No matter what you think about President Donald Trump, you can probably agree that his first 100 days in office have been a wild ride. The former reality star has failed to repeal Obamacare or instate a travel ban, but he’s managed to push through a new Supreme Court Justice and strike a major blow to Planned Parenthood—all while constantly keeping us guessing on Twitter. He may have called the 100-day standard “ridiculous” (on Twitter, of course), but let’s use this opportunity to look back on some of the biggest moments of the Trump administration so far.

As an avid writer and reader, you have an aspiring dream to have a novel published one day. You search for inspiration in your daily life, friends and family and jot every idea that passes you by. There's no doubt you know what it feels like to long for a goal that seems so far away. However, this is the case for all writers. We’re scared to pick up the pen, but once we start, there’s no stopping us... unless you get writer’s block of course. 

1. You’re constantly observing people and your surroundings for the next best novel idea. You analyze people as if they were characters in a novel and settings for imagery.

2. You have your favorite quotes in books highlighted and bookmarked for inspiration. Whenever you’re looking to write, you skim through those to spark innovation.

3. You have plenty of amazing one-liners that could start a book. But, you’re scared to continue on from there.

4. You write in your leather-bound journal as if a publisher will read for edits. You’re constantly writing in perfect grammar and style.

5. You have a notebook specifically for novel ideas. You’ve scribbled down everything from sci-fi to romance ideas.

6. You dream up amazing stories and jot them all down in hopes it’ll start something amazing.

7. You make way too many excuses to start writing. “I’m too busy.” “I’m not good enough.” “I don’t have any good ideas.”

8. You constantly admire great writers. Sometimes, you even try to write like them. But remember, everyone has their own style.

9. You would rather sit for hours writing than do anything else. It keeps you calm, cool and collected.

10. Your friends and family always tell you to start writing. They know that this is your calling.

11. You’ve already looked up where you’d want to get published.

12. You have more favorite pens than you do shoes or other items.

13. You dream of being on an island somewhere with nothing to do but lay out, read and write.

14. You’ve already picked out the title of your next four books. But only titles, nothing else.

15. You constantly tell yourself that you’ll start tomorrow. Pick up the pen already or type away, because it’s time.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has appointed Charmaine Yoest, an anti-choice activist and former president of pro-life organization Americans United for Life, to the Department of Health and Human Services where she will serve as assistant secretary of public affairs, Politico reports.

Yoest's history of working with Americans United for Life, which has worked in previous years to advance anti-abortion laws at the state level, already has women's health advocates and Democratic lawmakers concerned about what her appointment could mean for women.

"Ms. Yoest has a long record of seeking to undermine women’s access to health care and safe, legal abortion by distorting the facts, and her selection shows yet again that this administration is pandering to extreme conservatives and ignoring the millions of men and women nationwide who support women’s constitutionally protected health care rights and don’t want to go backward," Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, told Politico in a statement.

According to the Washington Post, Yoest has frequently championed the idea that abortion is harmful to women and that anti-abortion laws protect women, and many abortion rights groups have accused her of using her concern for women to mask her agenda of ultimately restricting women's access to safe abortions.

This isn't the first time that the Trump administration has taken aim at reproductive rights, as the president has previously vowed to defund Planned Parenthood unless the organization stopped providing abortions - and it likely won't be the last.

While we were basically counting down the days until June 9 when we could finally binge-watch season 5 of Orange is the New Black on Netflix (just in time for summer, am I right?), there's a chance that the streaming service will be forced to move that release date up - and they're definitely not happy about it.

According to Variety, an anonymous hacker calling himself The Dark Overlord is claiming to have gotten his hands on the entirety of season 5 - and after Netflix allegedly refused to respond to his ransom demands, he went through with a threat to release five episodes on an illegal file-sharing service. Yikes. I mean we're all basically dying to get back to watching OITNB, but this seems a bit extreme. 

Netflix released a statement to Variety about the incident, saying, "We are aware of the situation. A production vendor used by several major TV studios had its security compromised and the appropriate law enforcement authorities are involved."

To that end, it appears Netflix isn't the only one being targeted by the hacker(s). A Twitter account that is likely associated with the hacker tweeted that it had received content from other companies as well.

While Netflix hasn't made any further comment on the situation, it's entirely possible that they'll be forced to release season 5 early - but we'll have to wait and see.

We've all been there: you're having one of those days where you bombed an exam, got in a fight with your bestie and spilled coffee all over your favorite outfit all in 24 hours. While we can almost always count on our significant others to be there to cheer us up, this girl's boyfriend went above and beyond in the cutest way possible.

Devanne Tran took to Twitter earlier this week after her boyfriend Ben spoiled her in the most #goals way. According to BuzzFeed, Devanne was having a tough week with school, and after venting to Ben about it, he showed up with a giant Sephora haul of all her makeup essentials - a.k.a. the way to any girls heart if we're being honest.

In case it could possibly get any sweeter, one of the products was a Tarte palette that reads, "Make believe in yourself." I'm actually dying of cute.

"When he showed it to me I literally screamed and hugged him," Devanne told Buzzfeed. "It did make me feel better because he knew how upset I was, so he did what he knew would make me happy even though it was expensive."

It didn't stop there, though. The Internet noticed and before he knew it, Ben had tons of girls telling him they were "sad," because of course.

Then there were the illnesses:

And then there was this girl coming through with the actual ~real talk~:

Other boys, take note and be the Ben your girlfriend deserves.

It's no secret that since its release on March 31, Netflix's 13 Reasons Why has sparked conversation - while many are praising it for getting people to have important discussions about heavy issues like rape, bullying and suicide, there's also those who feel that the tapes Hannah leaves behind blaming her classmates glorify suicide, and that the show could potentially be triggering for some people who have dealth with these things in real life.

Up until now, Selena Gomez, who was one of the show's executive producers, has kept quiet about some of the controversy surrounding the show - but on Friday, she finally offered her response to some of the backlash 13 Reasons Why has experienced.

"We stayed very true to the book and that's initially what [author] Jay Asher created was a beautifully tragic, complicated yet suspenseful story and I think that's what we wanted to do," she told the Associated Press at an event Friday. "We wanted to do it justice and, yeah, [the backlash is] gonna come no matter what. It's not an easy subject to talk about, but I'm very fortunate with how it's doing."

