: Waking up late

You set eight different alarms to make sure you’d get up on time for your 8:00 a.m. class, and to no avail: You still woke up late!

How to deal

First of all, waking up late is not the end of the world. “Everybody almost expects freshmen to be all over the place the first day of college, so take a deep breath and relax,” says Megan Showers, a junior at the University of Florida.

And Megan knows what she’s talking about; She woke up late on her first day of college! “I had a 9 a.m. class and woke up to my alarm clock reading 8:48 a.m.,” she says. “So obviously, I was freaked. It was at least a 15-minute walk to class plus the time it’d take to get ready, so I was pretty much on the verge of hyperventilating.”

Luckily, Megan had taken some proactive steps the night before to shorten her morning routine. “I’d been so neurotic about starting college that I’d actually laid out my clothes the night before and packed up my schoolbag like I was starting kindergarten,” she says. “At the time I felt paranoid, but as I was running around trying to get ready, it was a godsend.”

Megan highly recommends that other first-day collegiettes do the same thing to avoid any surprises in case they pop up a little later than expected on day one. The night before your first day of classes, take 10 or 15 minutes to pick out your outfit and pack your school bag (notebook, pens, folders, your keys, student ID, the works!). Also, make sure you set out toiletries or know where they are the next morning so that you’re not searching for a toothbrush when you’re running around. If you want to earn extra preparedness points, set out a granola bar or some cereal in case you need to eat on the run!

7:47 a.m.: Getting lost on the way to class

You rush out of your dorm, and you’re so excited, nervous and scared that you get extremely lost trying to find the academic building you’re supposed to be in. What’s a newly minted collegiette to do?

How to deal

Kate Masters, a junior at Wesleyan University, reminds collegiettes lost on campus not to panic. “Go up to someone who looks a little older (and friendly) and ask him or her for directions,” she says. Everybody’s been there before!

If possible, though, Kate recommends visiting your classes (or at least the buildings) before your first day. “The night before my first day of college, I actually spent 45 minutes walking around campus to all of my classes just to make sure I knew where the buildings were,” she says. “Some of my new college friends came with me, and it was really fun!”

Like planning your clothes the night before, checking out the campus ahead of time may seem like a little too much preparation for some collegiettes, so don’t be afraid to smile and ask someone for directions! Additionally, you could print a campus map and bring it with you for day one.

8:07 a.m.: You didn’t bring the right supplies to class

You sit down in class and pull out your laptop, only to have your professor announce that he has a no-laptops policy. The problem? You didn’t bring a notebook and pen.

How to deal

Kate faced this same issue during her first college class. “I felt so dumb for not bringing pens and paper to write on,” she says. “So, obviously, my tip is to bring a couple of different note-taking supplies.”

Rachel Nelson, a sophomore at the University of Southern California, says it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have everything on your first day. “Usually the first day of classes is just the professor handing out the syllabus, asking questions and maybe giving a mini lesson, so you really won’t be missing much,” she says. “Just make sure you go buy your supplies directly after class!”

Still freaked out about forgetting stuff? Feel free to ask the person next to you if he or she has an extra pen. Hey, you might make a new friend!

Related: 15 Things You’ll Learn Your First Semester of College

11:17 a.m.: You don’t know whom to sit with at lunch

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Thought you were over the days of scanning the cafeteria looking for a seat? Think again. What happens if your orientations friends or hallmates haven’t gotten to the dining hall yet? Should you sit alone or awkwardly stand there waiting?

How to deal

Megan had this situation come up during her first day of college. “A bunch of the girls I had agreed to get lunch with were running late from class, so I got to the dining hall first and found myself having to wait 15 minutes,” she says.

So what did Megan do? She got her food, found a seat and stared at her phone the entire time. “I was so embarrassed to be sitting alone, but looking back now, two years later, I see how stupid all of my worrying was,” she says. “People don’t really care if you’re sitting alone, and no one will think you’re friendless or something just because people aren’t with you. It’s fine! I eat alone all the time now because I like to.”

If sitting alone is a little bold for you, remember that it’s college, so feel free to just wait for your lunch crew or meet some new people and sit with them (people are super friendly on the first day!). The important takeaway: No one is going to judge you, no matter what you choose.

1:42 p.m.: You don’t know what to do with all of your free time

Your classes have wrapped up way earlier than they ever did in high school (ah, the beauty of the college schedule!), so what are you supposed to do with all of this extra free time?

How to deal

There are definitely a lot of options out there if you have a little time on your hands on the first day, from running errands to checking out your class syllabi. First, you can go to the campus bookstore and buy whatever school supplies and reading materials you’re missing for your classes. It’s always good to be prepared!

Second, there’s always the option of getting a head start on academics. Kate recommends combining schoolwork with social time. “I was actually assigned a ton of work in my first college class, so I went to the library with some friends so we could all work on stuff,” she says. “As someone who procrastinated all the time in high school, I thought it was awesome to begin college on a good note by getting an early start on assignments.”

Kate also encourages collegiettes to really try to be social during the first couple of days and weeks of college. “It’s easy to feel tired and want to sit in bed watching Netflix all day, but this a crucial time in your college career!” she says. “Make friends, hang out with people and get involved. It’s an awesome time.”

