“Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” star America Ferrera and husband Ryan Piers Williams announced that they are welcoming their first child, ABC News reports.

According to People Magazine, Ferrera announced the exciting news on New Year’s Eve on Instagram, writing, “We’re welcoming one more face to kiss in 2018! Wishing you #MásBesos in the New Year! #babybesos#HappyNewYear.”

The post also included a photo of the adorable couple sporting “2018” glasses and a onesie that says “Más Besos, por favor,” which means “more kisses please” in Spanish.

Williams, according to People Magazine, also shared the photo, adding “Making room for new and beautiful things to come in 2018!#happynewyear.”

According to ABC News, the couple met when they were students at the University of Southern California and Williams cast Ferrera in his student film. The couple was married in 2011, and recently celebrated 12 years together, People Magazine reports.

We couldn’t be more thrilled! Congratulations, America and Ryan!

300 powerful Hollywood women have unveiled an anti-harassment action place to end sexual harassment in all workplaces, The New York Times reports. The Me Too movement gave rise to this action plan and new movement called Time’s Up, ABC News reports.

“TIME’S UP is a unified call for change from women in entertainment for women everywhere," its website reads. “From movie sets to farm fields to boardrooms alike, we envision nationwide leadership that reflects the world in which we live.”

Time’s Up, according to The New York Times, was announced on Monday in an open letter signed by hundreds of women in the show business — including actresses Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Judd and Kerry Washington, producer Shonda Rhimes, Universal Pictures executive Donna Langley and lawyers Nina L. Shaw and Tina Tchen — to pledge their support to working-class women everywhere. The letter was also featured in a full-page advertisement in The New York Times and La Opinion, a Spanish-language newspaper.

“The struggle for women to break in, to rise up the ranks and to simply be heard and acknowledged in male-dominated workplaces must end; time’s up on this impenetrable monopoly,” the letter says.

“We want all survivors of sexual harassment, everywhere, to be heard, to be believed, and to know that accountability is possible,” the letter also says.

According to The New York Times, the initiative includes: a legal defense fund to help less privileged women, legislation that penalizes companies that consistently let sexual harassment persist in the workplace, as well as actions to stop the use of non-disclosure agreements. The women also hope to encourage other stars to wear black to the Golden Globes to raise awareness and to reach gender equality in movie studios and all other industries, ABC News reports.

During the Me Too movement, people were concerned that the movement was overlooking the struggles and concerns of working-class women and was being dominated by the accusers of high-profile men, The New York Times reports. This concern was especially brought to light when a letter on behalf of nearly 700,000 female farmworkers said that the farmworkers stood with the celebrities to fight against the abuse.  

“It’s very hard for us to speak righteously about the rest of anything if we haven’t cleaned our own house,” said “Scandal” executive producer Shonda Rhimes, who has been involved with Time’s Up. “If this group of women can’t fight for a model for other women who don’t have as much power and privilege, then who can?” Rhimes added.

According to ABC News, Time’s Up was formed shortly after Harvey Weinstein had been accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct and gave way to the Me Too movement.

When talking about the group’s work, Rhimes said, “We’re a bunch of women used to getting stuff done. And we’re getting stuff done.”

Being accepted to your dream college can make you feel on top of the world. When you receive your bill and your financial aid package (if you applied), that feeling where nothing can go wrong suddenly feels like a lie.

Unfortunately, many incoming college students struggle to afford tuition, whether it is on their own or with their families’ assistance. CNN reports that families who earn $100,000 a year can’t afford 60 percent of colleges in the U.S. The average cost of tuition ranges from $9,650 for in-state public colleges to almost $34,000 for private schools, according to CNN. This doesn’t even include housing costs, which average at around $10,000.

It may seem like all hope is lost if you find out that the school you want to attend is too expensive for what you can afford. Instead of just deciding on a more affordable college you don’t like as much or skipping college entirely, there are many options to choose from.

1. Search for scholarships or financial aid

You hear the words “scholarship,” “grant” and “loan” tossed around more than you would expect. How can they help? Scholarships are usually merit-based from an academic or athletic ability, and grants are need-based, according to College Board. These are awarded to you as part of your financial aid; loans, on the other hand, are what you eventually have to pay back.

Brooke, a sophomore at Denison University, says scholarships are a great option. When Denison seemed like it was out of her price range, Brooke turned to extra financial help.

“I found so many obscure scholarships that no one thinks to apply for. There are plenty out there that look like complete scams, but are 110 percent real!” Brooke says.

Once on campus, Brooke was also able to find scholarships within her major that weren’t advertised. With thousands of scholarships available, all tailored in different ways, students should be able to find at least one to contribute to college.

Even without a scholarship, the possibility of financial aid from your school or the government can help. Loans are also the key to affording your dream college. Lauren, a senior at UC Santa Barbara, believes loans are the best option.

“You can explore private loan companies like Sallie Mae. You won’t have to pay these off until six months after graduation and even after that you’re able to pay in small increments, just like any other bill,” Lauren says.

Her first year at college was funded completely by loans, but her following years have been covered by financial aid from her school. Loans are a good option, but you also have to be careful when applying and taking out loans every year. Zoe, a senior at Western Oregon University, advises you to think about it before making a decision.