No matter how you feel about this show, it's at the very least a step in the right direction when it comes to bringing up sensitive topics that we need to be having conversations about. As for another season? When asked, Selena could only offer a "maybe," meaning it's not totally out of the question.

It’s Friday night. It’s been a long, stressful week of exams and group projects, and you’ve been dreaming about crawling back into bed since the moment you woke up, but your friends have a different plan. The night is young, the bars are calling and you have to use every ounce of energy you have left to get ready for a good time. We’ve all been there—and these other 19 desperate times in college we had to rally. 

1. Your best friend’s birthday

Especially when it's the big 2-1.

2. The night after day drinking

This day will be the death of me.

3. Tailgate time

Gametime is calling.

4. When you have visitors

Gotta show the guests a good time!

5. When you have no legitimate excuses

I have a very important date... with Netflix.

6. Parents' weekend

Can't miss out on a chance to get Mom and Dad drunk.

7. When your friends aren’t taking no for an answer

Ugh, but guys I can't.

8. When it's perfect weather

Sun's out, rum's out. 

9. When bae is going out

Baby, Ima be your motivation.

10. When you’re newly single

Feelin' some free drinks.

11. When the FOMO is real

I can't risk it.

12. When you don’t have much time left

Live while you're young.

13. When $1 drinks are involved

Turning down a deal like that should be illegal. 

14. When the party is at your place

Places to be, people to see, drinks to drink.

15. When there’s something to celebrate

Like when you shower before noon.

16. Sylly week

Because what else is there to do?

17. When your friends’ Snap stories are lit

Don't have any more fun until I get there!

18. When you return from break

Time to make up for lost times!

19. When you realize you only live once 

College doesn't last forever.

Despite the beautiful views and boast-worthy memories a female solo traveler may expect to encounter when traveling alone, traveling solo, especially as a woman, has a daunting connotation. Critics of solo travel bring up safety concerns, language barriers, cultural inequities as reasons not to make the move on your own, but the truth is successful solo travel is worth the adversities. When a woman travels, particularly alone, she is making a statement, one that says that she refuses to be associated with the stereotype of women as fragile and insecure. She is opening herself up to new experiences and opportunities—she doesn’t travel to escape life, but she travels so life doesn’t escape her.

1. Because life begins at the end of your comfort zone

Trying to navigate a metro in French or order food in Mandarin may not be something you’ve ever done before, and doing it alone may not seem like the ideal way to spend a vacation. However, putting yourself in a foreign environment, and doing it alone, is not only a confidence booster, but an eye-opening experience that reminds you there are so many people in the world with such varied lifestyles from your own. A truly humbling experience.

2. Because it scares you a little

Admit it. The thought of wandering a foreign city where you know nobody, especially if you’re unfamiliar with local customs, can be a terrifying move, but that’s okay. As women, we often overthink and overplan instead of just letting the universe run its course. But when we travel, it's impossible to plan the small things, which is good, because it allows us to be a little scared of the unknown and nudge us out of our comfort zones.

3. Because you’re forced to make friends

Solo travel may seem like a very lonely endeavor, but in reality it gives you the opportunity to make friends with fellow travelers and locals alike. While women may be apprehensive to do this, there are many ways to meet other like-minded women in your travels, especially through travel group meetups (such as communities like Magpie) who are willing to show you around and tell you the best places to eat and sight-see.

4. Because you’ll gain street smarts

There is no doubt wandering a foreign city at night, especially alone, will teach you a thing or two.

5. Because it forces you to be decisive

Traveling is a game of decisions. Where to go, where to stay, what to do, what to eat—for the indecisive girl who is looking for adventure, solo travel can be a life-changing experience.

6. Because it’ll give you self-validation

Nothing is more badass than coming back from a trip knowing that you did it all by yourself.

7. Because you’ll learn to appreciate the little things

Like air-conditioning, or free bathrooms. Yes, I’m serious.

8. Because you may literally get lost, but you’ll figuratively find yourself

Somehow in between misplacing your map and being unable to translate directions, you’ll realize this unparalleled experience has left you changed from before you boarded the plane. Travel brings you challenges and opportunities and lets you discover who you are in only a way such an experience could do.

9. Because you get to take advantage of travel Tinder, the best type of Tinder

Travel Tinder: AKA downloading Tinder while you’re traveling to meet fellow travelers, cute locals, temporary love interests or new friends who you wouldn’t have been able to meet otherwise. Best thing about using travel Tinder? You don’t have to feel guilty about ditching your friends to meet up with your Tinder dates.

10. Because you'll get to experience being your own boss

When you travel solo, you're the creator of your own itinerary, and you're the only person who gets to tell you what to do. 

11. Because you’ll eat and drink what you want with little to no guilt

Let's be real, dieting while traveling is pretty much non-existent. On the bright side, you’ll be running, walking, and hiking too much to really feel bad about it.

12. Because you’ll learn the value of being alone

Being alone and feeling lonely are two completely different things. Learning how to spend quality time with yourself is a huge factor in your own self-worth, and solo travel forces you to do just that.

13. Because you’ll let go of your petty troubles

Trust me, you won’t care that he didn’t text you back when you’re in Iceland getting a picture-perfect view of the Northern Lights.

14. Because the patriarchy tells you that you shouldn’t

The patriarchal society we operate in today fails to view women as spontaneous risk takers, but rather as fragile beings. When a woman travels alone, she shows the world that she is able to break out of her comfort zone to take initiative in engaging in new experiences—take that, patriarchy.

15. Because you’ll truly learn to differentiate an adventure and a vacation

At the end of the day, it's not about the color-block bikinis and pineapple drinks, its about the lessons learned and memories made.