Free time is a great thing, but definitely make sure you still have a game plan so you don’t spend the first couple of days just sitting on the Internet. Make a list of what you hope to accomplish on campus during the beginning of the semester and go for it!

9:34 p.m.: Your friends want to party but you’re not sure if you want to

It’s your first night of school and you’re beyond exhausted, but a bunch of your friends want to go out to a party. You want nothing more than to crawl into bed and pass out, but you also don’t want to miss out on a social opportunity.

How to deal

First off, don’t feel like you have to go out to have a great freshman year! Rachel found herself in this situation during her first couple of days of college. “On the one hand, I didn’t want to seem like a party pooper, but I was also bogged down in homework on my first day,” she says.

So, how did she deal? Rachel met her friends in the middle. “My friends were actually pregaming for a couple of hours before they headed to this frat party, so I joined them for that and then left them when they went to the party,” she says.

It turns out Rachel made the right choice, too. “My friends only ended up staying at the party for an hour tops, so I didn’t miss much!” she says.

Another huge perk of having so much to do on a college campus is that you can pick and choose what you want to do with your time, so if partying one night isn’t your thing, no one will fault you for wanting to stay in and study or check out extracurriculars!

Overall, your first day of freshman year will definitely be filled with ups and downs, but just remember that everyone experiences them! Problems will pop up, so as long as you go in with a game plan and take a couple of minutes to prepare ahead of time, you’re going to do great. All of your classmates are as excited and anxious as you are to see how the first day goes, so relax and enjoy it!

Normally, relating to Kanye West can be a bit difficult. However, recently Kanye released something truly down-to-earth and real: a poem about McDonald’s.

The masterpiece was part of Frank Oceans’ creator magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, which was released in special pop-up shops in conjunction with his new album Blond.

Read it for yourself: 

“McDonald’s man / McDonald’s man / The French fries had a plan / The French fries had a plan / The salad bar and the ketchup made a band / Cus the French Fries had a plan / The French fries had a plan / McDonald’s man / McDonald’s / I know them French fries have a plan / I know them French fries have a plan / The cheeseburger and the shakes formed a band / To overthrow the French fries plan / I always knew them French fries was evil man / Smelling all good and shit / I don’t trust no food that smells that good man / I don’t trust it / I just can’t / McDonald’s man / McDonald’s man / McDonald’s, man / Them French fries look good tho / I knew the Diet Coke was jealous of the fries / I knew the McNuggets was jealous of the fries / Even the McRib was jealous of the fries / I could see it through his artificial meat eyes / And he only be there some of the time / Everybody was jealous of them French fries / Except for that one special guy / That smooth apple pie.”

The piece earned a lot of attention and even McDonald’s took notice.

The poem really speaks to the masses. Maybe because we all secretly think the McDonald’s fries are conspiring against the other menu items, or more likely because we’re excited that celebs unashamedly love Mickey D’s as much as we do.

Last Tuesday, two Olympic competitors showed impressive sports(wo)manship during a 5,000-meter race in Rio. Nikki Hamblin and Abbey D’Agostino, female runners from New Zealand and the United States, respectively, each made sure that the other was able to cross the finish line after the two took tumbles on the track.

After Hamblin tripped during the race, D’Agostino fell over her, but was able to get up and make sure that Hamblin wasn’t left behind. Both women continued in the race until the leg injury D’Agostino sustained during the first collision resulted in her falling again. This time, Hamblin stopped her own running to see to it that her fellow competitor finished the race.

Um... we’re not crying... there just must be onions around here somewhere!

While neither runner finished in time to qualify their countries for the next round of competition, both teams contested their disqualification after the results were released and were able to advance to the 5,000-meter final race.

To make this tale even more emotional, the runners were both awarded by the International Olympic Committee for showing such compassion during their event. “For embodying the Olympic spirit,” Hamblin and D’Agostino were given the International Fair Play Committee Award on Saturday. After all the controversy surrounding this year’s Olympics, a little more of this kind of competitive spirit is just the note that the Games should end on.

Simone Biles, AKA the 4’9” supernova you’ve been hearing about all Olympics, has hit celebrity status at this point. Proof of this was given when, at the closing ceremonies for the 2016 Olympic Games last night, other Olympic athletes were so eager to get a picture with the gymnast that the proceedings were completely held up because Biles couldn’t walk for five seconds without being asked for a photo!

Biles was selected from all the athletes on Team USA to carry the American flag at the Olympics Closing Ceremony, which made for a wonderfully-tied bow to end the 19-year-old’s first Games. Of the honor and all her accomplishments at these Games, Biles stated, “This experience has been the dream of a lifetime for me and my team.” We couldn’t be more proud!

Aside from the flag-bearing privilege, Biles took home five medals, four gold and one bronze. She also may have casually scored a boyfriend in superfan Zac Efron, a comedic best friend in Leslie Jones and a cameo on PLL!

On her plans post-Olympics, Biles said that while she would love to participate in the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars, “we have a three-month tour after this Olympics. I’m not sure if I’ll have time.” We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a special guest appearance, though.

When you’re sleeping three feet away from another person—whether it’s a complete stranger, your best friend or your friend’s friend’s friend’s friend (who she just swears you’ll absolutely LOVE)—things are going to feel pretty cozy pretty fast. For every story you’ve heard about roommates who are attached at the hip, you’ve probably heard five about girls with terrible experiences. Read on as seven collegiettes share their most horrific roommate experiences and we tell you what to do to make sure you don’t add to the list!