“If the only way you can go somewhere is to take out massive amounts of loans, that's probably going to negatively impact your life for years after you graduate. So it's important to consider if doing that is really worth it,” Zoe says.

Many students use a mixture of scholarships and student loans, federal or private, to fund their years at college. How you choose to pay for school is up to you. 

2. Find a job at college or apply for work study

Almost all schools have a work study program you can apply for, where you will be given a job to help with the cost of tuition. If you are not part of work study, however, you can still apply for a job on campus. This could be working in the mailroom, the bookstore, the cafe or the library. There are many jobs available for students, and a part-time position could help pay for school.

“I found a job in the costume shop, [which is] my favorite place,” says Brooke of her time at Denison. Most schools have job boards to post employment opportunities, so you’ll want to check every few days if you’re looking for work. There’s sure to be something that fits your personality and pays well.

Related: How to Talk to Your Parents About Paying for College

3. Consider other options

Most future collegiettes have an exact idea of what college should look like: living in a dorm with your best friends as you get through four years at the same university. But in today’s world, our viewpoint has changed on how we can attend college.

If you can’t afford to live on campus, consider commuting if your school isn’t far away. Ashley, a senior at Lasell College, did not receive any financial aid. Instead, she has commuted to school all four years.

“I spent all the savings I had and all of the bonds I received since I was born,” she says.

Kaitlyn, a senior at Marywood University, has had two different experiences. She commuted her first year and now lives off-campus with friends.

“It was a lot cheaper my freshman year, and even more this year too,” Kaitlyn says. “I don’t think [these options] diminish my college experience. I think it gave me more freedom, to be honest.”

If you aren’t sure about commuting to school or want to save some money, attend community college first. Lauren went to a community college before transferring to UC Santa Barbara.

“That in itself saves you money,” she says. Whether it’s enrolling in community college first, commuting or living off campus, some of these options can help you save in the long run.

4. Look at other schools

If you have your heart set on one school, it can be tough to even think about going somewhere else. Your parents, teachers and guidance counselors all encourage you to apply to other “safety schools” in case your dream college doesn’t work out. Sometimes, this might be the better option.

When Zoe was accepted to her top choice, she then found out she could not afford it. After applying for scholarships and grants, it still was not enough to justify going there. However, she admits that going to a different school was a better outcome than she thought.

“I'm still genuinely sad about not being able to attend, [but] I'm happy about the university I'm currently at. One thing that really helped me was trying to find more positives relating to my second choice schools,” Zoe says.

“Even though the university that I wanted to attend but couldn't was located in a city I loved and had an amazing program for what I'm studying, the school I ended up going to was probably better for me in terms of mental health and actual academics because it's smaller, significantly cheaper and is known for being a school where professors really care about teaching.”

Zoe also says that not going to your dream school may feel like the end of the world, but “regardless of where people go, they’re still bound to build a great space around them.”

5. Take time off

If you really aren’t sure about what to do, consider taking some time off before going to college. We think we need to go to college immediately after high school, but it’s completely acceptable to take a few months or even a year off.

Before Lauren went to school, she decided to take a year and half off. “[I wanted] to reflect on what exactly I wanted to do with my life,” she says.

A gap year can not only help you decide on your future, but it could allow you to save some money by working full-time. If Malia Obama took a year off before attending Harvard, consider doing that as well.

If you find out that the college you want to attend may be out of reach financially, there are many ways to get around this. There is always a way to afford college, so really think about yourself and your future before making a decision.

Name: Mae Karwowski
Age: 31
Job Title and Description: CEO and Founder of Obviously
College Name/Major: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Philosophy Major
Website:  www.obvious.ly
Twitter Handle: @maewow     
Instagram Handle: @maewow

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

MK: Working in the social media influencer world, my job has always been all about building meaningful connections in a strategic way. When I founded Obviously in 2013, we were working out of my three-bedroom apartment and fast forward to today—we now have three offices with a global presence. While my role has drastically changed, my core philosophy has remained the same—to treat social influencers as "people, not ad units." This means I place a high emphasis on human relationship building and work to set up partnerships that make sense between brands and online tastemakers. As part of running a fully integrated company, I’m required to wear many hats throughout my job—from brainstorming creative marketing campaign content to handling product shipments to streamlining the tech. Although there’s no such thing as a typical day at Obviously, it’s key I focus on that human to human relationship building by making sure to have face time with all of my teams and several of my clients.

What is the best part of your job?

MK: I LOVE setting the strategy for the company. As a philosophy major in college, I loved learning about big ideas and frameworks, plus writing and debating. So now I get to do all of those things everyday.

What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

MK: I threw myself in to the rapidly growing social media scene after I graduated in 2008, and landed a job managing social media accounts for The Real Housewives (!) and Coca-Cola. This opportunity allowed me to be very creative and also very client services intensive. I went all in and learned how to navigate with both my clients and my team to advance quickly.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

MK: My biggest words of wisdom are to simply "ask for it." For instance, I’m always one to ask for more—whether it’s pitching an idea in a meeting or asking for a raise or the opportunity to take on special projects. Showing the ability to be bold with asking will place you one step ahead give you the reputation as both a hard worker and a team player.