Climate change is threatening your caffeine buzz. [Bloomberg]

How Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP profits from endless illnesses. [Jezebel]

Cereal ice cream pops. [Hello Giggles]

Does Netflix need movie theatres? [New York Magazine]

17 things I learned during my freshman year. [Spoon University]

If you're wishing for impeachment, be careful. [The Huffington Post]

21 times Disney took things too far. [BuzzFeed]

A pizza-inspired prom dress. [Elite Daily]

Keeping Up With The Kardashians turns 10 this year. [Bustle]

Hotels we wish we could afford. [USA Today]

You’ve put in the time, hard work and stress from four years of college, and you finally landed your first full time job! Perhaps you have some free-time in between your 9-to-5 that you’re looking to fill. Maybe your starting salary isn’t quite what you would have hoped, and you’re dreading student loans. Or maybe you’ve found yourself in a not-so-fulfilling entry-level job and you’re looking for a creative outlet.

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We’ve got you covered with a handful of ways to side hustle, all while getting paid:

Related: 4 Reasons Why Having a Side Hustle Can Actually Advance Your Career

1. Freelance Writing

One of the most obvious and popular side gigs is freelance writing. Whether your full-time job is already in the editorial world or not, writing is a great way to build an online portfolio of work, and is a key skill that is needed in a majority of industries.

Not all writing gigs are paid, but if you do your research, you can find news sites looking for paid writers, such as ATTN: and Inc.. The topics you can write about are endless: hard news, entertainment, lifestyle, op-eds, you name it! However, writing doesn’t end at traditional online or print publications—you can lend your skills to marketing and advertising companies looking for copywriters as well. Some of the best sites to get started finding work include Freelancer and Upwork.

This is a side job that can be done completely from the comfort of your own home and allows you to make your own schedule (just as long as you can handle deadlines!). Once you complete a few assignments, you can put together your own website to showcase your work to the public. Some of the best sites for easy portfolio creation include Squarespace and Wordpress.

2. Photography

Is your Instagram profile top-notch? Were you the friend who took photos of every noteworthy event in college with a professional-quality camera? Maybe you can get paid for it.

There are many reasons people need to have professional photos taken. You can capture headshots for aspiring actors or LinkedIn profile pictures for business professionals. Once you start building a portfolio, you can take pictures at events in your area or at family gatherings. 

Stephanie Page, a 2012 graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, embraced her talent for the visual arts. While balancing a 9-to-5 job as a television producer with a side job as a professional photographer, she says, “I quickly learned that if you’re going to spend the majority of your days working, it’s imperative to love what you do. At times, I may have 70 hour work weeks, but I have never dreaded an hour of work in my life.” While she’s very passionate about her full-time job and notes that it has provided her stability, she has also found a way to turn one of her hobbies, photography, into a side job and a second source of income.

3. Babysitting/Nannying

Who says the only side hustles out there are in the creative fields? Babysitting is a great way to make some extra cash, because the hours typically change every week/month, giving you some flexibility. Plus, who wouldn’t want to play with kids for hours and watch the Disney Channel? Babysitting is a big responsibility that should be taken seriously, but if placed with a great family, it can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Marisa Shapiro, a 2013 graduate of Tufts University, describes her positive experience working part-time as a nanny, saying, “I love it because the hours are super flexible. I use Care.com, so I can respond to the families I want to, and families can reach out to me easily. Plus the kids sometimes make me art, which is adorable!”

4. Fitness/Dance Instruction

Were you extremely active in high school or college? Ever taken a SoulCycle class and imagined yourself as the instructor? Getting certified as a fitness or dance instructor not only helps those in your class, but has obvious benefits for you as well!

Saniya Waghray, a 2015 graduate of Babson College, balances a full-time job at Walt Disney Studios (job goals!) with a Bollywood teaching gig in her spare time. In order to prepare, she became certified in Zumba, and notes that the training helped her with the fitness aspect of dance classes. She says, “I started doing it because I really wanted something to keep me grounded and sane while everything else was changing in my life, like moving across the country and starting a new job. Dance has been a constant for me my whole life, and I especially love Bollywood."

5. Job/Resume Coaching

You went through the process of perfecting your resume and applying for internships and jobs yourself—maybe you have some advice to impart onto others! If you were the friend in college who looked over other people's resumes and cover letters to check for formatting and grammar, consider starting a side business where you can get paid for it.

Sarah Sax, a 2014 graduate of the University of Southern California, started a side business right out of college, helping people with their resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles, called Write for The Job. She says, "My journalism background [in college], which trained me to write clearly and succinctly, enabled me to help my friends include personality and originality in their resumes. I love writing about other people and having their individual stories be reflected in their professional materials." Regarding how she finds time to put into this job, she says, "Balancing it with my full time job isn't difficult because I am careful with how many clients I take on per week. Doing this allows me to deliver quality results to all of my clients."

6. Food/Retail Industry Jobs

Working in a bar/restaurant or retail clothing store is a great option for making some extra cash, because oftentimes managers are understanding of your schedule and can provide part-time opportunities to work on nights and weekends.

Rebecca Cuthbertson, a 2013 graduate of Hofstra University, reflects on her positive experience working part-time as a barista at Starbucks and the skills she gained from that job. She says, "[Starbucks] values soft skills in their employees, like customer service and using their experience to make someone's day just a bit brighter. The most important thing I took away from that experience was to talk to your managers/supervisors. They are there to support, help, and guide you. That has been integral for me in the past and no doubt will continue to be as I look to further my career in the food and beverage industry."

7. Unpaid Side Hustles

While most of the ideas above can help you make some extra cash, there’s no question that any side project or hobby, even one that’s NOT paid, can add great benefits to your life. An unpaid activity may allow you to gain experience to boost your resume, build contacts and help you explore your different passions. Some examples include blogging on a personal website, joining an organization in your area such as a college alumni club, volunteering for a non-profit on the weekends and taking classes online or in person to increase your skills in a certain area. 

In a Forbes article discussing how to find purpose in your 20s, career coach Ashley Stahl (watch her TED talk!) notes some of the benefits of pursuing a side job, saying, "...creating a side hustle is a great way to dip your toe into new opportunities without quitting [your job] ... In fact, one in three millennials already have their side gig up and running and are reaping the benefits, and the freelance industry is more robust than ever."

There is no doubt that juggling a side job with one that is full time can be extremely time consuming, and you may find yourself sacrificing some happy hours and other social gatherings in your life. However, with focus and a clear goal in mind, they can provide you financial stability and bring you that much closer to your career and life goals.