The Horror Stories

Third-wheeling

“[My roommate and her long-distance boyfriend] are constantly on speakerphone. He wakes her up in the morning. They Skype while I'm trying to do homework. They dirty talk on the phone while I'm trying to sleep. And what's worse, you can't reason with either of them. I have to wear headphones whenever I'm watching Doctor Who or listening to my Taylor Swift, but she can have NCIS blaring from her laptop and him singing/screeching while I'm trying to study. The one time I asked them (very nicely, although I wanted to scream!) to be a little quieter, he called me a brat and yelled at me. It's so bad that I've slept in the bathroom twice.” — Amy*, student at Florida Southern College

Harboring a fugitive

“One of [my roommates] invited her out-of-state, non-student boyfriend to live with us, with no warning. Pretty early on into the situation, we learned just in passing that he wasn't a student (and wasn't allowed to be one) because of prior criminal charges. And although we had made several complaints to our RAs and residence coordinators, everyone kept telling us that they had to see it happening for themselves, and worse, that if we were found in the room while he had any paraphernalia with him, we would all be liable. He was such a permanent resident in our suite that when his girlfriend and the other roommate left for Thanksgiving break, he stayed behind with the keys and about six of his equally questionable friends. We actually had to get the cops involved to have them removed from the room for the weekend.” — Jenny, University of South Florida graduate

Party till you puke

“I knew my roommate liked to party a little bit in high school, but it got totally out of control in college. We lived in a dorm where we shared a room. She came home drunk and threw up all over the room…on two separate occasions. It smelled terrible!” — Ingrid, junior at Auburn University

Related: Her Story: My Roommate Was a Sex Addict

Say it to my face

“[I] walked in on my roommate talking about me and didn’t say anything. Just pretended like I hadn’t heard. But it was really awkward between us for a while after that. We ended up doing subtle things to show that we were pissed.” — Lexi, junior at the University of South Carolina

Full moon

“My freshman roommate had a boyfriend who lived off campus, so she would stay at his apartment a lot. One night, a bunch of us decided to go out, but she said that she was going over to her boyfriend’s house and sleeping there, so I knew that I would get the room to myself and not have to sneak in late. When I got back from downtown, a little earlier than usual, I flicked on my lights to reveal her boyfriend’s bare ass mooning me from her lofted bed because they decided to stay in our room instead. I slept in my friend’s dorm that night.” — Nicole*, junior at the University of South Carolina

Are you freaking kidding me?!

“My ex-boyfriend decided to visit me since my university was close to our hometown. He came for a few days and he met my roommates, and it was actually pretty fun. Almost a month later, my roommate let something slip. She and my ex-boyfriend slept together in the lounge of our building.” — Sarah, junior at the University of Victoria

"Mom…"

“She was constantly asking me to tidy up, and there was this ridiculous dry erase board that she wanted me to write on every time I left the room saying where I was. But what didn't make any sense was that she didn't have any rules for herself. Her friends would come in our room to hang out all of the time, which was fine, but when I wanted to go to bed, I would politely ask them to leave and she would get pissed. It was a bit ridiculous considering I only really used that room for sleeping and yet I couldn't even do that.” — Emma*, junior at the University of Notre Dame

Related: My College Roommate Was Bad for My Mental Health

How to Make Sure They Don’t Happen to You

There’s no way to completely prevent roommate drama. Sometimes you’ll get stuck living with someone who just can’t understand how to respect someone else’s living space. But there are some ways you can work to try and improve your rooming experience—so you don’t fear for your physical and mental health before you go to bed every night.

Talk it out

Seems obvious, right? Well, for many girls, sitting down and talking to your roomie about basic living styles might feel formal and uncomfortable, when you’re just trying to show her that you’re totally cool and casual. 

Turns out, you can have the conversation in that cool and causal way. “Start things off by hanging out together. Have a weekly dinner or coffee together to get to know each other better,” says Christie Garton, author of the UChic College Girls Guidebook Series. “Set some ground rules together at the start that you both feel good about and can stick to.”

Harlan Cohen, author of The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College, agrees. He believes that not talking about your personal preferences will only hurt you later on. “Living with someone when you’ve never lived with someone before is incredibly uncomfortable, and the knee-jerk reaction is for people to keep secrets as opposed to sharing what makes them uncomfortable,” he says. “By starting with ‘I want to know what makes you uncomfortable and I hope you want to know [too], are you cool with that?’ you diffuse all of the bigger issues that come later.”

Related: The Roommate Contract You ACTUALLY Need

It’s not you, it’s me

If you have a huge problem with your roommate, chances are, she has a huge problem with you. What? You? But you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong! Girl, it’s time to get off your high horse and realize that there are two sides to every story.

Cohen notes that we are quick to blame someone else for any problem we have. “You ask yourself the question: ‘What’s my role?’ Because a lot of times most people with big roommate issues are 50 percent of the problem,” he says. Your mom, siblings and best friends may all be telling you your roommate is crazy, but they aren’t really objective bystanders. Ask your roommate if there is anything you do that she would like you to change, and offer to do those things. If you give a little, hopefully you’ll get something in return.