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

MK: There was a time where I was working nonstop on a side project and basically stopped sleeping. As you can imagine, I wasn’t able to perform at 100 percent—so my full time job suffered which led to stress. From now on, I always prioritize taking the time for self-care as it saves sanity.

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

MK: Taking 25 amazing Instagram influencers to San Francisco to the huge product launch for one of our favorite clients. It was a big activation and the energy was palpable. It was so cool to view all the content they created and see the weekend from their (very talented) perspectives.

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

MK: Do they have drive? Can they articulately explain how they arrived at the answer to a strategic question? Each member of our team adds to our culture and contributes in many ways outside of their assigned role  which allow us to have the smartest, most driven people humanly possible!

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

MK: Stay on high alert! Be on the lookout for opportunities at all times and meet as many people as you possibly can. You’re in college, which means you can start by looking up alums and sending emails asking if you can take them to coffee. Building your network from the get-go is important because as people rise up in their careers they spend less time networking. My first five years I would try to take someone to coffee 2-3 times a week and those connections have stayed with me!

What's the one thing that's stood out to you the most in a resume?

MK: The resume should get you in the door for the interview and that’s about it. I really look to see if a candidate has crafted the resume in a way that clearly explains why I should meet with them. If your experience is with amazing brands, feature that. If you have a side hustle where you are working on being a beauty YouTuber, then add that (and the URL so I can check it out.)

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

Trump’s Nuclear Button is Bigger than Yours

At this point, we all know it: Trump is (in)famous for his tweets. And Trump took to Twitter to boast that his nuclear button is “much bigger [and] more powerful” than Kim Jong Un’s.

"North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.' Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!" Trump wrote.

According to Buzzfeed News, the tweet came in response to Kim Jong Un’s remarks that “the entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, a nuclear button is always on my desk.”

But the internet just couldn’t deal. While some were concerned by Trump’s escalating words, some were quick to make jokes about Trump’s comment.

Although, this isn’t the first time that Trump has made a comment about having a button on his desk before. However, this particular button, which was mentioned in an April 2017 interview with Financial Times, was meant to summon a Diet Coke. This talk is most likely just part of the never-ending war of words between Trump and the North Korean leader.

It’s still not quite comforting, though.

More Women Than Ever Are Interested in Running for Office in 2018

According to ABC News, experts say that 2018 is on track to become a big year for women in politics, citing more women announcing that they plan to run than ever before.

“I've never seen anything like this,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List, an organization that supports pro-choice women running for political office at all levels. “Every day, dozens more women come to our website, come to our Facebook page and say, 'I am mad as hell. I want to do something about it. What should I do now?'”

EMILY’S List reported that in the month following the 2016 Presidential Election, 1,000 women visited their website to learn how to run for office, but now that number has climbed to more than 26,000, ABC News reports.

While the number of women in office has remained relatively stagnant, according to ABC News, experts have said that 2018 presents the perfect conditions for women to be successful in running for office, especially at the Me Too movement persists and high-ranking politicians continue to resign amid sexual misconduct scandals.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, the increase in women running for office is largely being seen in U.S. House of Representatives’ and governor’s races for 2018. 50 Democratic and 10 Republican congresswomen are running for re-election, and 183 Democratic and 14 Republican women are challenging their current U.S. Representative, ABC News reports.

‘Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ Cast Reunites to Celebrate America Ferrera’s Motherhood

America Ferrera announced that she is expecting her first child with husband Ryan Piers Williams on New Year’s Eve on Instagram.

On Tuesday, the actress shared a photo on Instagram of her and her “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” costars Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel cuddling together on the couch with their hands on Ferrera’s baby bump, People Magazine reports.

It’s adorable to see that Ferrera has the blessing of the “sisterhood” as she joins her costars in motherhood.

Lively, who is married to Ryan Reynolds, has two children: James and Ines. Tamblyn has one child, Marlow Alice, with her husband David Cross, and Bledel had a son in 2016 with her husband Vincent Kartheiser, People Magazine reports.  

What to look out for…

“Love Actually” is now on Netflix! So if you’re missing the holidays like we are, you can watch this classic movie.

Announced on Tuesday, Coachella’s lineup is already putting 2018 off to a good start.

The much-hyped music festival will take place in Indio, California on April 13-15 and April 20-22, and trust us, after finding out all the deets, you’ll want to get tickets. 

Beyoncé is headlining!

According to Billboard, after canceling last year due to being pregnant with twins, the queen has kept her promise to return! She’s made past guest appearances with her husband Jay-Z and her sister Solange, but this will be her first headliner. She’ll be sharing the headlining spotlight with The Weeknd and Eminem.

Eminem is making a return to the stage?!

Yes. The rap legend Eminem is making a return. The last time he appeared at Coachella was in 2012 when he made a guest appearance with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and the legendary hologram of Tupac Shakur.

Many rap and R&B artists have stolen the spotlight from rock

This lineup is jam packed with Rap and R&B artists such as Cardi B, Tyler the Creator, Post Malone, SZA and Miguel. Previously, Coachella has featured more rock artists, but now Rap and R&B are becoming the more popular genres to mesh with pop music, reported Vice.

