Remember the good old days when Valentine’s Day was all about bringing candy to your elementary school classroom and exchanging Disney Princess-themed cards? There was no pressure, no stress, and no expectations—just a sugar rush that rivaled the one you had on Halloween. But fast-forward ten years and (if you’re a single collegiette) the holiday becomes a dreaded day of self-pitying, eating chocolate that your imaginary boyfriend bought you, and glaring at that couple holding hands. Lucky for you, it doesn't have to be that way this year. If the only spooning you’ll be doing this Valentine’s Day is into a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, read on to find out how to spend the holiday of love solo—and enjoy it!

Pamper yourself

Who says you need a king to make you feel like a queen? Follow in the footsteps of Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation and Treat Yo Self by primping and indulging in all your guilty pleasures. Get a manicure. Make a DIY facemask and listen to your favorite Pandora station while it sinks in. Moisturize away all the damage that winter has done to your skin. Deep condition your hair. Finally take the time to shave your legs—especially if you can’t even remember the last time you did (…uh, summer?). Get that Frappuccino at Starbucks that you usually pass on.  Do whatever you want to do because this Valentine’s Day you can have your cake and eat it too—and go back for another slice.

Have a movie marathon. . . 

...But ditch all the classic Rom-coms that will remind you that you’re Forever Alone. Instead, opt for comedies. Invite over your other single friends, make some popcorn, sit back and relax, and laugh until your stomach hurts (or maybe that’s from all the chocolate…whoops). There’s nothing wrong with re-watching a movie you’ve seen a hundred times, like Mean Girls, Superbad, Bridesmaids, or Wedding Crashers (or maybe re-watch The 40-Year-Old Virgin to remind yourself that things could be worse). Looking for something more recent that you never got around to seeing in theatres? Try Boyhood or The Skeleton Twins. Don’t have enough time for a movie marathon or even just one movie? Watch an episode of your favorite TV show!

Host a potluck dinner

While your wifed-up friends are having candlelit dinners with their significant others, you can host a delicious potluck dinner. Whether you live in an apartment, house, or dorm room, invite friends over for a potluck dinner. Designate different people to bring an appetizer, main dish, dessert, or drinks. If your crew is lacking cooking skills or kitchen access, check out this list of meals you can make in the microwave for easy, convenient ideas. Or, snag food from the dining hall or different restaurants on campus and pretend you made it. Bon appétit!

Read up

When was the last time you’ve read? Not a textbook, or an article for class, or your Facebook newsfeed, but a book you actually want to read. Reading for pleasure is hard to fit into a busy schedule, but it can be so relaxing—and it can take your mind off of the roses and teddy bears and candy hearts invading your day. Deena*, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, renewed her love of reading over winter break with Gone Girl, a recently published novel by Gillian Flynn. “I could not put it down. I highly recommend it,” she says. Whether it’s a new bestseller, a Chelsea Handler book, a raunchy Fifty Shades Of Grey-esque story or even a magazine, pick up something to read. Even if it’s just for the 20 minutes you would be spending scrolling through Instagram, it’ll make you feel better. 

Indulge in some retail therapy

You don't even have to buy anything; window-shopping or online browsing is therapy too. Spring is right around the corner, so get a head start on planning how you want to update your wardrobe. Check out this article on the timeless rules of style for ideas! 

Work it out

Just because you’re single doesn't mean you shouldn't get any action on Valentine’s Day… in the gym, that is. “Exercising is a great way to blow off steam, clear your mind, and feel good about yourself,” says Cate*, a sophomore at the University of Michigan. “If I’m ever in a bad mood or stressed, I go on a run and always feel better after.” Try something fun you’ve never done before, like Zumba. Don’t feel like trekking to the gym? You can work out in your room. And if you equate exercise with torture or are just feeling super sluggish, something low-impact and relaxing like yoga can do the trick.

Do something nice for someone 

The holiday is all about celebrating love, so you might as well use it as an opportunity to show the people in your life that you care about them. Even if it’s something small, like calling your Grandma who you haven’t talked to in weeks, or treating your friend to fro-yo, you’ll feel good about it and so will they—it’s a win-win! You could even find a volunteering or community service event on campus that day and get a group of friends together to go help out. 

Have a girls’ night out

Nice restaurant, frat party, your favorite bar, concert, dance club, student-produced play—your options are endless. However you and your friends like to have fun, make the most of Valentine’s Night by dressing up and going out. Try a new place you’ve been meaning to go to, or look online to find out if anything exciting is going on around campus or in the area. You may even get some free drinks out of it; single guys get lonely on this holiday too! Wherever you go, make sure to make a reservation in advance if possible!

In the words of Sam Adams (the rapper, not the beer), “Single doesn't mean I’m looking for somebody.” College isn’t about getting an MRS. degree. You have your whole life to find love—take the time you have now to discover yourself, have new experiences, grow and be independent, and make amazing friends. Recognizing all the reasons you love flying solo will remind you that it’s nothing to mope about.

However you choose to celebrate, make this Valentine’s Day a good one. When you think about how great being single in college really is, you’ll be digging into that Ben & Jerry’s in celebration, not self-pity.

*Name has been changed

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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 Says He Wants to Talk to Robert Mueller Under Oath

CNN reports that President Donald Trump told members of the press that he would agree to talk to special counsel Robert Mueller under oath. Speaking to journalists who were attending a briefing with Chief of Staff John Kelly, Trump said of meeting with Mueller, "I am looking forward to it, actually. Here is the story: There has been no collusion whatsoever. There is no obstruction whatsoever. And I am looking forward to it." 