ICYMI, the Fyre Festival, which was promoted by the likes of Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid and was supposed to be a weekend vacay in the sun, has actually turned out to be a complete and utter disaster. After paying upwards of $1,000 for tickets to a festival where most of the performers cancelled before the weekend even began, attendees showed up to find no food, minimal security and, you know, feral dogs. 

Understandably, the Fyre Festival and Billy McFarland, the man behind the whole mess, had some apologizing to do - so they did, kind of.

The long-winded and somewhat odd apology begins, "Yesterday was a very challenging day for all of us. But we would like to fully explain what happened." (Ya think?)

The statement goes on the explain that organizers Billy McFarland and Ja Rule wanted to create a musical festival experience based on their mutual love for, "technology, the ocean, and rap music." (Their words, not mine.) Of course, they weren't, "ready for how big this thing would get," and that's where the trouble apparently started. 

"Suddenly, they found themselves transforming a small island and trying to build a festival," the statement says. "Thousands of people wanted to come. They were excited, but then the roadblocks started popping up. As amazing as the islands are, the infrastructure for a festival of this magnitude needed to be built from the ground up. So, we decided to literally attempt to build a city. We set up water and waste management, brought an ambulance from New York, and chartered 737 planes to shuttle our guests via 12 flights a day from Miami. We thought we were ready, but then everyone arrived."

Okay, sorry, but based on the photos and tweets from the ground, how could you possibly look at the island where the festival was to be held and be like, "Yep, looks great!"? What caused Fyre to think it was even remotely a good idea to move forward with this?

In any case, according to the apology, the support from the musical community has been "overwhelming," and the company plans to move the postponed festival to the United States for 2018, refund all guests and give them free VIP tickets to the 2018 festival - the jury's still out on whether they'll actually go.

President Donald Trump may have opted to hold a rally in Pennsylvania instead of attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner, a tradition that the president hasn't missed since Ronald Reagan couldn't attend while recovering from an assassination attempt in 1981, but that didn't stop him and his first 100 days from getting completely roasted at the event.

Hasan Minhaj, a Daily Show correspondent, was chosen to host this year's dinner - which many celebs, in addition to the president, skipped out on due to comedian Samantha Bee's rival event, Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Nonetheless, he still managed to make the most of the erm, interesting, situation by being completely and utterly savage.

"I would say it is an honor to do this, but that would be an alternative fact," he began the speech. "It is not. No one one wanted to do this so of course it falls in the hands of an immigrant. That's how it always goes down." LMAO.

As if that weren't already an OMG-worthy opening, shit got especially real when Minhaj finally took aim at the, "elephant (not) in the room." 

"We’ve got to address the elephant that’s not in the room: the leader of our country is not here. And that’s because he lives in Moscow. It’s a very long flight. As for the other guy, I think he’s in Pennsylvania because he can’t take a joke."

*Drops mic* And that about sums up the current U.S. political situation. Watch Minhaj's entire speech below:

If you're hoping to find out the sex of Beyoncé's twins any time soon, we have some bad news: it's going to be awhile, because even Bey's own mother has no idea.

In a recent interview with Extra, host Mario Lopez asked Tina Lawson the question we're all wondering at this point - is Queen Bey expecting twin boys, girls or one of each? Unfortunately, she's keeping her lips sealed on the matter, saying she has, "no idea." Welp.

"I would be happy with whatever God gives me,” she added. “It’s the biggest blessing. I’m so excited!”

I mean, yeah, if I were about to be the grandmother to a goddess's Beyoncé's twins, I'd be pretty excited too. It's looking like we'll just have to go back to looking for secret clues in Bey's Instagram photos and jewelry choices. Sigh.

Luckily, Lawson did add that Beyoncé is "feeling really good," throughout her pregnancy, and TBH that's all that matters.

Fanfiction: living in the archives of our Tumblr page, it opens up doors in the stories you love for things the author never dreamed of. From Draco Malfoy's romance with an apple to crazy tales from District 9, the world of fanfic is ever expanding. Your parents probably don't understand. Your friends might not understand. But you do. You even fic, bro?

1. You live for your OTP.

2. And will fight to defend it.

3. Every new book/movie is an opportunity for new fanfiction.

4. You are simultaneously proud of your fandom...

5. ...And embarrassed of your dedication to it.

6. You’ve read the best of fanfics,

7. The worst of fanfics,

8. And some you’d rather not even discuss.

9. Your fandom is your community.

10. People who don’t read fic just don’t get it.

11. You can’t stand trolls.

12. Most of your friends IRL don’t know about your fandom.

13. Most of your fandom friends don’t know about you IRL.

14. You refuse to let Fifty Shades represent the Fanfic community.

15. You read fic,

16. Love fic,

17. And are proud of it!

Some people (aka you) are really good at everything, plain and simple. You do the best at every new thing you try, and this natural-born gift is too amazing for you to even feel guilty about. You simply succeed in every area of your life, and you flaunt it. Sorry, not sorry at all. 

1. You love giving advice. 

Even if your friends don't ask for your opinion, you always give it anyway because you obviously know what the right thing to do is. 

2. People might say you think too highly of yourself. 

You just know your worth—there's nothing wrong with a little confidence!

3. If you see someone doing something incorrectly, you have to step in. 

You can't just let people run around ruining their lives. It's for their own good!

4. You don't trust other people during group projects.  

Yeah, it might be easier if you let your team help you work on the group project, but then it would turn out horrible, so you just finish the whole thing yourself. 

5. When someone asks what your skills are, you have to think of something to say other than "everything."

The skills section on your resume basically takes up the entire page. 

6. You love hearing, "You were right."

Which happens all the time because you're always right. 

7. You frequently get into arguments about who is the best at something. 

Even though it's so obvious that it's you. 

8. You love helping people. 

You're just so good at things, it's difficult to not jump in and help those less fortunate than you.

9. You never relate when people talk about what they struggle with. 

"Struggle" isn't even in your vocab.

10. You never ask other people for advice. 

They always try to give it to you unsolicited, but you both know you don't want it. 

11. You're always down to try new things because chances are, you're going to be great at them. 

Ethnic cooking? Bowling league? Crazy hard makeup technique? Video games? Yeah, you're the best at all of them. 