Dealing with the “third roommate”

If we had a nickel for every time we’ve heard, “Ugh, my roommate’s boyfriend is always in the room,” we could probably pay our rent for a month.

The fact of the matter is, whether your roommate hates that your SO is always around or you hate waking up to your roommate’s SO’s dirty underwear on the floor, the room only belongs to the people whose names are on the door (and no, this does not mean you should write another name there). “Having your roommate’s boyfriend hanging around all the time can be a huge stressor,” says Garton. “Set ground rules for times when you are OK with him being there…like those nights where you work or have group study. But no one should have to live with an uninvited third roommate at all times.”

Whichever one of you has the boyfriend: maybe limit the Netflix-and-chilling to one or two times a week. There are plenty of romantic experiences you can have around campus. If your relationship can’t exist outside of your twin bed, you have some other things to think about.

Out of options

You’ve tried to have several productive conversations with your roommate, set up meetings with your RA, offered to sacrifice some of your lifestyle choices for her benefit, and still, you’re totally miserable. At this point, especially if this girl is causing your grades to slip, your mental health to go awry or your personal safety to be put at risk, get out of that room. “Never put up with an unfixable roommate situation,” says Garton. “It’s your education, your life and you need to get on with it!”

So before you freak out or move out, try to work it out. Your room doesn’t just belong to you. And if you ever think you’re alone in the crazy roommate world, look back at these horror stories—you’ll find yourself in great company.

*Names have been changed.

Is there anything that isn't on Tyra Banks's resume? Model, TV personality, Harvard grad, author, businesswoman... it's all in there, but Tyra's not slowing down. Now, she'll be joining the faculty at Stanford's business school as a guest lecturer. *enrolls immediately*

The course, which will run for two weeks next May, is all about building your personal brand, and there's nobody who know better than Tyra how to do that. "Project You: Building and Extending Your Personal Brand" will be co-run by Tyra and faculty member/media expert Allison Kluger.

Though we can only imagine what a class with Tyra would be like, it turns out it won't be all fun and smizes. "If I see somebody not paying attention, I’m gonna call on them," Banks told the Wall Street Journal. But she'll make some exceptions for phone use—you're free to tweet anything she says!

We can't wait to see the queen of all things entertaining take on this new role and basically slay us all with her wisdom. After all, Banks has spent her entire career building her personal brand and proving that she still has more to give. 

First, I would like to apologize for driving you away. I recognize that you are probably better off without me, but just know that I understand why you left. I do not blame you.

Second, I am sorry for all the times I was uncharacteristically selfish and asked for more than you could give me. I wish I recognized all the effort you put into us before it was too late.

Third, I am sorry for all the times I tried to change you into something you were not. I see now how foolish this was and that it only wedged the gap between us.

You took my world by storm from the second you entered it. When we first started dating, you were unlike any guy I had ever met. You gave me faith that chivalry still exists with every sweet phrase and gesture. Our honeymoon phase lasted far longer than I imagined and I could not be more grateful for those loving months spent by your side.

However, things began to change as time passed and we entered long distance. It was more difficult to show each other we cared or give each other the time we both deserved. I was constantly wanting more from you—more love, more attention, more appreciation. I wanted to feel all that from 150 miles away. The more I asked of you, the more you pulled away. The screaming and fighting only got worse. I remember all those hours I wasted complaining and crying to you instead of studying for finals at the end of the semester. But the beginning of summer brought with it the hope that things would improve.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. My need for more altered our relationship to the point where we could no longer successfully fix us.

Although I knew it was only a matter of who would cave first, losing you hurt. I replayed all the times in my head that I could have acted differently or chosen my battles more wisely. Would that have saved our love or would we still have fizzled out?

Looking back at it, I am grateful for all our good (and bad) memories. Thank you for all the laughs, tears and lessons. And most of all, thank you for being a beautiful stepping stone on my path to learning what I need.

Sincerely,

The Girl Who Wanted the World

If you love to organize, strive for perfection and are constantly being told to “chill,” chances are you neatly fall into the category of a Type A personality. You’re extremely driven, and most of the time, you’re just wishing the rest of the world (and your fellow collegiettes) would keep up. If you’re one of these people, here are 19 things that are guaranteed to drive you absolutely crazy.

1. When none of your friends are ready for the event you planned 

What do you mean you just woke up from a nap?!

2. When you go into a friend’s bedroom and can’t see the floor

How do you live like this?

3. When the professor gives an extension on an assignment and you had it done a week ago

Sure, encourage the procrastinators. 

4. When your friends want to watch Netflix all day and you can't sit still for more than two hours

So antsy. 

5. When there are dirty dishes in the sink for more than 24 hours

I don't care if they're not mine, I can't look at them anymore.

6. When you have to rely on someone else to take class notes

I'm sorry, there's just no way your note-taking skills will match my abilities. 

7. When your friends won’t do anything with you unless it’s after noon

You're wasting half the day in bed!

8. When it’s 8 p.m. on a Friday and no one has attempted to make plans yet

Someone please suggest something.

9. When you’re surrounded by slow walkers

Literally do not have time for this.

10. When a meeting goes over by 15 minutes and it throws off your entire schedule

Great, now I'm late to the next one and have no time to grab the coffee I desperately need.