But not to worry! There are still rock artists

War On Drugs will return, as well as the sister group, HAIM, Fleet Foxes and Portugal. the Man. All have played previous Coachellas except Portugal. the Man, who emerged this year with their hit song “Feel It Still.”

…and some EDM artists

Do you like Kygo, Chromeo and ODESZA? Because they’ll be there as well. Also, Petit Biscuit will perform, who turned 18 less than two months ago, according to USA Today. Talk about being successful while so young!

To top it off, this is going to be one of the most diverse Coachellas ever

The lineup was booked with an intent to gather more female and people of color than ever! Now that’s something we can get on board with. The full lineup is below:

How do I get tickets?!

Passes go on sale Friday at noon. General admission passes are $429 including fees and taxes, and the festival pass and shuttle combination is $504. VIP festival passes are $999 and VIP parking passes are $150.

Images: (1, 2,3)

In the nightmare of the Manchester Arena bombing attack that took place at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May of 2017, it seemed as if Chris Parker, a 33-year-old homeless man, emerged as a hero. He was believed to have comforted and helped victims after the attack. In fact, the public raised over 50 thousand pounds for Parker via GoFundMe. However, he has recently pled guilty on two counts of theft and one count of fraud.

According to the Guardian, CCTV footage reveals Parker walking around the victims and taking pictures with his phone. The Guardian goes on to explain Parker kicking a purse away from a seriously injured woman before going through it. Pauline Healey, the woman in question, was there with her daughter and granddaughter. Her granddaughter, Sorrel Leczkowski, was only 14 when she died in the attack.

Along with the purse and bank cards inside it, Parker also admitted to stealing a teenage girl’s phone. He was found and brought to court early Wednesday morning. Texts with his mother reveal his intent to avoid going to court.

In court, Parker was accused of eight crimes, but he only pled guilty to the three mentioned above. Louise Brandon, the prosecutor on the case, decided not to pursue the other five charges. BBC reported that prosecutors argued Parker provided “some limited assistance” to the victims, but “equally” took advantage of their position.

As for the defense, the Independent quoted John Broadley as saying “He's tendered these pleas and all he can do in the circumstances is first of all plead guilty and apologize for his appalling behavior that evening.”

Parker will be sentenced on January 30.

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House is, “one of the most eagerly awaited political books of the year,” according to The Guardian. The book, written by author Michael Wolff includes more than 200 interviews with President Donald Trump, his colleagues and members of his administration. 

The book gives readers an inside look into the 2016 Presidential campaign and how the Trump administration handled their victory and the crises that soon followed. And while victory was sweet, a few of Trump’s closest allies reveal condescension for the current Commander in Chief.

Steve Bannon, a former investment banker and executive chairman of Breitbart News is one of them.  

Appointed chief executive of the Trump campaign in the final three months, he served as White House chief strategist for the first seven months, before he left to return to Breitbart News. With Brietbart posting stories like, “Gay rights have made us dumber, it’s time to get back in the closet,” and “White people pretend to be black because that’s an advantage,” it’s no wonder Bannon was controversial, radical and what many argued, a solid fit for the Trump campaign. 

However, upon Bannon’s departure, he had strong words for one of President Donald Trump’s most highly publicized and criticized scandals, the alleged collusion with the Russians. 

In a June 2016 meeting in New York’s Trump Tower, President Donald Trump’s son Donald Jr., his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, then campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya met to discuss what were documents promised to them, that would ultimately “incriminate” Hillary Clinton. Instead of alerting the FBI immediately about the alleged information that was uncovered, Donald Jr. simply replied in an email, “I love it.” 

The meeting between the three men and the Russian lawyer is not a new story, but Bannon’s comments are. He told Wolff, per The Guardian that “The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor – with no lawyers. They didn’t have any lawyers. Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it’s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately.”

Bannon even went on to speculate that Donald Trump Jr., involved President Donald Trump in the information he uncovered during that June 2016 meeting. He said, ”The chance that Don Jr did not walk these jumos up to his father’s office on the twenty-sixth floor is zero.” 

In December of 2017, federal prosecutors subpoenaed records from Deutsche Bank, the same financial intuition that lent hundred of millions of dollars to the Kushner’s property company, and Bannon had thoughts on that as well. He said, “It goes through Deutsche Bank and all the Kushner shit. The Kushner shit is greasy. They’re going to go right through that. They’re going to roll those two guys up and say play me or trade me.”

While, Bannon has insisted he knows not a single Russian, will not be getting a lawyer, will not be speaking to the matter on national television or be a witness, it’s clear he’s loose lipped.

Shortly after news of Bannon's comments in the book broke on Wednesday, Trump released a statement denouncing Bannon and saying "Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency." 

Trump also commented on Bannon​'s approach to the media, claiming that he spent most of his time at the White House "leaking false information to the media to make himself seem far more important than he was." 

Wolff’s, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House will be published next week.

A simple kiss was reportedly the cause of an Uber driver kicking a gay couple out of the car in an unsafe Houston neighborhood, according to local news station KPRC Click2Houston.

Randall Magill, 28, and Jose Chavez, 26, were celebrating their recent engagement with friends in Houston, Texas. In an interview with KPRC, the couple stated they had been drinking and decided to take an Uber home around 4 a.m. The driver had a mini-van with two separate seats. According to KPRC, everything was fine until Magill and Chavez shared a kiss.