White House lawyer Ty Cobb has said that a specific time and date for a meeting between Mueller and Trump is still being arranged. 

Bumble Kicks Off a Pro-Trump Activist Who Denies He Ever Used the App

Bumble banned pro-Trump activist Jack Posobiec for violating the dating app's "values", BuzzFeed News say. After a woman tweeted screenshots of Posobiec's account and called him a "white nationalist," Bumble responded to her message by saying that Posobiec's account had been removed. "Bumble was founded on the core values of kindness, respect, integrity and equality, and we do not tolerate anyone who does not uphold these values on our platform," the app said on its official Twitter account said. 

Posobiec, a known conservative media personality, was married in November 2017 and claims that he has never had a Bumble account, despite the company's confirmation that his account was linked to Posobiec's real Facebook. Posobiec later announced that he was working with the FBI on a case of "fraudulent accounts" using his identity online. 

Japan's Starbucks Has a Millennial Pink Latte

No matter where you go in the world, the consistency of a Starbucks menu is pretty constant. But, depending on location, each country has its own coffee quirks, and Japan is the latest place to introduce a unique kind of drink. Japanese Starbucks locations now offer a Pink Medley Tea Latte, which is made with steamed milk, foam, and a tea blend called Joyful Medley consisting of jasmine tea and several fruit flavors. Time to plan a trip to Japan! 

What to look out for...

Happy Opposite Day! If you have little kids in your life, you might go a little crazy today when they figure out they can get away with teasing you with opposite statements. In honor of breaking from routine, maybe you can plan to have breakfast for dinner! 

Oprah Winfrey's powerful acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille award at the 75th Golden Globes earlier this month sparked a social media frenzy and forced everyone to speculate whether she was running for President in 2020.

But despite Gayle King — Oprah's longtime BFF — saying Oprah was "intrigued" by the idea of running, it's quickly become clear that's not the case.

In an interview with InStyle for the March cover, Oprah said she doesn't think she has what it takes to run the country.

"I've always felt very secure and confident with myself in knowing what I could do and what I could not. And so it's not something that interests me," she said. "I don't have the DNA for it."

Well, my hopes are crushed. How 'bout yours?

Just two days after Jake Paul, Logan Paul's brother, took to YouTube to address the controversy surrounding his brother, Logan has returned to vlogging himself.

Logan took a break from YouTube following the outrage from his controversial video filmed in the Japanese forest Aokigahara, more commonly known as the “Suicide Forest," which showed a person who allegedly hanged himself.

In the new video, titled "Suicide: Be Here Tomorrow," Logan pledged to donate $1 million to suicide prevention causes.

“I’m pledging to donate $1 million to various suicide prevention organizations with the first $250,000 going immediately to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline so they can increase their capacity to help those in need,” Logan said. 

He also addressed the situation and discussed how he's moving forward. 

“I know I’ve made mistakes. I know I’ve let people down. But what happens when you’re given an opportunity to help make a difference in the world?” Logan said. “It’s time to learn from the past as I get better and grow as a human being. I’m here to have a hard conversation as those who are suffering can have easier ones. ”

In the video, Logan interviews Kevin Hines, an advocate and suicide attempt survivor; Bob Forrest, founder of the addiction treatment center Alo House Recovery Centers; and John Draper, the director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

Logan said that both he and society need to learn to be more compassionate. 

“It’s time to start a new chapter in my life as I continue to educate myself and others on suicide,” he said. “I’m humbled and thankful to say, this is just the beginning.”

In less than 24 hours, the video has more than 10 million views. 

Twitter had mixed reactions to the apology. Some praised Logan and the video:

Others brushed the whole thing off as a PR stunt.

Jimmy Wong, actor and musician, was one person in particular that was not pleased with Logan.

It'll be interesting to see what Logan does in the future, and whether or not he's learned anything from this entire situation.

Vanity Fair unveiled its annual Hollywood issue on Tuesday, with stars like Oprah Winfrey, Gal Gadot, Michael B. Jordan, Tom Hanks, Zendaya and more on the cover. 

Reese Witherspoon is also pictured; although, there appears to be more of her than usual — three legs, to be exact. 

It didn't take long for the "This is a case for the FBI" GIFs to come out. Twitter users immediately noticed something was up.

Could it be something Reese is sitting on? The inside of her dress? A Photoshop error? I'm not sure, but Twitter is refusing to give up.

One user even attempted to recreate the pose.

If people continue to talk about this, it could become bigger than the dress situation. Stay tuned.

Beyond academics, another anxiety-inducing aspect of the college experience is attempting to secure a full-time job offer by graduation. For many students, especially those feeling the financial burdens of higher education, a job offer can seem like a ticket towards stability.

You don’t want to wait until the spring of your senior year to begin the daunting process of job hunting. Set yourself up for success by taking impactful, strategic steps towards this goal during your junior year. While you can’t necessarily apply for most entry-level jobs a year in advance, here are a few tips to put you in the right direction:

1. Find a mentor

At this point in your college career, you’ve likely declared a major and have some sense of your larger career goals. By finding a mentor (or multiple!) to guide you through your remaining time in school, you will set yourself up to land a coveted job at the finish line. 

Mentors can come in many shapes and forms, but are typically older in age and have the experience and advice that you’re seeking out.