11. When your roommates borrow your things and don’t put them back exactly where they belong

Am I really asking for that much?

12. When you wake up late for an exam and are forced to leave without making your bed

Total day-ruiner.

13. When seeing a frat house the morning after gives you actual anxiety

Is that pizza sauce or blood?

14. When bae says he’ll be over “later”

I'm going to a need a more specific time estimate.

15. When you host a pregame and all you can think about are all the stains that are about to decorate your apartment

Jungle juice will be the death of this apartment.

16. When you see people turning in their exams and you’re on question three

What happened to reviewing your work?!

17. When you’re out of quarters on laundry day

The world will end if I don't do my whites on Sunday. 

18. When your professor takes a week to answer your email

You had one job.

19. When nothing goes according to your plan

Why can't everything just go perfectly all the time?

You know that feeling when you’re with your SO and you’re unashamed of PDA, texting them 24/7 and obsessing over them nonstop? Welcome to the honeymoon stage. It’s at the very beginning of a relationship, and although you and your SO may feel untouchable in your little bubble of bliss, it isn’t permanent. Eventually you become accustomed to his habit of leaving socks everywhere, or her habit of cracking her knuckles, and the magic of being a newbie couple fades into routine. Although it’s great to move forward and learn all the little mannerisms of your SO, sometimes it feels like a shock to the system when the honeymoon phase comes to a close. So here’s what to do next to keep your relationship as strong as it was in the very beginning.

1. Re-evaluate your relationship

Sometimes the honeymoon stage is actually just a lust stage. The two of you might have been so caught up in the moment that it seems like you’re perfect for each other, when in reality it was just a passing fling. If it seems like there are more negatives than positives after the giddy feelings disappear, then you might be in this predicament.

“It’s always important to be clear on what you want and what you need out of a relationship,” says Jay Hurt, a relationship expert “If this person isn’t meeting your needs and your desires and not putting you first, then you look for those signs and you decide how to move forward.” Your SO should be your biggest motivator and supporter. If they can’t seem to fulfill your needs—and we’re not talking Chipotle runs or back massages every day, we mean actual emotional fulfillment—then it might not be the right relationship for you. So after you are over the obsessive stage, step back and re-evaluate. If they’re right for you, you’ll know.

2. Keep some consistency

Although you might not be jumping each other’s bones everyday (if you still do, props to you) that doesn’t mean that you have to cut out the romance all together. Make sure that you’re still doing the same things that attracted you to each other in the first place. Hurt says that a certain amount of consistency is key. “Continue to do the things that attracted you to each other and that made you get together and fall in love before the honeymoon phase is over,” he says. “Keep working on your relationship.”

Sarah Westbrook, a junior at the University of South Carolina, says not to completely forget the honeymoon phase altogether. “I think it's important to be able to stay romantic. It's good to keep saying nice things to each other and remind each other how much you mean to each other. People can fall into the habit of not doing that after the ‘honeymoon phase’ since you get so comfortable together.” If there’s anything you should carry over into the next phase, it’s a little bit of the romance that started it all. You’ll be able to tackle a lot more of the serious stuff if you have that foundation to build on.

Related: What to Expect in Your First College Relationship (& How to Make it Work)

3. Expect to get (slightly) annoyed

One of the inevitable results of the transition into the next part of your relationship is the fact that the newness and blinded obsession you have for your other half might not be so blinding anymore. There will definitely be times where you feel like pulling your hair out—but that’s totally normal. Peyton Tuccinard, a freshman at James Madison University, says, “You don’t always want to see [your SO] every second—you want to see your friends too. Plus, you don’t want to lose your friends, and time apart means more time to love and miss each other.” Just because you’re dating someone doesn’t mean they’re the end-all-be-all. Just like any relationship—friend or otherwise—there will be times that you get frustrated. Cool down, hang out with some besties and then re-approach whatever subject set you off.

If, however, you are constantly being pestered with texts, your SO is snooping through all your emails or you can’t be around each other without sparking a fight, then the red flags should pop up. Arguing is totally fine, but feeling smothered is definitely not something you need to put up with. If you’re rolling your eyes so much that they get stuck, then it might be time to say hasta la vista.

4. Spice it up

Although it’s important to keep a little consistency, it’s equally important to keep it interesting so you don’t get into a draining routine. Predictability kills, so don’t fall prey to it. Hurt says to “never take each other for granted. You [should] always think of them first. You put their needs first and you put their wants first; that’s how you really you keep the freshness and the newness of the relationship and keep the relationship moving forward.” Obviously, you are still in control of yourself and your body, and putting their needs first doesn’t mean forgoing all of your needs as well. You aren’t required to succumb to their every will and answer at their beck and call, and you are always the one who has the final say over yourself. Instead, try to fulfill their emotional needs by being aware of when they’re having a rough day, or being understanding and willing to compromise in certain situations. Partaking in a relationship means you’re not on your own anymore.

Ingrid Schnader, a junior at Auburn University, also suggests changing your average date night to something more fun. “Find a hobby that you both enjoy—something that will never get old,” she says. “For example, my boyfriend and I always go to antique stores when we're bored. We find the most interesting things and each trip is unique!” Trying new experiences with each other will ensure that you will never stop learning and growing alongside one another, and growing is a huge way to keep the momentum that your relationship needs.