The Uber driver then promptly asked them to get out, according to Hello Giggles. While they were upset, Magill and Chavez remained calm when they were told to leave. Magill said to KPRC that the driver told them he had kicked out a straight couple before, but they did not believe him.

“I wasn’t doing anything that I wouldn’t have done in public. I’m not going to embarrass myself or my fiancé by any means,” Magill said.

“I’ve never been told not to kiss or anything,” Chavez added.

According to Hello Giggles, the driver then pulled off the freeway to a deserted neighborhood and dropped them off. The couple then called another Uber to get home, but had to walk under the interstate bridge and to the other side of the freeway in order to get it, according to KPRC. Magill stated that he has never had a bad experience with Uber, but will probably never use the service again.

An Uber representative said both the driver and the rider reported the incident and are investigating, KPRC reported. Uber does have a no sex rule in its guidelines, but does not say anything regarding kissing. The company also has a clear nondiscrimination policy against riders or drivers.

This isn’t the first time Uber has been accused of mistreating passengers, so let’s hope that 2018 will bring change to ensure every ride-sharing user can safely get to their destinations.

Even though we're only at the beginning of 2018, there's already some pretty great news for all the foodies out there. 

Taco Bell has announced that starting on January 25, they will be adding Nacho Fries to their menu, a move that will surely make fans of the fast-food chain rejoice over this new addition. 

There's been a year of speculation surrounding a new menu item after their Loaded Fries Supreme were spotted at a location in Irvine, California. 
 
The newly debuted and official Nacho Fries are fries that are covered in Mexican seasoning and served with a side of warm nacho cheese. 

To make this drool-worthy creation even more appealing, they will be available nationwide for only $1 (for a limited time only). You'll also be able to get add-ons that include beef, pico de gallo, sour cream and nacho cheese. 

2018 is off to a great start with delightfully cheap food like this to look forward to. Here's to all the cheesy goodness the New Year has in store! 

I think all of us who watched Stranger Things 2 remember that horrifying scene where Dustin’s beloved D'artagnan fully evolved into the “Demodog” and started...well...eating Mews the cat?

We’d all gotten so attached to Dart and Dustin loved him so much! To see the creature Dustin rescued and vouched for go full Upside Down-evil and eat a pet...sigh. It was a lot to handle.

As if that scene wasn’t scarring enough for us, Netflix just released a video where cats react to that scene. The result is this anxiety-producing yet adorable video:

Multiple questions to be asked after watching that video: How could Netflix produce that scene with so many cat-lovers around? Do any of those cats have Instagram or Twitter accounts we can follow to be further updated on their extended reactions to the scene? But most importantly: Are the kitties okay?!

Maybe the cats can be reassured that after this unfortunate event, Dart would later show some sort of compassion at the end after all.

To say college is stressful would be an understatement. Us collegiettes are expected to balance busy class schedules, hours of homework, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, and personal health, all while maintaining a social life? Who are we supposed to be, Wonder Woman? All these demands can pile up quickly and add serious anxiety to your daily life. One big source of stress for many college women is the social aspect – it can be overwhelming to try to keep up with friendships and make time for social outings and events while also trying to stay on top of schoolwork and other responsibilities.

What’s even more troublesome for countless college women is reaching senior year and not yet having found a true best friend or small clique of very close friends. But as worrisome and even upsetting as that may seem, it’s truly not the end of the world, and not even a bad thing. We spoke to some college counselors and specialists to hear why being a college senior without a best friend group is okay.

Real-life friends aren't always like what you see in movies.

Kelci Lucier, education writer and co-founder of The College Parent Handbook, explains that the myth of needing to find your lifelong best friend while in college is just that – a myth. “This certainly can be true, but it also doesn't have to be,” she says. “So don't worry if you don't have a life-long friend or best friend at any point; your job is more to explore friendships with people that allow you to grow and develop.” 

She suggests considering your relationships and friends back during high school. It’s more than likely that those friendships evolved substantially between freshman year and by the time you graduated. Odds are, your personality, interests and values changed as you grew older and matured, and the people you chose and wanted to surround yourself with probably changed along with you, too.

It's not me, it's not you, it's us. 

Dr. Naomi Brown of Stanford University’s Student Counseling Center also echoes how our volatile and dynamic personal characteristics in college play a role in friendship-making. “Personality variables like introversion and extroversion affect friendship making styles,” she elaborates. “College is an inherently transitional place and space. Everyone comes and goes every 4-5 years, and many friendships disperse as students relocate to start their new jobs and lives.”

She further attributed the struggle many students face in dealing with the disappointment over not having discovered lifelong friends in college to multiple reasons – random roommate assignments not lucking out, proximity to other students in their dorm, and personality differences that ultimately put a strain on relationships, to give some examples. These external factors are out of one’s control, and can complicate efforts to make enduring, genuine relationships with people that may just be simply incompatible with you.

Related: 7 Unexpected Places to Meet Your College Friends

Socializing is not easy, and especially not in a high-stress and challenging environment like college campuses, as Julie Zeilinger, author of College 101: A Girl's Guide To Freshman Year, notes. Having to acclimate to an entirely different culture and social scene, adjust emotionally to living away from home, and forge friendships with new people who may or may not also share the same stress and discomforts as you do is by no means an easy feat.