One type of mentor can be your college advisor, or a counselor at your school’s career center. These professionals are trained to help map out the remainder of your college experience and put you in the right direction professionally, so use them wisely and schedule time with them throughout the year.

Professors are another great option – they can do more for you than just provide your grade! Don’t forget that many of them have years of experience in their field, and may still be working part time. Not only can they give advice on their industry of practice, but also they will likely have connections to help you network as you set your sights on a job offer.

Lastly, your school’s alumni base can be the most enthusiastic pool of potential mentors you’ll find. Through LinkedIn, you can look up alumni from your school, where they work, and at what companies – then message one of them to have a few minutes of their time to grab coffee and pick their brain. Some alumni will jump at the opportunity to advise current students on the trends in their industries. You may also have had alumni as coworkers in past part-time jobs or internships, so make sure that you keep those contacts handy.

Meghan Kilkenny, a senior marketing major at Rockhurst University, believes that junior year is the time to start not just finding, but developing a mentor. She says to talk to anyone, "even if it is your mom's friend who works in the industry you want to be in, take her out to coffee and network." You should develop connections as soon as possible.

Related: A Year-by-Year Guide to Getting a Job After Graduation

2. Secure an internship the summer before senior year

At this point, whether you have a couple of internships under your belt or you have yet to score your first one, the summer going into your final year of college is the best possible time to intern. Many larger companies that offer internships prefer to hire juniors and seniors, plus the summer will allow you to devote the time you need to put your all into the job.

In addition to locating companies’ job boards, Intern Queen and WayUp are great tools to scope out options in your city.

While an internship is an obviously perfect resume booster, it can also allow you to network within that company and build relationships that you will need as you transition into post-grad life. Additionally, if you prove yourself to your supervisor and are a stellar intern, your boss could serve as a reference, offer you a full-time position to join them again the following year or know of a different team to which he or she can recommend you.

Alaina Leary, a book publishing professional finishing her master's at Emerson College, understands the value of an internship in setting yourself up for future opportunities. She says, "One of my earliest college internships led to part-time employment throughout college and beyond, and a lifelong connection with my supervisor! While not internship will lead directly to a full time offer, many can lead to networking opportunities and valuable resume boosters."

Related: 6 Steps to Get Ahead on Job & Internship Applications Right Now 

3. Build your professional brand

Though your brand is something you gradually build upon throughout your four years in college and beyond, junior year is a great time to really shape your professional identity in the eyes of hiring managers.

One way to build your brand is through your presence online. You’ll want to make sure that whenever a recruiter Googles you, the results are not only clean, but also relevant and don’t make you difficult to find. Try making at least one of your social channels public, such as Twitter, and use it to retweet and comment on stories in your industry of choice.

You can also use this time to build your own website to display your portfolio of work and/or highlight your school and professional achievements. If you’re a writer or journalist, a blog is a great opportunity to share your thoughts with the world. Regardless of your industry of choice, a website can allow you to display your resume, emphasize your achievements in school and share your career goals.

You also want to make sure that the information you share directly with recruiters reflects who you are. Make sure that your resume is up to date, uses an organized template and helps you to stand out. You can also take advantage of other items, such as business cards, that aren’t as commonly used among college students. Once armed with these tools, spend your junior year attending on-campus career fairs to network and display your brand to others.

4. Take a career prep course or workshop

Without sufficient work experience, it can be difficult to understand what cliques with recruiters and what doesn't when it comes to the hiring process. Take advantage of all that your school has to offer when it comes to educating yourself on how to nail a job.

In some cases, your school might offer a course for credit within a business or communication department, which at some schools are open to students of different majors. What is more common is a series of boot camps that your career center might offer, focusing on anything from editing your resume and cover letter to how to network. All of the information absorbed from these sessions as early as junior year will only help you grow and empower you to take on the job hunt.

Leary took advantage of a career prep course offered for her major during her junior year. She says, "In our class, we started applying for jobs even though we weren't nearing graduation, and we also participated in professional development experiences, learned networking, and went to the career center to edit resumes and practice interviewing. It got me in the habit of looking for a job (and preparing for the process) early, which was fantastic."

It’s never too early to start planning for the real world. By taking advantage of the opportunities at your disposal as soon as junior year, you will set yourself up to land a job before graduation and eliminate some of the stress that comes with the job-hunting process.

Who needs a significant other when you have your best friends? And there’s no better way to bond than by getting matching tats, because ~relationships come and go but friendships are forever~. That may be the cheesiest friend quote ever, but hey, it’s true! Your gal pals will be there for you through thick and thin, so celebrate your friendship this Galentine’s Day with these adorable tattoos.

1. Because your bestie will always be your true love

Bite Beauty, who you might know the creators of the maple-infused lip mask (which pairs well with an unhealthy amount of waffles), just launched a zodiac sign-inspired lipstick collection. The only catch is that it’s a ~limited edition~ collect, according to Hello Giggles—which means you’ll have to stock up accordingly.

While the brand has created a shade fit for the most fashion-forward Aquarius, some zodiac signs have to wait a while before they can even swatch these velvety lip products. Though Bite Beauty’s Aquarius hue is already sold out (we’re hoping there will be a restock soon), Bustle explains that the brand will debut the rest of the astrology lippies on their respective months. After all, it would be blasphemy to purchase an astrology-backed product, not on the birth month of your zodiac sign.

Regardless, now we have more time to justify to our wallets why we spent $26 on a lipstick when we already have dozens that we never wear. Sorry, budget, we’re not sorry.