5. Open up to your SO

This second phase of your relationship is where you find out all the good stuff. Instead of sucking each other’s faces every time you lock eyes, you will get the chance to have meaningful conversations and talk about your future plans and goals. You’ll learn all the specifics about your SO that will make your relationship strong. From cutesy things like childhood memories, to serious subjects like biggest struggles, these are the conversations that will build up your relationship and allow you to get more comfortable. Revealing your true self is something that only comes with time—and this is when you should do it!

Peyton says that this phase gives her and her SO the chance to be honest in ways they wouldn’t have been before. “When my boyfriend and I got past the honeymoon stage everything became much more comfortable,” she says. “We were even able to talk about certain aspects of each other that bothered us. For example, I’m not afraid to tell him to keep me out of conversations about politics. We don’t exactly see eye-to-eye on the subject, but it’s totally fine for me to say that it makes me uncomfortable, and he gets it.” One of the great parts of getting to open up to your SO is being candid about your feelings—no matter what. You might not feel right bringing more serious feelings up in the honeymoon stage, but the fact that you are comfortable to put everything on the table means your relationship is strong and growing.                           

6. Remember those honeymoon feelings

Post-honeymoon might also seem like the phase of reality, stress and arguments about not answering each others’ phone calls—sometimes it seems like you completely loathe your SO. But you remember your honeymoon days, so use that to your advantage. “I think many couples transition into good relationships when those [honeymoon] feelings continue, and it might not be quite the same but, the feelings do continue, and you’re still in a joyful relationship,” says Hurt.

Shelly Adams, a junior at Shenandoah University, says that those feelings actually helped to bring sparks back into her relationship. “The passion will come and go; you can fall in love with your significant other all over again if it dies down—you just have to put some effort into it!” So don’t think that the honeymoon stage is the peak of romance. If that’s what you want in a relationship, all you need to do is understand what made you feel that way in the first place and find ways to bring it back. Carry the feelings that brought you together into this second phase because they come in handy when the real-world invades.

7. Enjoy it!

Some of the best experiences in your relationship will come after the honeymoon is over. You’re finally comfortable in the relationship and you don’t have to worry about wearing makeup and uncomfortable jeans all the time—welcome back, sweatpants.

Dottie Kramer, a senior at Ohio University, says she actually likes the post-honeymoon phase better. “The honeymoon is kind of fake; you put your best foot forward (always made up, best behavior, etc.); it's a lot of effort,” she says. “I cherish the silly weird moments we have more than anything. The nights where we cuddle up watching junk TV in sweat pants, splitting a whole pizza. Plus, I feel like we've gotten a lot closer, and he's become my go-to guy on a lot of tough conversations (like money, and life post grad). The relationship only gets better with time!” Post-honeymoon is the time to really get to know your SO. You’ll become closer because you’re more trusting and ready to tackle the good and the bad.

When the honeymoon is over and you’re in part two of the relationship, the fears that accompany it can be scary, but remember why you and your SO fell for each other in the first place. So, tackle the next phase of your relationship—you might be surprised by how much better it is.

We *still* aren't over supernatural horror drama Stranger Things (admit it, how many times have you already binge-watched it?). The series revolves around the disappearance of a small-town boy and his friends, who are determined to find him. As people go missing from the town, a young girl known only as Eleven shows up. Played by 12-year-old Millie Brown, Eleven possesses telekinetic powers that make her beyond impressive.

Brown went ALL. IN. for the role and allowed Sarah Hindsgaul of the show's beauty department, to shave her head.

"My mom was like, 'No! That's not happening. And I was like, 'Mom. You need to chill out; it's gonna grow back,'" she told ELLE. 

The transformation is amazing—Brown recently graced us fans with a video showing the buzzcut. And that look at the end? Chilling, in the best way.

It's time for society's obsession with the thigh gap to end, and this new trend on social media is making that happen. Women everywhere have flooded social media with a more accepting, more body-positive version of the thigh gap: #MermaidThighs. Rather than make people feel inadequate if their thighs touch, the trend associates a curvy figure with another huge obsession of this generation... mermaids. 

Considering everyone wants to be a mermaid nowadays, we’re honestly just surprised this trend didn’t catch on faster. But better late than never!

If you listen carefully as back-to-school season sets in, you can probably hear the soft sound of your wallet weeping, and it’s not hard to guess why. Textbook shopping is on the horizon, and unfortunately, knowledge doesn’t come cheap. Luckily for you collegiettes, there are budget-friendly sites out there where you can purchase or rent textbooks. Check out our list below!

1. Chegg 

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For those who prefer renting books to purchasing them, Chegg is worth checking out. A self-proclaimed hub of student resources, Chegg offers both textbook and eTextbook rentals, with 21- or 14-day satisfaction guarantees, respectively. In other words, if you aren’t happy with your textbook or you decide to drop the class the book is for, you can ship it back to them for a full refund, minus the cost of shipping. And if you’re new to the textbook rental scene and still have some old textbooks lying around, you can sell them to Chegg and make some extra cash. Chegg offers buyback quotes online, so you can find out how much you could get for your books instantly!