Go out on a limb (or two, or three).

If struggling with these difficulties in terms of making friends, she recommends stepping out of one’s comfort zone. “College campuses are full of passionate, diverse students with unique talents and interests. Make it your personal mission to find somebody radically different from yourself and befriend him or her,” she says. “Although it’s great to find people who understand you on an intimate level, who can relate to you in a specific way, it’s also vitally important to meet people who maintain different perspectives and values than you do. Maybe the friendship will work in the long term and maybe it won’t, but it will definitely be a valuable experience in some way.”

Lucier also concludes with a piece of advice, saying “as long as you're investing in yourself and exploring ideas and experiences in ways that match your values and interests, you're doing everything right – bestie or not.” It’s most important to use your college experience for you– your academic interests, your personal maturation, your career preparation. And if you don’t happen to find those around you that you can truly bond with and develop deep, meaningful connections during those few years, that’s okay, too.

Related: (Still) Making Friends In College

Yes, the thought of having the Blair to your Serena is nice, but graduating with yourself as your sole focus is just as beneficial and satisfying for your own health, growth and happiness. Concentrate on appreciating and taking care of yourself and your self-esteem. You are young and just starting out in your life, so there are countless more years ahead of you to find your true best friends! After all, the best things in life are worth waiting for. 

On Wednesday, Democrat Doug Jones was sworn in as Alabama’s senator, taking over Attorney General Jeff Sessions' seat and making him the first Democrat to serve as senator in Alabama in 25 years. Vice President Pence swore him in while former Vice President Biden looked on.

Last month, Jones defeated former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore after Moore faced multiple accusations of child molestation and sexual abuse. The campaign was extremely controversial, as President Trump endorsed Moore despite the assault allegations.

Jones, on the other hand, is known for prosecuting several Ku Klux Klan members in 1963 for bombing a church and killing four African American girls.

Notably, Jones hired Dana Gresham as his Chief of Staff, making him the only senate Democrat to have an African American Chief of Staff. According to Politico, having a diverse staff is one of Jones’ top priorities.

On Wednesday, Jones told NBC News, “I’m hoping to be a good senator. I don’t think that’s a partisan issue. I think any good senator is a bipartisan, and that’s what I’m looking to do.”

The arrival of Jones balances out the partisanship of the Senate, meaning that it will be more difficult for Republicans to pass legislation.

With the exciting release of Coachella's lineup, it's clear the music festival is going to attract a large crowd eager to hear big artists such as Eminem, Beyoncé, Post Malone, The Weeknd, HAIM and Cardi B. This diverse selection of artists has earned a lot of praise. However, many others are less than excited about the lineup, including Louis Tomlinson, who vocalized his disappointment on Twitter.

Louis may be angry because Coachella used to be a more traditional music festival featuring emerging indie rock bands, but the heavier genres such as rock, punk and metal have slowly been replaced with mainstream pop artists over the years. Last year, Consequence of Sound published a critique of the festival. Writer Collin Brennan detailed an incident at Coachella 2016 when DJ Calvin Harris stole the crowd from metal band Deafheaven, who performed at the same time. Brennan blamed this on the imbalance of mainstream artists to smaller indie bands.

Because of this battle between indie artists and the mainstream, the replies to Louis' tweet were all over the place. Some agreed with Louis like music artist Kendall Schmidt.

However, others poked fun at Louis. Multiple tweets called for One Direction to take the stage at Coachella:

Others were harsh subtweets, implying that One Direction used to be a band, but they broke up and now Louis is a solo artist himself.

And lastly, Portugal. the Man — a band playing at Coachella — replied to Louis, heightening the tension between music artists. 

YIKES. It's clear Louis hit some nerves.

Whether you’re excited about the Coachella lineup, or have some hard feelings like Louis, it's clear it's going to be one of the most talked about music festivals of the year. Let us know what you think in the comments!

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On Tuesday, President Trump took to Twitter to threaten North Korea with nuclear war, stating that he has a “bigger and more powerful nuclear button” than Kim Jong Un. Ten years ago, this scenario would have sounded like something from a dystopian novel, but now it’s just our reality. This isn’t the first time Trump has used Twitter to threaten North Korea. In September, he tweeted that if the thoughts of the Foreign Minister of North Korea are similar to those of “Little Rocket Man”, then North Korea “won’t be around much longer.”

Obviously, it’s really freaking scary that our president is increasing tensions between our country and North Korea on such a public platform. Some Twitter users have taken these concerns to Twitter support by reporting Trump’s tweet for “inciting violence by threatening harm to others.” This makes sense, doesn’t it? If Twitter can suspend Rose McGowan for telling Ben Affleck to “fuck off,” then why hasn’t it suspended Trump for literally threatening nuclear war?

However, when one individual said told Her Campus she reported Trump’s tweet, she got an automated response saying, “We have reviewed your report carefully and found that there was no violation of the Twitter Rules against abusive behavior.” It said to remember that “some Tweets may seem to be abusive when viewed in isolation, but may not be when viewed in the context of a larger conversation. While we accept reports of violations from anyone, sometimes we also need to hear directly from the target to ensure that we have proper context.”