Until the rest of the collection is inaugurated on Sephora’s shelves, we’ll just keep refreshing the store’s website. You know, so we can get the Aquarius shade for our Aquarius roommate, definitely not so we can wear it ourselves and pretend we’re an Aquarius—we aren’t heathens.

Header Image: Bite Beauty / Instagram

Want more beauty inspo? Follow @HerCampusBeauty on Facebook, and tune into @HerCampus on Instagram for endless beauty stories! 

This article has been syndicated from Diary of a Debutante, an InfluenceHer Collective Member. Read the full post here.

As a self-employed blogger with a home office of my own, one of the most helpful tips for working from home (and actually being productive) I’ve ever received is to get dressed every morning. Yes, every single morning. As comfy as they are, yoga pants and old sweatshirts don’t exactly put me in the right go-getter mindset. Since dressing down can be of the biggest upsides to working remotely, I decided to put together some tips for what to wear when you work from home that’ll keep both your dignity and the perks of your flexible position in tact. 

1. Business up top.

If you’re going to dress down, always keep it business casual up top. For example, my go-to outfit consists of a dressier top/jacket and comfy bottoms. The reasoning? If I need to jump on Skype or Facetime, I won’t be mortified. It also won’t send the wrong message to my team or coworkers. I mean, looking like I just rolled out of bed (and may or may not be watching TV and eating ice cream) isn’t the impression I want them to have.

This pink tailored blazer outfit is a classic example of what to wear when you work from home. It’s comfy and casual yet still dressy enough to work if you have to run to an emergency meeting or hop on a video call. It also has bow tie cuffs and costs less than $50. Click here to shop!

2. Party down below.

Although looking the part is still important as a visual reminder of your professionalism, a laid back dress code is one of the main reasons working from home is so ideal. While I recommend following the “business on top” guideline, I also recommend the “party down below” mentality. As long as your hair is done and you have your video calls covered, wear the comfiest pants you own. I literally live in these AG skinny ankle jeans. They’re amazingly comfy and have just the right amount of stretch. Whether you’re in jeans, leggings, culottes or yoga pants, you’ll still look and feel put together.

Also, cozy slippers go a long way. One of my greatest every day pleasures is the ability to wear slippers ALL DAY LONG. If you do end up needing to run out, you can quickly (and painlessly) throw on a nicer pair of shoes, like these peep toe mules.  

3. Invest in the basics.

One of the best things about working remotely is that you can repeat outfits as frequently as you like. Literally no one will notice. For this reason, invest in comfy basics, like blazers and chunky knit sweaters, that’ll last you a lifetime and that can be worn for other occasions, as well. If you’re not sure what to wear with a blazer, the answer is virtually anything– from a delicate cami (like this one) to a graphic t-shirt to a chunky sweater. Blazers can transform a borderline dumpy or ill-fitting look into a stylish business casual ensemble instantly. For example, I love this white chiffon cami. However, it’s a tad bit big, and it’s way too deep of a v-neck for work. I pinned the back straps with a safety pin to pull the top up a bit, and the blazer pulls it all together nicely (and hides the safety pin, too). 

Also, if you live somewhere with a particularly cold winter, it’s important to have the right coat to throw on in case you have to run out without warning. A classic camel coat is the perfect solution! Especially if you’re having a super cozy pajama day, you want to make sure the coat hides all the pink hearts and puppy dog patterns. Trust me, it’s a lot more embarrassing than it sounds to be seen as a candidate for People of Walmart.

Read the full post here.

This article has been syndicated from Honeybee Joyous, an InfluenceHer Collective Member. Read the full post here.

Choosing a major is one of the most significant decisions you can make in college. It influences a large number of the classes you take and sometimes can even impact your career post-graduation. Because it’s such a big decision, I knew I wanted to write a post about it. However, I only have so much experience with it and I really can’t speak for a lot of majors. I decided to get around the narrow field of my experience by doing what I always do when I need help — asking my friends. I’m lucky enough to have friends with a huge variety of interests and experiences and some of them were willing to share with you all!

I figured I’d start off with myself. I’m a senior double majoring in English and Gender, Sexuality, Women’s Studies (GSWS). I’m also enrolled in the fifth year master’s program at my school of education, so next year I’ll be getting my M.A.Ed. in Elementary Education.

What led you to select your major? What factors did you consider?

I loved English in high school, so I just naturally gravitated toward English classes and the English major. As for my GSWS major, I took the intro to gender, sexuality, women’s studies class my freshman year and loved it. And then I realized that tons of classes I was interested in taking were cross-listed with GSWS, so that major was just a no-brainer. As for elementary education, that was a kind of epiphany I had over the summer. I’ve always loved working with kids and after doing a good bit of substitute teaching, I realized that I wanted to teach elementary school.

Was picking a major easy for you? Why or why not?

Yes and no. My undergraduate majors kind of fell into place for me, but not because it was an easy, conscious choice. It was more like one thing led to another and I suddenly found two majors in my lap. My elementary education master’s, however, was a much more difficult choice because it’s something I put a lot of thought into. Deciding whether or not to go to grad school deserves its own post because it’s a truly huge decision, but for me, after weighing all the factors I decided it was the right choice for me.

Do you think “practicality” is an important thing to consider when picking a major? Why or why not?