12. People always pick you to be on their team. 

Only idiots would pass you up to be on their trivia team.

13. You always know the perfect thing to say. 

It just comes with the territory of being the best. 

14. Everyone wants to know how you do it.

Idk, you were just born this awesome. 

15. You never let yourself get discouraged when you don't succeed. 

Because you know that believing you're the best is the only way to be the best!

While preparing for your freshman year, you may feel pressured to pick a field of study and stick with it for the next four years – but you shouldn’t. Unless you’re absolutely set on a specific major, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being undeclared when you enter college. In fact, doing so will allow you to experience a variety of different subjects, which will eventually help you narrow down your interests. Still nervous? Read below for 4 benefits of being undeclared:

1. You’ll get time to explore different subjects           

It’s common knowledge that what you study in college is supposed to prepare you for a career in that field after graduation. The problem with this is that many students entering college aren’t yet sure what they want to spend the rest of their lives doing­––which is super understandable!

Kristan Venegas, a Research Associate in the Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis at Rossier, says that students who don’t know what they want to study can benefit from an undeclared major because then they can take general courses to see what they like.

Natalie Kelly, a senior at Santa Clary University, did just this. “I went into my freshman year undeclared, and I couldn’t have been happier with my decision,” Kelly says. “I knew I was unsure what I wanted to study, so I was able to test out my likes and dislikes. While still taking courses that fulfilled general requirements, I got to try things out that I was interested in.” You’ll be getting gen-eds out of the way all the while testing the waters to see what you’ll like!

2. You can confirm your original interests

While some students have absolutely no idea what they want to study, there are also those who have some idea, but aren’t ready to officially declare a major. In fact, nearly 50 percent of entering college students are undecided about their major. To avoid wanting to switch majors later on in your college career, go in undeclared and start by taking introductory courses in the subject of your interest.

Katie Jordan, a senior at Bentley University, says she went into her freshman year undeclared, even though she had an idea of what she wanted to do in the long run. “I was in the situation where I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I experienced it in the classes that I loved,” she says. Taking classes and talking to professors in the department is a great way to learn if you’re going to like something!

Related: 4 Myths About Your Major You Shouldn’t Believe

3. You can get additional advising once you get to campus

According to Venegas, a lot of colleges offer additional advising for undeclared students. “Depending on the campus, schools will provide resources specifically for those who are undeclared, like exploring different major tracks, allowing students to speak with different students and professors from a variety of majors and different types of career testing,” she says.

If your school’s advising department doesn’t have specialized advising, Venegas says you should visit the career center. “I strongly recommend students go to their school’s career center to see what free testing is available.” Even if you have declared a major, you can still take tests to narrow down a specific area within your major! These are oftentimes similar to personality tests, asking questions about what you enjoy and look for in your day-to-day-life.

4. You’ll avoid wasting time and money

A good amount, anywhere from 50 to 70 percent, of students who declare majors early on will likely switch at least once before graduating. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this, but Venegas says that there will likely be a price to pay in order to do so. “Especially if you go from a major that’s completely different than your new one, you’ll end up paying more tuition since you’ll most likely have to start over,” she says. Additionally, it’ll take you longer to graduate, which can be a problem with certain scholarships that only last a certain amount of time.

By entering college undeclared, you can begin with general courses rather than major-specific ones – therefore preventing these issues. “I entered college undeclared,” Alaina Leary, a graduate student at Emerson College, says. “It allowed me to take the time to decide what I really wanted. Obviously, changing majors is possible as well, but I didn’t want to have to go through that process.” You could end up saving time and money!

Instead of stressing and choosing a major that you think you’ll like, take the time to try out a variety of subjects. You may be surprised with what you enjoy! There’s no reason to fear going into college with an undeclared major, especially if it feels right for you.

Name: Megan Alexander
Job: CBS News Correspondent 
Website: http://www.meganalexander.com/ 
Twitter:@MeganAlexander
Instagram:@MeganJAlexander1

What do you do as a news correspondent for CBS? 

Megan Alexander: I am one of six reporters for Inside Edition. There are four of us here in New York City, two out in LA, and our anchor is Debra Norville. For those of you that don't watch the show, Inside Edition is a syndicated news magazine show, so as a reporter I cover a little bit of everything. We do politics, business, lifestyle, entertainment, and medical stories. It’s 30 minutes long, and we do tape it, so we’re not live. So we get a little bit of time to put together our stories. I am actually headed into my ninth year with the show! 

What is the best part of your job? 

MA: You know, I think it’s just being in so many interesting situations that you would never be in. Especially our show, we really have a front row seat to pop culture, world events, and just some interesting stories. For example, we actually got to interview Guinness Book of World Records folks. So I've met the tallest man in the middle of Times Square, covered seven Super Bowls, you know, things like that I really enjoy. My colleague Les Trent and I – he’s one of my fellow reporters here – we often joke that the cover of People Magazine or The Huffington Post, we’ll joke with each other and often we’ll say, “okay, who’s going to be interviewing her?” because we cover those same stories. Or when you watch Good Morning America, you know, most likely there in a day or two, we will also be talking to those people. I think it’s just meeting all of those people that are creating headlines around the world – I’ve interviewed Donald Trump numerous times, way before he got into politics, so that’s interesting, you know? Good dinner conversation.

Would you ever have imagined that this is what you’d be doing?

MA: You know, it’s funny. I watched the show when I was in high school and college, and I remember thinking “I would love to do a show like this because of the variety.” Every day is different, and you meet all sorts of interesting people, but you just never know where life is gonna take you. And as I’ll explain, it was a lot of small steps that led to this job, which I’m really grateful for – a lot of hard work, a lot of midnight shifts doing other things, so.

So what was that first step? Where were you in college and how did you figure that this maybe was something you wanted to do?

MA: So, I grew up in Seattle, Washington, and was involved in a ton of activities as a kid. Just loved sports, loved performing, was in the school play, just a little bit of everything. I was always trying all sorts of things. But I knew I always wanted to do something in entertainment and media and performing – I love writing, I love producing, creating. So in college, there was no broadcast journalism program at my school – I went to Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. But that’s okay because in this industry you don’t necessarily need it – it’s the job experience that counts and I started doing internships. I did internships in radio, television, the local TV station in Santa Barbara, and, you know, just learning on the job is the best thing you can do. I was a political science major in college and my first radio job right out of college was the midnight to 6 a.m. shift at a classical music station. 