Valid, but it seems to me that when you view Trump’s tweet in the context of the current political climate, it gets worse, not better.

Before trying to understand Twitter’s reasoning, let’s first look at their terms of service. Twitter states that you “may not make specific threats of violence or wish for the serious physical harm, death, or disease of an individual or group of people.” It also states that “you may not make specific threats of violence or wish for the serious harm, death or disease of an individual or group of people. This includes, but is not limited to, threatening or promoting terrorism.” That sounds exactly what Trump is doing, doesn’t it?

While there is a no-tolerance policy for violent threats, “glorifying violence” is allowed under circumstances like “acts of war, military attacks, and state-sanctioned executions”. (Of course, if Trump were to “press his nuclear button” to attack North Korea, it wouldn’t technically be an act of war unless he had the approval of Congress, but that’s a different conversation for a different time.) Basically, Twitter’s official rules are vague enough that we can sort of see how it can get away with not suspending Trump.

However, according to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, there is another clause that influences Twitter’s decision not to suspend Trump: “If an account were to publicly attack or harass a private citizen, we would take action. We do have a clause in our terms of service that we unfortunately did not have publicly stated…around newsworthiness and public interest.”

Basically, because Trump’s threatening tweets are deemed “newsworthy,” they were left up to become a public record of the news. If “newsworthy” sounds like subjective criterium to you, though, you’re not alone. Even Dorsey stated, “This is a subjective evaluation by us,” he said. “And we work very hard to make sure we are listening to voices, specifically the journalists on our platform to determine newsworthiness…. In some cases we’re going to get it wrong.”

Terms of service aside, Twitter has one major reason not to suspend Trump that Dorsey didn’t mention: According to Fortune, Twitter would lose as much as $2 billion in market value if Trump stopped tweeting.

They may all air on the same night, but beside being part of ABC's epic TGIT lineup, Shonda Rhimes' TV shows have rarely overlapped. New episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder don't return until Jan. 18, but Rhimes has already given us an incredible reason to get excited about the second half of two of these shows' seasons. The TV mogul confirmed on Wednesday that this year will introduce a crossover episode of Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder. I'm ready to purchase the biggest wine glass ever to prepare for this milestone.

Entertainment Weekly reports that Rhimes, who created Scandal and produces HTGAWM, took to social media to share the big news. Tweeting a photo of a script showing Scandal's Olivia Pope and HTGAWM's Annalise Keating interact for the first time, Rhimes wrote in a caption, "People. It's happening." 

Based on the wordy sneak peek at the episode, we can definitely expect an iconic reveal of Viola Davis's Annalise meeting Kerry Washington's Olivia. While we have no further clues about the episode's plot, the two leading ladies teased at just how "crossed" the shows' worlds may be. Washington posted a photo of herself in a courthouse, which is typically Annalise's stomping ground, while Davis shared a pic of herself enjoying Scandal's White House set. 

Of course, Shondaland fans are thrilled about the monumental announcement. Speaking as part of the generation raised on Disney Channel crossovers, I believe that your favorite characters encountering each other is not something to take lightly. 

Then there are the viewers just hoping for Meredith Grey to sneak in there somehow. 

The special episode isn't expected to air until March, but you can bet that I'll be over here coming up with potential storylines until then. 

Women kicked off 2018 with a major win when Hoda Kotb was officially announced as Matt Lauer's replacement on Today, thus creating the show's first all-female co-anchor team alongside Savannah Guthrie. However, Kotb has confirmed that neither she nor Guthrie will receive salaries as high as Lauer's former paycheck, which was rumored to be the highest for any current TV anchor. I'm all for rewarding seniority and spending time in a position before getting the big check, but why is wage disparity still such a valid concern? 

"The answer is no — that's not happening," Kotb said in an interview with PEOPLE of her salary matching Lauer's. "I know it sounds ridiculous that I'm going to say this, but I really have done jobs I liked for the job...because I never wanted to be happy every other Friday on pay day. Like, I didn't want that to be the happy day. I wanted to feel good throughout. So no, I'm not making Matt Lauer money. Not even close."

While Kotb's mindset is definitely inspirational and worth remembering when you're on the job hunt, the concept of being paid less than a man in the same job is noteworthy. For the time being, Kotb is pulling double duty at NBC's Today. In addition to co-hosting the 7 and 8 a.m. hours of the show, she will still appear alongside Kathie Lee Gifford in the duo's popular 10 a.m. show. Cosmopolitan reports that sources tell Page Six that Kotb and Guthrie, who has co-anchored since 2012, are both paid $7 million a year for their responsibilities. Lauer, who had hosted Today since 1997 and worked with NBC for several years prior, was reportedly receiving $20 to $25 million a year. 

A NBC insider told Page Six, "Hoda isn't complaining about the money. She has landed the big job she always dreamed of, and most definitely deserves. Plus, Matt's salary reflected the long time he was on the show...if things go well, Hoda could ask for more next time if she re-ups her contract. But the figures underline the huge wage disparity at NBC News."