I think the most important thing is to major in something you’re interested in. If you’re studying something you hate, you probably won’t do very well in your classes and you’ll have a hard time getting yourself motivated. That being said, I know that not everybody is able to major in something where the post-grad career path isn’t so clear. It’s a privilege to be able to double major in English and GSWS. Even before I decided to get my master’s (which made my career path a little clearer), I knew that I could afford to do things like unpaid internships. Not everybody has that option and I totally understand that not everyone can afford to “do what they love.”

What’s your favorite thing about your major?

For English, I love to read so that’s obvious. I also love the wide variety of classes offered in the department so I can learn from the experiences of many different professors with many different areas of expertise. For GSWS, I love that I get to (have to, actually) take classes in all sorts of different departments. And for Education, I love that it’s setting me up for what has become my dream job!

If you could go back and do it all again, what would you have done differently (if anything)?

I wouldn’t have dove into my major so quickly. I love both of my undergrad majors, but I’m not sure English was actually the best choice for me. I wish I would have taken more classes in more departments my freshman year. There are tons of departments (like Sociology or American Studies) that I have only found out about after I was already too deep into English that it wouldn’t have been worth it to switch. Yeah, so if I was doing it all over, I would have spent more time exploring.

What advice would you offer somebody who’s worried about picking a major?

Take classes you’re interested in and your major will follow. For a large number of careers, your major doesn’t actually matter, so just do your best to study what you’re interested in!

Sarah is a senior and she is the executive editor on The Flat Hat. She is super cool and designed her own major in science communication (partially out of spite).

What led you to select your major? What factors did you consider?

The way majors work at this school is really archaic in my opinion. They go to a lot of trouble to talk about interdisciplinary majors as this big new thing, when in reality there are very few majors that draw only from a single discipline (ex. Classics, Government, any of the languages, Art History). Because of this way of thinking about things, Environmental Science is considered a “secondary major” which is just BS (not bachelor of science, the other abbreviation) and students who want to study environmental science must double major. Because of this and some limitations (the amount of credits I already had and classes only being offered on occasional semesters) I decided to create my own major. Also I frankly wasn’t interested enough to do any kind of capstone experience in any one thing that the college offered, so designing my own major was pretty much the only option.

Was picking a major easy for you? Why or why not?

Picking a major was excruciating. I had turned down Northwestern’s journalism school but was still pretty sure I wanted to do journalism after college. Unfortunately the college doesn’t offer journalism or communications as an option here (*cough cough* archaic *cough*) so I was trying to find an area of study that I was interested enough in. I was hoping to be able to specialize in something that could inform my writing later but, after environmental science, there wasn’t much else left to choose from and trying to double major was becoming a huge area of stress for me (I was taking 16-17 credits each semester). Eventually there was a point where I just said “screw this, I’ll major in what I want,” and I combined a bunch of classes from Environmental Science, Film Studies, Creative Writing, Biology, etc. to create my major.

Do you think “practicality” is an important thing to consider when picking a major? Why or why not?

Practicality in terms of “will I be able to make money on this?” Absolutely not. I have done so many things that make me attractive to the employers I want to work for, and only a few of those were related to my coursework. What matters is not that it says “Biology Major” on your diploma, but rather that you have all the important skills for the job you want on your resume. That being said, don’t major in Philosophy if you know you want to work in a Chem lab. Do what makes sense.

What’s your favorite thing about your major?

There are no classes that I don’t want to take. I take what I want to and change my major requirements if a certain class doesn’t work out.

If you could go back and do it all again, what would you have done differently (if anything)?

Take prereq classes for any major you think you might be interested in as soon as possible. you’ll avoid having to play catch up. I personally also would have given self designing a major more serious thought at the beginning.

What advice would you offer somebody who’s worried about picking a major?

“Picking” a major just means you turned in a form. You have some leeway to change your destiny after the fact so don’t let  “declaring a major” scare you too much. Also don’t lie to yourself about what you are interested in. Morning classes are already hard enough to wake up for. Its even harder when you don’t care about the class.

Read the full post here.

According to Deadline, Casey Affleck has "withdrawn" from presenting the Best Actress award to this year's winner at the Oscars. 

Affleck wasn't officially set to present the award, but the Academy typically has whoever won the previous year's Best Actor award — which, in this year's case, would indeed be Affleck — present the Oscar to the next year's Best Actress winner.

Affleck won the Best Actor Oscar last year for his performance in Manchester by the Sea. He won't even attend the show this year, according to PEOPLE.

Despite the film and Affleck himself receiving critical acclaim throughout last year's awards season, two sexual harassment lawsuits against him from 2010 resurfaced. Affleck denied the allegations and the suits have since been settled out of court. 

Some were already calling on the Academy to refuse Affleck as a presenter, including the women's advocacy organization UltraViolet. The group suggested having all-women presenters like this year's SAG Awards did. 

"This year especially, the Oscars need to step up and demonstrate their commitment to women in Hollywood – and one, urgent and important step they can take is to commit to only having women present the awards this year," said Karin Roland, Chief Campaigns Officer for UltraViolet. 

The Academy Awards are March 4. 

I’m sure everyone expects a single 21-year old to be bitter AF towards Valentine’s Day, and you wouldn’t be wrong. I’m a single 21-year old, and I’m all for the bitterness on Valentine’s Day. Maybe things would be different if I were in a relationship and had the opportunity to spend the day with my S.O. But *sigh* I’m single, and I simply don’t understand the purpose of Valentine’s Day. This isn’t a freshly discovered bitterness; I’ve been fueling my hate fire for the ~holiday of love~ since a young age, and it has stuck with me all this time.