And out of all the experiences that you had before coming to CBS, what do you think taught you the most? Or what was the most challenging?

MA: I would say again being on the job – I remember the first time I watched an anchor handle breaking news and just being in the room – you can’t teach that. To be in the room and to see them – the papers are flying, information’s coming in, or at a radio station, when something goes wrong and you need to fix it, those are the moments that I remember where your heart starts pounding and you’re like “oh my gosh, this is really exciting but really scary too.” Like, what about if you mess up?

How do you handle breaking news? 

MA: So one of the best things that I ever heard was when I got a job in San Antonio, Texas, as a reporter/anchor after multiple jobs in radio and a part-time job in television and all these different things. Finally got that full-time gig in San Antonio, Texas, and one of the coaches that came to the television station would come and give us advice. I loved it, asking questions and they’re like, “Who’s this eager, young reporter, get her out of the way.” But I remember they said to me, “When breaking news happens, take a deep breath, get your pen in your hand and just start writing, and just say, “This is what we know so far. You don’t have to know everything, just this is what we know.” And I thought, “Okay, I can do that” and it’s just a step-by-step process as the news is coming in: “This is what we know next, this is what we know now.” And just try to stay with it and pace it, and remain calm, stay conversational, and, you know, walk the audience, walk your viewers through what’s going on. Easier said than done, but I remember those words and I think about that a lot when I’m in high-stress situations: just take a deep breath, pace with the story, “this is what we know.” So, good advice – again, easier said than done.

Is there anything that you wish you were doing more of in your day-to-day job, anything you wish you could be covering?

MA: I wish that we could do a few more, just positive stories about family and faith. Easier said than done. I’ve gotten the chance to cover a couple stories but, you know, a lot of times breaking news takes over, and we’re a 30-minute news magazine show, so a lot of those stories kinda get pushed out the window. But for example, next week I’m covering The Shack, which is a New York Times-bestselling book. It’s been on the New York Times list for forever – incredible story of faith, it’s being made into a movie, Sam Worthington is the lead and Tim McGraw plays his friend, Octavia Spencer plays God – it’s gonna be really cool and I’m covering that red carpet next Tuesday, so there’s a chance to cover some of those things. I try to pitch stories every now and then, you know, and just keep throwing out ideas. Yeah, I mean, again I love our variety, so that’s nice, I can’t complain about that.

Do you have advice for women who maybe are in a similar position as you in regards to pitching and having ideas get thrown out?

MA: Absolutely. It is very hard to catch my boss’s attention, who’s behind us, because we’re in a newsroom, so things are coming fast and furious and you’re lucky if you get ten seconds of a lot of the executives’ time, so I would say know your stuff, be confident, have that elevator pitch down. If you want to pitch a story, I’ve found, ‘okay, how am I gonna catch their attention, I need to know what I’m talking about so if they ask me questions I’m prepared.’ And then you just gotta go for it and keep practicing and when you get rejected, keep going, because a lot of times maybe it doesn’t have anything to do with you. For us, it’s time constraints, it’s other stories we need to cover, you know, things just aren’t good that day, maybe crew-wise we don’t have enough people to cover it. So don’t be discouraged, hang in there and come back again maybe with another angle on it. I think that’s true with a lot of jobs – you just need to be confident and I would say keep it concise. That’s one of the best things you can do, keep it concise. Don’t waste their time!

What do you think was some of the best advice that you’ve gotten?

MA: I think that’s so important that you never stop learning. We can’t stop learning if we want to be good at our craft and so I just try to take that mindset. You can always learn from somebody you’re interviewing, there’s everybody in this newsroom that comes with a different perspective. Whether it’s reading books and trying to get advice that way, it works. 

How do you deal body image as a news anchor? 

MA: Aristotle said, “There is only one way to avoid criticism – do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.” Very true. So if you don’t want to be criticized, you know, go into your shell, go into a cave and hide, because no matter what you’re gonna get criticized if you step out there. I gotta be honest with you, this is an image-obsessed business. I knew what I was getting into, I gotta take care of myself, I got to look put together and look presentable. I can’t sit here and say, “Oh, it’s all inner beauty that counts.” I wish that were true. I think it’s getting a lot better, I think the industry is getting a lot better with celebrating women of all shapes and sizes, which is a beautiful thing. Things like the Dove campaign, all these cool things that are going on. But at the end of the day you still need to look presentable, so you know, I think there are times when I’ve compared myself to somebody else and it doesn’t do you any good. It’s hard to do – you have these magazines thrown at us and all these movies, but I just try to be the best me that I can be, know what works well on my body, know what type of clothes look best on me. I’m not gonna look good in some spaghetti-strap dress, I’m a bigger-boned girl, that’s not going to work for me. So what looks good on me and then I feel good and I can forget about it and then focus on the story. 

What is the best advice for someone applying for internships in your field?

MA: A couple of things come to mind – one, attitude. A positive attitude is huge. Energy, positive energy is such a big deal. Just being interested in what you’re doing – I know that sounds silly, but just being really interested in the company you want to work for. In the interview, know little tidbits about the company or finding out about the person that’s going to be interviewing you – that shows interest, and that stuff goes a long way. So I would say attitude is important, and organization – you know, your resume looks good, it’s organized, you’re on time, maybe a little bit early. That’s really important. And then I would say persistence and determination – following up, finding out if there are some networking events where that person is going to be so that you can meet up with them, maybe have a conversation with them in a different way. 

So you got the internship—congrats! Now your mission, if you accept it, is to make a lasting impression on your supervisor and co-workers in the short time you work at the company. We got the inside scoop from a handful of experts and successful collegiettes on how to wow your boss and make meaningful connections at your internship site. In time, this could mean a great recommendation letter or even a full-time job offer!

1. Come in early and leave late

Although you can be a great intern without working insane hours, putting in more time than you’re required shows that you take the company seriously and that you really want to be there.