Special feature: Textbooks aren’t the most exciting things to buy, but Chegg tries to spice up the experience by sending a gift to you along with your purchases.  “Last semester I rented three books, and along with my order they included a 5-hour Energy and a free month-long subscription to Hulu Plus,” says Rowan, a junior at the University of North Carolina.

2. Campus Book Rentals 

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Campus Book Rentals is another textbook rental site that’s good for those students who may normally shy away from renting their textbooks. Although you may worry that you have to be extra careful with your books all semester so you can return them in good condition, Campus Book Rentals encourages its renters to treat their textbooks as if they were their own, so highlight away! Just keep in mind that what you give is what you get – chances are, the books you rent will come with markings from the previous owners, too.

Special feature: Campus Book Rentals also has a unique RentBack feature: you send your books to them and they rent the books out to different students, sending you money for each rental until the book goes out of demand. Making money by getting rid of your old textbooks? Sign us up!

3. Amazon

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There isn’t much that you can’t find on Amazon, and cheap textbooks are no exception. Collegiettes can search, buy, sell and rent textbooks and e-books quicker than it takes to get distracted by all the other fabulous deals on the site.

Special feature: Students with a university email address are eligible for six months of free Amazon Prime through the Amazon Student deal – and that means free two-day shipping on millions of items. It’s perfect for those last-minute class textbook additions or for any collegiette prone to procrastination. “My drawing teacher told us we needed an art projects book by the end of the week, and my college bookstore was out,” says Lauren, a senior at Colorado State University. “I was able to get [it] on Amazon that day. It came really quickly—in two days—so I was able to get it on time… to complete the drawing assignment.”

Related: Next Level Dorm Room Decorations That Will Stand Out

4. Textbooks.com

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Textbooks.com is as straightforward as it gets, with an easy-to-use search function that’ll get the dreaded textbook buying process over with as fast as possible. According to its website, it’s the home of the most used textbooks on the web, with prices up to 90 percent off the cover price. Collegiettes have options to buy, rent and sell textbooks, so it might very well be your one-stop shop to save money and make cash. If you spend more than $25 (and let’s be real—with textbooks, you likely will), shipping is free. Shipping is also free when you mail Textbooks.com any books that you sell to them.

Special feature: Textbooks.com offers a best price guarantee. According to their website, if you find a book for a lower price being directly sold on Amazon, they’ll match it!

5. Better World Books

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For socially conscious collegiettes, Better World Books is a great option for buying textbooks. An eco-friendly company, Better World Books collects used books, saving them from landfills, as well as helps fund literacy projects in the United States and around the world. And all of that is on top of their cheap used book prices!

Special feature: The best part of buying through Better World Books is their Book for Book promise: for every book purchased through their website, they will donate a book to someone who needs it through Books For Africa and Feed The Children.

6. AllBookstores.com

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Having a hard time deciding between all these websites? Your best bet might be starting at AllBookstores.com, a hub where you can search for your book at dozens of online bookstores, such as Amazon, eBay, Barnes & Noble, and Half.com.

Special feature: AllBookstores.com is pretty no-frills, but what it lacks in extra-special features it makes up for in its “Compare Prices” option—one click of a button and you’ll be looking at all of your price options for a textbook side by side. It’s like waving a magic wand over your wallet!

No matter where you choose to get your books, always take the time to shop around for the best prices, and don’t be afraid to mix and match when it comes to where you buy and rent. Do you have a favorite site where you like to buy your textbooks? Let us know in the comments below!

Looks like Jared Leto isn’t the only person to take on method acting...

In a recent Vogue interview, Natalie Portman revealed she prepared for her role in Black Swan without really knowing it. Apparently, the film's director, Darren Aronofsky, would try to pit Portman and Mila Kunis against each other in a way to get ready for the film. “He’d say, ‘Oh, Mila is doing really well on her stuff. She’s so much better than you,’ ” Portman recalled, in an attempt to create a real-life rivalry. The films major plot line is the conflict between Kunis and Portman and Aronofsky wanted to replicate that in order to bring out the most authentic acting. 

Refinery29 also notes that although Aronofsky has denied these claims, he did admit to keeping the actress apart during the whole 42-day filming process. He said, “I knew it might be really hard to keep them apart because they’re friends, but I just didn’t want them to know each other’s motives.” 

Well, it may not have been the most professional method of pushing an actress into a role, but it did win her an Oscar. Maybe next time though, trust that these women know what they're doing—and that they don't need to hate each other to be good actresses.

Between tangled necklaces, wrinkled clothing and shampoo spills, packing for school can be a total nightmare. But not anymore! With these awesome packing hacks, you won't believe how easy moving back to campus will be.

1. Roll your clothes to save space

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We've been folding our clothes for as long as we can remember, but apparently rolling them is actually the way to go! Save space and avoid creases with this easy trick.

2. Use shower caps to protect your shoes

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Finally something to do with all those hotel shower caps you've been hoarding!

3. Thread chain necklaces through straws

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Say goodbye to tangled chains!

4. Roll larger necklaces with toilet paper

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This trick prevents tangles and takes up very little space.

5. Use a button to avoid losing your earrings

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This is life-changing!

6. Keep your clothes fresh with a dryer sheet

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With this basic hack, you can throw on your favorite dress as soon as you get to campus.