It all started in second grade. We were exchanging cards and candy with our classmates on Valentine’s Day. I bought generic cards and lollipops for everyone––except my crush. For him, I crafted a Paper Source-worthy handmade card and attached a heart shaped piece of chocolate (I know, I was total girlfriend material). I spilled my heart out in this hand-written letter, confessing that I “liked” (like, like-liked) him. I was so incredibly confident that this card would win him over. Needless to say, it didn’t work…at all. In fact, he showed all of his friends the very personal card that I made for him and even gave the piece of chocolate to another girl! It was like The Bachelor, but for elementary schoolers. My 8-year-old heart was broken, and I haven’t been the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day ever since.

Every year, I continue to question this insignificant holiday. Why is there one specific day dedicated to showing off your #relationshipgoals and giving your S.O. the appreciation they deserve for putting up with you? Don’t people in relationships do that every day? Couples buy elaborate gifts for each other to celebrate the day, too. From giant teddy bears to diamond earrings, the amount of money spent on Valentine’s Day is mind-blowing. According to the National Retail Federation, the total spending for this insignificant holiday is expected to top $18.2 billion. That’s nearly $140 per person. And doesn’t it seem odd that part of Valentine’s Day is literally giving and receiving gifts to prove love for one another?

Also, I’m wholly unsatisfied with the portrayal of singles on Valentine’s Day. In pop culture, the single people eat their feelings on V-Day, stuffing their faces with Godiva chocolates that they have to buy for themselves because they have no lover to buy it for them. Apparently, Valentine’s Day is the day when the singles mope around, questioning why they haven’t found “The One”. Did it ever occur to anyone that single people might be happy about their relationship status on such a day?

I must admit, it would be nice to spend Valentine’s Day with a significant other. I’ve never been in a relationship, so if we’re be honest, spending any day with a significant other would be a dream. But all of the hearts, chocolates and roses surrounding Valentine’s Day can make a single person feel ashamed. It’s just a reminder of the loneliness they may feel and an glowering reminder of their lack of a romantic life. That doesn’t seem very fair to me.

Here's my suggestion: Valentine’s Day could instead be about love in general, not just romantic love. I’m tired of feeling ashamed of being single. I want to just continue living my life, treating the day like any other day. But again, society (and chocolate-producing corporations) perpetuate the modernized idea that V-Day has to be about romance. And it's impossible to ignore.

I’m all for continuing my bitterness towards this day, thank you very much. And yes, I’ll confess, I am incredibly jealous of people in relationships when February 14 rolls around each year. But honestly, I don’t have a problem buying myself a box of chocolates if no one else will buy them for me. And unlike people in relationships, I can eat the entire box by myself without sharing.

So, to my fellow single ladies spending this Valentine’s Day alone, treat yourself! You don’t need to spend a whopping $140 on a gift for your significant other. Instead, spend that money on a shopping spree or a spa day for yourself. Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be about the love for a significant other. Make the day about loving yourself, loving your BFFs, loving pizza, or whatever else your yearning heart so desires. But don’t stop being bitter––us single girls have the power to alter the societal view of Valentine’s Day. Even if one day, “The One” comes along and you spend the day buying gifts for your lover, enjoy this year’s holiday loving yourself.

The New York Times reports that the performer known as 'Grandma the Clown' has resigned from the Big Apple Circus after a former aerialist accused him of pressuring her into posing for pornographic pictures in 2004 when she was only 16 years old.

Barry Lubin, 64, played a grandmother character as part of his act in the circus. Zoey Dunne accused Lubin of taking pornographic images her as a teen in 2004 after he pressured to do so.

Lubin responded via his lawyer saying, “The allegations are true. What I did was wrong, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” according to the Times. 

Dunne claims that Lubin offered her a modeling opportunity that she saw as a “great mentorship opportunity,” while she was touring with a youth circus called Circus Smirkus. On two separate occasions, he instructed her to pose for lewd pictures, gave her $100 and told her not to tell other members of the circus. 

Dunne, now 29, said that she had come forward with the allegations in 2012, but the Timesreported that her superior at the time said there was little they could do. She came forward again when the circus announced that Lubin would return to his role as the grandmother clown. 

“I saw this ad that said ‘Grandma is back!’ and I almost threw up on the bus,” Dunne told the Times. Lubin claims he was never aware of the previous allegations made against him.

According to Inside Edition The Big Apple Circus's management (which was different than the management during the first incident) said they only found out about the situation when Dunne sent them a letter. 

Alongside his role as a member of of Big Apple Circus, Lubin also held positions as an instructor at Circus Smirkus' youth summer camp and an honorary member of their board, according to TIME.

Executive Director of Circus Smirkus Jennifer Carlo said that though they weren't aware of Dunne's allegations until this past week, the youth circus has "obviously" decided to sever ties with Lubin. 

In an almost silent release, Instagram has added the ability to see when someone was last active.

In a world filled with read receipts on Facebook Messenger and even text, the feature doesn't come as a complete surprise. But with all the silence about the update, it definitely feels a little creepier.

You can now find a person’s activity by checking underneath their name in Instagram’s DMs. In gray writing, the app gives you the amount of time that has passed since a person was last online, or if they’re “Active Now”. It also shows when a person has read your message or is typing a reply – yikes!

According to The Verge, this only applies to people you follow and have DM’d – not your followers. But if you’re still not into people seeing when you’ve last been stalking your ex or a celeb, Instagram gives you a way out.