“For my first internship, at a luxury magazine, I was supposed to leave at 3 on the days I came in but the person I was going to interview for a story I was writing couldn't talk until 4:30,” says Jacqueline Klecak, a recent graduate of Rowan University. “I stayed anyway and it was definitely worth it because it was a great interview and I got a writing clip out of it. It also showed my editors that I really cared about the opportunity they gave me and how much I wanted to prove myself as a writer.”

For Krista Natali, the marketing manager at C California Style, who is in charge of hiring and supervising interns, “it is important to be flexible and able to stay when help is needed. This is something that is not expected but will make you stand out in a good way if you are able to stay.” Trust us, your supervisor will notice.

2. Anticipate your supervisor’s needs

This is Internship 101: if you want to stand out in a sea of interns, become your supervisor’s go-to person.

“I'm currently an intern at JMU's office of communications and marketing,” says Rachel Petty, a junior at James Madison University. “Part of my job is checking up on my supervisor's client websites. I know he wants me to do this each week, so when I send it to him without him asking, he really appreciates it!”

Obviously you should prioritize the work that you were explicitly assigned, but taking initiative will also get you a long way. “This takes a while to start doing but being a forward thinker and always predicting the next step is important,” says Lauren Berger, aka the Intern Queen. “At first, your supervisor is going to babysit and spoonfeed you information. Eventually, you want to show that you understand the company processes and you can think about the next step.”

Related: How to Stand Out At Your Internship

3. Ask employees to grab coffee or for an informational interview

One of the most precious resources for you at every company is the team. Whether someone is in an entry-level or senior position, they have experience that they would probably be more than happy to share with you.

“I first met with my supervisor as more of a get-to-know-you meeting,” says Macey Lavoie, a recent graduate of Westfield State University. “It was very informal and through an open discussion about recent books on the market and manuscripts I was reading for her, I learned details about the publishing field I hadn't known before.”

Natali agrees that meeting up one-on-one with employees is a great idea. “Once you are ‘in,’ take advantage of your surroundings,” she says. “You are there for your own learning experience and it is important to ask questions. Sitting down with people around the office is my biggest tip to interns. It really sets you apart from the others who are too scared to ask. It also puts you at front of mind for the employees—which is very important when asking them for a reference or asking for help finding a job.”

Ask someone to grab coffee—and not just your supervisor! You can learn from people at your company, and they can get to know you. We guarantee you’ll receive some valuable insights, and that person will be more likely to trust you with cool tasks in the future.

4. Offer to take on extra responsibilities

If you see a problem at your company that you could fix, suggest it to the person who’s in charge. You probably have the skill set to do it and your supervisor(s) will be super grateful that you’re taking something off their hands and benefiting the company.

On the other hand, if there’s something you’d like to get more experience in, you should definitely offer to help with that, too. “At a full-time internship in marketing, I wanted to update the website, so they let me do that,” says Alaina Leary, a Social Content Curator at Connelly Partners. “I wanted to work on helping them find an email platform, so I got to research which were best for business and why.”

Taking initiatives is truly one of the best things an intern can do. “If you see an area where the company is lacking or may need some attention, it is a good idea to offer to help!” Natali says. “Sometimes things get put on the side due to time restraints but if an intern offers to take care of it, the employer will see this as tenacity and will be very appreciative most of the time.

If you take on extra responsibilities, you’ll be helping the company, while adding skills to your resume. You have nothing to lose!

5. Take notes

You’re here to learn, so asking questions is more than encouraged! That said, you shouldn’t ask your supervisor to repeat something he or she just explained. This will make you seem inattentive and like a bit of an airhead—not really the look you’re going for! “We all think we can remember everything,” Berger says. “Guess what? We can’t.”

A great way to avoid this blunder is to take notes, if your supervisor explains things in person (as opposed to via email). “One thing I've always done is written down assignments that my supervisor's given me…as they're assigned to me!” says Tori Knoerzer, a junior at Emerson College. “I've had multiple employers say they are impressed with that initiative and I think if you're called into a meeting or to your supervisor's office, you should never show up without a pen and paper or laptop to take notes.”

Note-taking requires minimal effort, but will make a big difference. “It is very important to take notes for different projects or tasks in order to do the project correctly the first time,” Natali says. “Honestly, it can be a bit annoying when an intern asks you how to do something for the fifth time. Notes are great to refer back to at any time.”

You’ll be glad to have those notes if you have to perform a task you haven’t done in a while, or even for training the next intern.

6. Share your ideas

As an intern, you are at the lowest rank in the company, but this doesn’t mean that you don’t belong there! You were hired for a reason, and that reason is that you have something to offer. So don’t be afraid to share your ideas with your supervisor!

“I also was quick and open to offering feedback—politely, of course,” Alaina says. “[My supervisor] once asked me for feedback on the speech she was going to be giving on live television. I listened and took notes and then presented her with my ideas. She said she'd never had an intern give her honest feedback before and that she was SO impressed.” So impressed in fact that she ended up giving Alaina a real job while she was still in college.

But sharing your ideas doesn’t necessarily mean pointing out problems. For Sydnee Lyons, a first-year graduate student at Florida Atlantic University, “there's a lot of opportunity to be creative with an internship, and there's that feeling of less judgment for sharing your ideas because no one expects you to know everything.”

If you put it that way, you have no reason not to share your ideas! However, you should be careful about overstepping. “Sharing your thoughts and ideas is important in the right settings,” Natali says. “In an open forum or when asked, share away! If it is a closed meeting with the directors of the company, it is best to wait for an appropriate time. Sharing your ideas also shows your interest and gives the potential to surprise your employers.”

Use your best judgment! Always remember that your supervisors know the company and the field better than you do, even though you have plenty to offer.

7. Give thank you notes and/or little gifts

If you followed the tips above during your internship, your relationship with your supervisor(s) was an exchange that benefited both of you. Show your appreciation on your last day by bringing in a personalized note (and maybe some candy or a cute notebook) for each person who helped you—they will remember you fondly and probably be happy to help you in the future!

“At the end of every internship or co-op I've had, I have given my supervisors hand-written thank you notes,” Alaina says. “If I had coworkers I interacted with, I also gave thank you notes to them. I wanted my supervisors to feel like I had appreciated the experience, and that I got something out of working with them.”