Linking Lauer's huge paycheck to his long tenure with the show doesn't exactly hold up when Kotb and Guthrie's salaries are compared to new NBC addition Megyn Kelly. Having joined the network this past fall to host Today's 9 a.m. hour, Kelly reportedly has a $20 million deal for this singular responsibility, and audiences haven't exactly warmed up to her since her hour launched.

Ultimately, Kotb's new salary being about a third less than Lauer's highlights the constant issue of unequal pay in the workplace. Throw in the fact that Lauer was dismissed for sexual misconduct and Kotb played it cool on air alongside Guthrie when the news broke, and the whole scenario stirs up a bit of uneasiness.

However, as Variety points out, TV anchors rarely make the same as their predecessors, and the question that people should ask about Kotb is whether her pay is fair overall. We're not all network executives, but trying to find that balance between general fairness and gender equality seems to be difficult. 

A building on the property of Bill and Hillary Clinton's New York home caught on fire Wednesday afternoon, NBC News reports. According to NBC New York, the fire broke out in a detached garage behind the couple's Chappaqua home around 2:40 p.m. and was extinguished by 3:15 p.m. 

Flames began in the garage's second floor and spread to the attic. In response to reports suggesting that the fire was very threatening, Hillary Clinton's communication director Nick Merrill shared that the garage is used as a Secret Service facility and that the "small' fire occurred when the Clintons were away. 

Secret Service spokeswoman Cathy Miloun told NBC New York that a Secret Service employee called the local fire department. Others on the property turned to fire extinguishers to weaken the fire before firefighters arrived. The fire didn't cause any visible damage, and the cause of flames was unknown as of Wednesday night. 

The Clintons bought the property's main home in 1999 and later purchased the building next door in 2016. The area affected by the fire is said to be an old barn where former President Bill Clinton wrote one of his books. 

I'm glad that this fire didn't harm anyone and that it was relatively contained! 

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

Some Parts of the Northeast Will Be Colder Than Mars Today Thanks to a Winter Storm

The Northeast is expecting a massive winter storm known as a "bombogenesis," or a source of rapidly declining low pressure, that will cause temperatures colder than on Mars in certain areas. CNN reports that Winter Storm Grayson is expected to bring gusty winds and heavy snow to the Northeast, specifically delivering six to 12 inches of snow in New England. After the snow hit Southern states earlier this week, temperatures in New England may plummet to minus 35 degrees, while a recent temperature on Mars registered to about minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Paul Manafort Sues Justice Department to Fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller

BuzzFeed News reports that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort filed a lawsuit on Tuesday asking for the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller to be declared invalid. The lawsuit also asked for an end to Mueller's investigation on Manafort and for authorities to set aside "all actions taken against Mr. Manafort pursuant to the Appointment Order."

Manafort has declared that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein gave Mueller too much power when allowing him to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Manafort's lawyers wrote, "The Appointment Order purports to grant authority to the Special Counsel to expand the scope of his investigation to new matters without the consent of — indeed, without even consulting — any politically accountable officer of the United States."

Magnum Is Introducing Four New Ice Cream Flavors​

Magnum ice cream bars are one of my guilty pleasures, and now I can feel a little less guilty about indulging in a four-bar box of them. The brand will launch four ice cream flavors in pints in mid-January, and, yes, each flavor will have include the famous Belgian chocolate shell both lining the carton and appearing on top of the ice cream.

The new flavors are quite decadent, so these are definitely special treats. Look out for Magnum's Milk Chocolate Hazelnut, Dark Chocolate Raspberry, White Chocolate Vanilla and Milk Chocolate Vanilla in U.S. stores next week. 

What to look out for...

If you're in one of those lucky areas celebrating a snow day today, spend your time indoors honoring National Trivia Day. Break out Trivial Pursuit or everyone's new addiction HQ Trivia, and enjoy the snowy day off with your family or friends! 

President Donald Trump’s infamous Twitter page is something we all were hoping would be left behind in 2017. But that was not the case for the new year.

On Tuesday, President Trump tweeted in response to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s statement that North Korea has a “nuclear button” that could strike the United States, according to the Associated Press. Taking to his favorite social media platform, the President raised many eyebrows with his boastful tweet: “North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.’ Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”

The President’s tweet ignited a significant response from people on Twitter and other social media platforms, according to The New York Times. From celebrities to everyday citizens, many were quick to notice the danger of the President tweeting such posturing statements.

Berkeley professor Robert Reich was one of the countless people to notice how the President’s Twitter page could spark threats of nuclear war in a matter of minutes: "This madman is still the single most powerful person on the planet, with the ability to order the destruction of the world in just over four minutes."

One issue with President Trump’s tweet is his claim that he possess a “nuclear button”, which he actually doesn’t have. William Safire told The New York Times columnist Richard Goldman that the term “nuclear button” can trace its origins back to the World War II era, from the phrase “finger on the button”. This phrase was used to refer to the panic buttons used in WWII bomber planes, which pilots would press to signal to crew members to evacuate the plane, Safire told Goldman. Trump’s nuclear button is not an actual, physical thing.

The President’s tweet is yet another one of his many empty statements. However, this time the empty claim is about nuclear war, which is very serious and not something to joke about. If this tweet is merely President Trump’s way of bragging about his power and the measures he will take to assert that power, he is putting the American people — and the rest of the world — at risk of nuclear war to satisfy his own ego.