While you can’t disable the read receipts part of the new update, you can turn off your activity status. It works a little bit like turning off Facebook Messenger’s activity status, which you do by going to the “People” tab, clicking “Active,” and switching off the toggle button next to your name.

In Instagram, you can turn the activity status off in the settings part of your profile. Once in settings, scroll down until you find “Show Activity Status”. Switch the toggle button next to it off so that it’s gray instead of green.

Just know that once you turn off your activity status, you also turn off your ability to see other people’s activity status. Instagram is keeping it fair!                                                                                          

If this sounds like an episode of Black Mirror, you’re not wrong. But a spokesperson for Instagram defended this latest update when speaking to The Sun, “We're always working on ways to make it easier to have fun, real-time conversations with friends on Instagram.”

And this is definitely not the last of the updates we’ll be seeing on Instagram in 2018. As engagement and influencers rise, the platform for sure has more tricks up its sleeve. But for now, we’ll leave you with this debate: activity, creepy or informative?

Just before 8 a.m. on Tuesday, a 15-year-old student armed with a handgun opened fire at Marshall County High School, killing two 15-year-old students and leaving 18 others injured, according The Associated Press.

Officials released the identities of those killed as Bailey Holt, 15, who died at the scene, and Preston Cope, 15, who was pronounced dead at a local hospital, in a press conference posted by Fox17. Classmates and the tight-knit community were left in despair at the loss of two of their own.

Bailey’s mother Secret Holt described to Newsweekthe emotional moments when she tried to get in touch with her daughter after hearing about the shooting. She explained how she heard chaos in the background while on the phone but, when she called her daughter’s name, she said she received no response.

Classmate Gabbi Bayers remembered Bailey and Preston as "two of the greatest people [she has] ever met."

Gov. Matt Bevin told reporters that the healing process that will follow this tragedy will take time.

“These children belong to this community and to specific families in this community. And this is a wound that will take a long time to heal and, for some in this community, will never heal. Please respect these families,” he said in a Tuesday press conference posted by Fox17.

President Donald Trump also took to Twitter to offer his condolences to the victims and their families.

The student charged with the shooting faces two counts of murder and 12 counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to Newsweek.

I can’t believe it’s been so long, but A Walk to Remember is officially 16 years old! Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, the story of Jamie and Landon slowly falling in love in a small town before encountering tragedy has made countless people smile (and cry).

Lead actors Mandy Moore and Shane West obviously haven’t forgotten how special the film is, because they each tweeted out super-cute throwback pics this morning:

Of course, fans of the movie (AKA all of us) were getting a bit emotional on Twitter.

There was crying.

And comparisons to This Is Us, in which Moore plays mother Rebecca Pearson.

There were even a couple of wonderful personal anecdotes.

In short, I think I’m not the only one considering doing a re-watch tonight — tissue box in hand, of course!

As we all know by now, feminism and sexism have been taking center stage in conversations surrounding Hollywood, with everything from workplace harassment and assault to the gender wage gap. Of course, it’s important to remember intersectionality in these conversations — as Octavia Spencer did at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

In a panel, Spencer said she had been talking with her friend and co-star Jessica Chastain about the issue of equal pay for men and women, while working on a new comedy movie together. She described them “dropping F-bombs” and being generally angry at the inequality, when Spencer brought up the difference in struggle for women of color.

“Women of color on that spectrum, we make far less than white women,” she recalled telling Chastain. “So if we’re gonna have that conversation about pay equity, we gotta bring the women of color to the table.”

I am glad to see Spencer pointing this out, because she’s totally right: black and Hispanic women make even less than the 77 cents that white women make to the dollar that a man earns.

“She had no idea that that’s what it was like for women of color,” Spencer added. But while this racism might be uncomfortable for some white women to discuss, Chastain took the opportunity to produce real change. “She said, ‘Octavia, we’re gonna get you paid.’”

Hearing the determination in those words — coupled with seeing Spencer tear up at this point in the story — would make anyone get emotional (myself included!). And so would the happy ending of this story: Spencer revealed, “Fast-forward to last week, we’re making five times what we asked for.”

It is so great to see women in solidarity with one another, especially in such a public and influential industry. Here’s hoping we’ll be blessed with more female empowerment in 2018!

While we may all technically be adults, that doesn’t mean we can’t wear some cute pajamas and have a sleepover every now and then. Whether you’re hanging with your besties for an all-night marathon of the Harry Potter movies or spending the night at your hookup's house, here are seven cute and stylish pajamas for whatever suits your needs.

1. ‘I Love Coffee’ Sleep T-Shirt Dress (Topshop, $30)

This is the perfect choice for you coffee lovers out there who balance your lack of sleep with the energy of caffeine. It’ll be a reminder for you and your friends to get some Starbucks together before you all leave the next morning.

2. Eberjey Lila Lace Chemise (Anthropologie, $90)

This lace chemise looks good enough to wear in the day, let alone a night in with friends. It could even make the cut for that special night with your significant other.

3. Sleep All Day Pajama Romper (Forever 21, $17.90)

We all know the stress of balancing school with sleep. This romper sums up all of those feelings and looks cute as well; the ultimate look for a night with the girls.

4. Checkered Hogwarts Nightshirt and Bottoms (Primark, $25)

While more of a specific look, this set would be perfect for an all-nighter dedicated to binge-watching all the Harry Potter films.  