File under gestures that cost you very little and have a great impact. “Everyone loves a thank you note!” Natali says. “Sending or giving a thank you note upon exit can leave a lasting impression on an employer. It is easy to do and always appreciated.” Duly noted.

8. Stay in touch after your internship

The people you met at your internship (both your superiors and your co-interns) are contacts that you can choose to keep for life. You never know when they will need your help or you will need theirs! But of course it shouldn’t be just about giving and taking—you might find that you really get along with these people and make new friends.

Staying in touch is especially crucial if you love the company you intern at. “If you are interested in obtaining a job at the company, it is very important to stay in touch,” Natali says. “You want to have the employer remember you for as long as possible so that when a job does become available, they will reach out to you first.”

That said, these contacts are great resources even if you don’t intend on working at that company. “I've also tried to stay in touch with as many past supervisors as possible,” Alaina says. “The best example of this is from my co-op at Beetle Press, where I ended up being hired on as an employee. Although I no longer work there, I like to stay in touch with my supervisor. She has given me freelance work in the past and also referred me to others who may need freelance work that she feels I'm suited for. Because we have a continual, strong relationship, I always know she will be a fantastic reference for me to use.”

Natali’s closing advice is to “make yourself memorable!” Your internship is entirely what you make of it. As long as you’re motivated, enthusiastic and enterprising, you will do great!

CNN reports that the Trump administration is putting an end to the “Let Girls Learn” initiative, one of Michelle Obama’s major projects during her time as first lady.

“Aspects of the initiative’s programming will continue,” according to CNN, but the “Let Girls Learn” name will no longer be used. In a 2015 interview with Her Campus, Obama explained that the initiative was dedicated to helping girls around the world overcome barriers—such as poverty, lack of resources or outdated beliefs about women—that keep girls out of school.

The initiative worked with organizations like the Peace Corps to reach girls globally. A spokesman for the Peace Corps told CNN that they will continue to prioritize girls’ education, which has been “hallmark of our work over the past 56 years.”

Obama connected her passion for girls’ education to the importance of education in her own life. “Growing up, my family didn’t have much money, and neither of my parents had a college degree, but they were determined to see me get the best education possible – and that education was everything for me,” she told Her Campus in 2015. “It was the starting point for every opportunity I’ve had in my life. But so many girls never get that chance. And as I’ve traveled the world, I have seen that these girls are so bright and so hungry to learn—and I really see myself in these girls, I see my daughters in these girls.”

Both Melania and Ivanka Trump have talked about the importance of education for women since entering the White House. But when the White House makes moves like these, some are finding it hard to believe in their commitment to the cause.

On Day 1 of Stagecoach Festival, I arrived at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, ready to hear some friggin' country music (let's face it—this was practically my calling). Resident badasses Maddie & Tae were playing that day, as were Randy Houser and Dierks Bentley. But for me, the highlight of that Friday was getting to meet ūber-talented, chart-topping, award-winning artist and heartthrob Cole Swindell. Around 6:30 p.m., I headed towards the VIP area, where Cole's tour manager, Nate, was waiting to escort me to the tour bus, which, you know, NBD.

I grew increasingly nervous as we approached the bus, but it was immediately obvious from Cole's warm welcome that he wanted me to feel comfortable. I was starstruck and it showed, but I pulled it together enough to ask him about one of my favorite songs, "Ain't Worth the Whiskey." I relate to this song on a quasi-spiritual level, and I was curious what Cole had learned from what sounds like a painful breakup: "That song is written about a true story, an ex I was trying to get over, and it’s kind of a denial song about I’m out here drinking to a country song, raising a glass to my buddies, but in reality you’re kind of there trying to forget about her." This is such a universal feeling, that transition period when you swear to anyone who asks that you're over the person who hurt you, but deep down you know better. So how do you move past it? "Just lean on good friends, that’s the best advice I have" are Cole's words of wisdom. Coincidentally, this is Her Campus' best advice as well.

The singer—who attended Georgia Southern University, hence the hat—knows how difficult college dating can be, but he wants you to know that it gets better. His advice is to "respect yourself and know what you’re worth." Finding out who you are and who you want to be should always be your priority, and the rest will follow. "There’s somebody out there for everybody," Cole says. "I mean, I dated a couple of folks in college and it’s tough, but everything always works out, so don’t stress about that stuff. It’ll all work out exactly how it’s supposed to." I don't know about you, but I just really needed to hear that.

"Just lean on good friends."

Of course, there is more to Cole than his dating life. The 33-year-old Georgia native has seen his career skyrocket over the past few years. Not only do his own songs routinely top the charts, but he has also written hit tracks for such big names as Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan, who is Swindell's Sigma Chi fraternity brother, although Bryan attended Georgia Southern a few years before him.

Surprisingly, this year was Cole's first time at Stagecoach: "I’ve always heard about it, all my buddies have played it and our schedules never worked out so this year… And you know, the 8:45 time slot, I mean that’s a pretty legit spot for your first time here so hopefully everybody’s gonna be ready" (we were ready). Speaking of what California's (and the world's) largest country festival means to him, Cole said, "There’s every artist you can think of, and this is what [country music is] all about, the whole tailgating experience and just this atmosphere. There’s a lot of festivals around the country that want to be Stagecoach."

Cole's energy onstage is infectious, and it's obvious that there's nowhere he'd rather be. "It sucks because you don’t want to get off the stage, that’s why I love what I do, but the fans and the crowd, that’s what makes us not want to get off there," he tells me. "I’m so pumped up when I’m on stage and I come off as kind of hard to calm down, so usually [after the show] I’ll grab a cold drink and talk to the band. We usually are high-fiving and saying how we can’t believe we get to do this every night." Glad you do what you do, Cole.

One of the marks of a great country artist is the ability to switch seamlessly from a straight-up banger to a sensitive ballad, which Cole pulls off with ease. He cites his 2015 hit "You Should Be Here" as one of the most meaningful to him: "I lost my dad a little over three years ago, and it was a song that I wrote to honor him. I found out that other people had been through the same thing and just the success of that song, and hearing stories every single night about people that have been through what I’ve been through, that’s by far the highlight of my career so far."

Catch Cole on a tour stop near you now through September 30.