7. Protect your clothes from shampoo spills

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Place plastic wrap over the top of your cosmetic bottles (but under the cap) and you'll never have to deal with that mess again.

8. Pack your clothes in a trash bag

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If you're driving to campus, use this amazing hack: pack your clothes with their hangers directly into a trash bag. This will save you so much time both when packing and when moving in.

9. Pack socks in your shoes

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We love this trick: it will maximize space AND keep the shape of your shoes intact! Don't forget to pack your shoes on the bottom of your suitcase with other heavier items.

This year's Olympics were memorable, for many reasons. Michael Phelps added even more medals to his count, Katie Ledecky dominated in all her competitions and Usain Bolt won gold in the 4x100m race (while also providing us with hilarious memes). We also can't talk about the Olympics without acknowledging how fantastic the Final Five were in their respective competitions. As a country, the U.S. racked up an impressive 121 medals over the course of the games—46 gold, 37 silver an 38 bronze. Even though America clearly dominated the Olympics, the female athletes performed so well that they would have come in third place overall—you know, if the U.S. women competed as their own nation sans the male athletes. 

As pointed out by the NYT, the American women contributed to 27 of Team USA's gold medals. Overall, Team USA has to thank the females for bringing in 61 total medals. In theory, if the women competed alone, they still would rank quite well in relation to the other nations. With 61 medals, they would have landed in third place, right behind China and Great Britain. If this doesn't convince you that women are incredible athletes, we don't know what will. 

Keep on slaying, ladies.  

After those naked Donald Trump statues in New York City went viral last week, yes, THOSE ones, it was expected that they'd cause some controversy. Maybe from Trump himself or a supporter, but surprisingly enough, it was Amber Tamblyn, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star, who disapproved. 

“Body shaming is never okay, even when it comes to Trump,” she wrote on Facebook. Although Tamblyn is not a supporter of Trump, she believes that the statues, which were erected by INDECLINE in protest of the Republican nominee, are “unoriginal and uncreative.” 

And it looks like Tamblyn wasn’t the only one. According to US Weekly, the statue that was placed in NYC’s Union Square was removed on August 18, just hours after it had been put there. 

While we may not agree with anything that Trump says, Tamblyn has a valid point—we shouldn't be shaming anybody, Donald Trump included, for his or her body.

Artists everywhere have been selling their merchandise at ~exclusive~ pop-up shops (Kanye West and Frank Ocean, anyone?), making it hard for the masses to get their hands on tour tees. It turns out Justin Bieber *does* care about his fans because he's teamed up with a massive retailer to make this Purpose World Tour merch available to all.

The collection, which is made up of eight pieces, is available online now at Forever 21. YES, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT. You can score tees, sweatshirts, sweatpants and a cool AF bomber jacket, all ranging between $17.90 to $34.90. Check out the launch online now, and keep your eyes out for the real thing in stores Monday, August 29!

Whenever a character resurfaces in Rosewood, you can almost be certain that they have a hidden agenda and are usually up to no good. Remember when Noel Khan and Jenna Marshall came back? Yeah, it's safe to say that the two of them have stirred up a good amount of trouble on this season of Pretty Little Liars. Now, it has been confirmed that Wren Kingston (played by Julian Morris) is returning to PLL when the show airs its second half of season 7. 

In June, Marlene King teased that we hadn't seen the last of Wren, but we finally have confirmation that the Brit is indeed returning to (possibly) create some tension and distress. The last time we saw the doc was during season 4, and he looked quite suspicious when he was seen coloring in a sketch of a girl with a red coat. Aside from that, we can't forget that he cheated on Melissa with Spencer (aka her SISTER).

We're not saying he could be a villainous character just because he's British (like Archer Dunhill/Elliot Rollins), but let's face it—you've probably questioned his actions at one point or another on the show. The amount of fan theories online that try to connect Wren to A.D./Uber A are only proof of how sketchy everyone thinks he is. Even when Wren and Melissa reconnected in England, we still questioned his motives. 

Though it's unclear as to how many episodes Wren will appear on, we have a feeling that drama will ensue. 

President Obama will be visiting flood-ravaged Louisiana amid criticism. Critics have argued that Obama has been too slow to visit the state, CNN reports. Obama was vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard all this week, while Donald Trump and Mike Pence were visiting the affected area.

The White House is hoping that Obama’s presence will demonstrate the federal government’s commitment to aid the flood-devastated region.

According to NBC News, the flooding is the worst natural disaster in the United States since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and has left 13 dead and displaced thousands of residents. In addition, CNN reports that 106,000 residents have registered for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"We are heartbroken by the loss of life," Obama said upon arrival in Louisiana. “I think anybody who can see just the streets, much less the inside of the homes here, people's lives have been upended by this flood.”

State and local officials have praised the federal government’s response in Louisiana. Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana Billy Nungesser, who has often criticized Obama, stated that federal officials have done an “excellent job” in responding to the floods, The New York Times reports.

While in Louisiana, Obama will receive a briefing from federal, state and local officials, as well as emergency responders.

In a reference to former President Bush’s response during Hurricane Katrina, White House officials have stated that Obama will be “on the ground” touring the area, the Times reports.

Obama plans to visit East Baton Rouge, a community that has been severely impacted by the floods, where he will meet with residents that have lost their homes to the flood waters.