5. Afterhours Satin Boxer PJ Set (Victoria's Secret, $58.50)

This look flawlessly blends comfort with style, for when you want to kick things up a notch with your boyfriend, but want to stay comfy.

6. Tommy Hilfiger X UO Marshmallow Short (Urban Outfitters, $39)

This set is ideal for those of you who want something cozy, but still want to settle into all the blankets and your friends. 

7. Satin Safari Robe and Eyemask (ASOS, $54)

Pajamas aren’t the only things you need for a sleepover. This robe and eye mask set can dress up any sleepwear and would be great for when you are all too tired to get dressed the next morning.

Celebrities donned black apparel to the 2018 Golden Globes to show their support for Time’s Up, the initiative to end sexual harassment in the workplace, and now musicians will be showing their support for the movement at music’s biggest night — the 2018 Grammy Award — by wearing white roses, The Huffington Post reports.

A group called Voices in Entertainment formed earlier this week, according to HuffPost, and is composed of 15 women and led by Meg Harkins, senior vice president of marketing at Roc Nation, and Karen Rait, head of rhythmic promotion at Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records. The group was behind the push for wearing white roses to the Grammys.

“We all agreed it was really necessary,” Harkins said when discussing how she and Rait were inspired by the Golden Globes and wanted to get the Grammys involved. “We’ve all felt the political and cultural change in the last couple of months.”

“I would want to see men and women wearing white roses and I would like men and women to be able to have meaningful Grammy award speeches when those speeches happen,” Harkins added, Time Magazine reports.

The group reached out via letter this week to get get celebrities on board to wear white roses to the event, HuffPost reports.

“We choose the white rose because historically it stands for hope, peace, sympathy and resistance,” the Voices of Entertainment letter reads.

“Please join us in support of equal representation in the workplace, for leadership that reflects the diversity of our society, workplaces free of sexual harassment and a heightened awareness of accountability that our sisters started on January 1st and continued through the Golden Globes and onward.”

Some celebrities that have signed on so far to wear white roses to the Grammys are Kelly Clarkson, Cyndi Lauper, Dua Lipa and Rita Ora, HuffPost reports. Halsey, who gave a powerful and moving speech at the 2018 Women’s March, has also signed on to wear a white rose.

According to Time, the sexual harassment allegations haven’t been as prominent in the music industry like it has in Hollywood. However, a few big cases to note for sexual harassment in the music industry are Kesha’s legal battle against her producer Dr. Luke for sexual and physical abuse, and Taylor Swift’s symbolic $1 win in her case against former radio host David Mueller who groped Swift in 2013 at a meet-and-greet in Denver. Founder of music label Def Jam Recordings, Russell Simmons, was accused of sexual misconduct, Time reports

“We have not had the tsunami that politics and Hollywood has had, but we are still women,” Harkins said.

“Music artists have a lot of impact,” Rait said in an interview with Billboard, HuffPost reports. “So it’s only fitting that music’s biggest night show the support for equality and safety in the workplace and that people need to be cognizant of their fellow employees.”

A new immigration proposal from the White House outlines a pathway to citizenship for nearly 1.8 million young people who were brought to the United States as children, and the proposal will be introduced next week to Congress, USA Today reports.

In exchange, however, the White House has requested funds for a border wall, as well as restrictions on certain immigration policies.

According to ABC News, the new immigration proposal requests $20 billion from Congress for the construction of the border wall between the United States and Mexico. This is an increase from the $18 billion that the Department of Homeland had requested in recent weeks, according to USA Today, but the plan also includes improvements to points of entry on the Canadian border. The White House is also requesting an additional $5 billion for border security measures, ABC News reports.

The plan also demands significant cuts for family-based immigration, so only spouses and children of immigrants can enter the country with their family sponsor, ABC News reports. According to analysis conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, this proposal would cut immigration by nearly a quarter of the total amount of immigrants allowed to enter the United States each year, USA Today reports.

The proposal also calls for an end to the Visa Lottery system. The diversity visa lottery system grants nearly 50,000 visas to immigrants from countries that are under-represented in the United States, USA Today reports. According to White House senior advisor Stephen Miller who held the briefing on the new proposal, the White House plans to shift these slots to family-based and high-skilled visas.

According to ABC News, in return for these changes to the immigration system, the White House has announced the President Trump would sign an immigration bill that would create a 10-12 year pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, “with requirements for work, education and good moral character” outlined in the proposal.

However, the proposal was met with opposition on both sides of the aisle.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote on Twitter, “By ending DACA, @realdonaldtrump subjected 800k Dreamers to deportation. Now he wants to hold them hostage to Steven Miller’s anti-immigrant wish list. It’s insulting. We already have a bipartisan solution to the Trump-created crisis: it’s called the Dream Act. #DreamActNow”

According to ABC News, Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters on Capitol Hill that he did not support the plan.

“I do not believe we should be granting a path to citizenship to anybody here illegally,” Cruz said. “Doing so is inconsistent with the promises we made to the men and women who elected us.”

“Some folks on the far left of the Democratic party — if they’re sincere in their care of DACA recipients, they’re going to have to acknowledge the election results and understand a bill under a Trump administration is going to be a serious immigration reform bill different than if Hillary Clinton had gotten elected,” a White House official said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, along with other Republican Congressmembers, was supportive of the new outline from the White House.

McConnell applauded Trump for laying out his immigration objectives. "I am hopeful that as discussions continue in the Senate on the subject of immigration, Members on both sides of the aisle will look to this framework for guidance as they work towards an agreement," McConnell said in his statement.