This season’s Bachelor, Arie Luyendyk Jr., narrowed his search for love down to Lauren and Becca, before proposing to Becca in Peru. She said yes, and they walked off into the sunset. Usually, this is where The Bachelor ends, but on Monday night, America got to watch Arie break up with Becca in a painful and unedited moment of television, that quite frankly, should not have been televised.

After the break-up with Becca, Arie rekindled his romance with Lauren in January, and on last night’s After the Final Rose special, Arie got down on one knee and proposed to Lauren on camera and in front of the studio audience. She said yes.

Now, the happy couple is sharing all of their excitement with People. The magazine is reporting that Arie and Lauren have already set a date for their impending nuptials, which they hope will happen this year. And rest easy Bachelor fans, they are open to a televised wedding!

Arie also offered a reflection on his wild finale to People. “Love is not always perfect. Everyone finds each other in a different way," he said. "It’s not always a fairy-tale, but as long as Lauren and I have, each other, we’re happy.”

Even with all of the drama surrounding their road to love, Arie and Lauren seem very happy and in love. I wish them all the best. 

Not every relationship you experience leads to happily ever after. You can’t mold someone into your idea of prince or princess charming — sometimes two people just don’t work out. Whether you can sense the shakiness in the beginning of the relationship or years down the line, sometimes it’s best to trust your gut feeling. Here are six telltale signs that the relationship you’re in won’t last long term.

1. You mistake comfort for love

While it’s important to feel comfortable in your relationship, comfort is one of the key reasons why people stay in relationships that have long passed their expiration date. It can be nerve-wracking to put yourself in the dating pool again, and it’s even easier to hold on to a relationship because of the history you and your SO have. If you find yourself recounting the reasons of why you guys are together and the main reason is because “you’ve been with him for a long time,” you should realize that complacency does not lead to happiness.

Lauryn Higgins, a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, knew that her long-term relationship wouldn’t last just because of the longevity.

“I was in a three-year relationship and when a friend said to me, ‘Would you want your daughter dating the guy you’re with?’ And my first thought was, ‘I would want more for her,’ I knew I had to start having a conversation with my SO,” she says.

Evaluate if just feeling okay within your relationship is where you want to be. Love should be the most gratifying feeling in the world and should never be confused with complacency.

2. You feel like a secret

On the contrary, there’s the classic “situationship,” which we’ve all been in or witnessed. Just like you can’t mold a person into your version of perfection, there is no way to force someone into a relationship they don’t want to be in.

Ashley Drayton, a Georgia State University graduate, knows that your relationship will remain at a standstill without a few key elements.

“If he’s content with having a situationship, staying in the house instead of going on dates, he seems to be hiding you or parts of his life, and he doesn’t put a lot of effort into things regarding you, it’s not going anywhere,” she says.

At this point in life, if someone wants you to be a part of their life, it will be clear to you. You shouldn’t be left guessing whether or not you might have a chance of working out.

3.  You give and give, and they take and take

Sacrifices and compromises are a part of any relationship. However, they should not be coming from only one end. It’s not a good sign if you give so much of yourself to someone with little investment in return.

You can easily burn out early on in a relationship if you are constantly giving. Megan Scavo, a sophomore at the University of Central Florida, knows from personal experience that selfishness can cause a relationship should go downhill quickly.

“If your SO expects you to plan your entire life around them, such as school, work and friends, it’s not going to last too long,” she says.

If you find that you are the only one sacrificing up your time, money and energy, recognize that that is not normal.

4. Your friends and family can tell it won’t last

Nobody is in your relationship but you and your SO, so sometimes it can hard for outsiders to judge your relationship. However, the saying “Mama knows best” may not be so cliché in this case. Love can blind you enough to the point that you don’t recognize warning signs.

“If your friends tell you they don’t see you with him forever or that he’s not the one, listen,” Megan says. “Your friends know you better than you know yourself sometimes.”

You may have that one friend who doubts every relationship you get into, but if the overwhelming majority of your friends and family do not see things working out for the best, you should at least listen to them as to why. They have a more objective view of the relationship. Plus, if they know you well enough, they can tell when things just click and when they don’t. 

Related: 5 Ways to Let Go of a Relationship That Ended Before it Started

5. You try to justify bad behavior

Your SO is not immune from making mistakes. It’s completely understandable to forgive small mistakes, but your SO should not get a free pass on everything.

Something that should be immediately addressed is any form of abuse. “If he says rude things or degrades you, even if it’s out of character when angry, that’s a definite red flag,” Megan says. “Way too many women put up with that too long.”

Rachel Petty, a senior at James Madison University, advises women to trust their gut feeling when it comes to a bad feeling about a relationship.

“If you find yourself making excuses for your SO and letting big things slide, that’s a sign you should probably end things,” she says. “If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.”

You can't shake off your intuition telling you something is wrong forever. In many cases, our feelings of uneasiness are justified. 

6. Your core values do not align

Opposites attract in many cases, but in some cases they cannot work long term. Having differences with others is what makes humans unique, but some differences may be too big to ignore.

Alyssa*, a junior at Kennesaw State University, could not look past a difference in religion between her and her SO.

“I am religious and my ex was not,” she says. “At first, I looked past this difference. But when he became comfortable enough, he would essentially make fun of me for believing in something. That’s where I had to evaluate if I could handle that intolerance for years to come.”

The important thing to remember is even though you and your SO have differences, there should be mutual respect for each other’s beliefs. You should never feel ashamed or scared to practice your beliefs because your SO believes the opposite.

Envision your future a few years down the road. If you cannot see your future with your SO and their current behavior, it is time to have a conversation with them. Whether or not you chose to end things or work on things is up to you, but know that you do not have to put up with behavior that doesn’t mesh with you. 

Michael B. Jordan is stealing hearts everywhere, and apparently also causing people to ruin their dental gear with his sexy a** self.

Sophia Robb, an 18-year-old from San Francisco is one of those that can attest to that. In an interview with Buzzfeed, Sophia explained that she had seen a tweet going viral with a screenshot from Tumblr about someone who had a strong reaction to one of the scenes in the film (The scene she is referring to is when Killmonger [Michael B. Jordan] takes his shirt off before fighting to become the king of Wakanda. *Swoon*), only to realize that the story was about her.

"I pressed my tongue against my permanent retainer and clenched my jaw so hard that the wire disconnected from my teeth," she told Buzzfeed.

Robb made her way to the orthodontist to get her retainer fixed, where she said she was initially embarrassed to tell him how she broke it. But, they laughed about it and she probably thought that was going to be the end of it. Little did she know, her orthodontist happens to be active on Tumblr and shared the story with his followers.

Michael B. Jordan is stealing hearts everywhere, and apparently also causing people to ruin their dental gear with his sexy a** self.

Sophia Robb, an 18-year-old from San Francisco is one of those that can attest to that. In an interview with Buzzfeed, Sophia explained that she had seen a tweet going viral with a screenshot from Tumblr about someone who had a strong reaction to one of the scenes in the film (The scene she is referring to is when Killmonger [Michael B. Jordan] takes his shirt off before fighting to become the king of Wakanda. *Swoon*), only to realize that the story was about her.

"I pressed my tongue against my permanent retainer and clenched my jaw so hard that the wire disconnected from my teeth," she told Buzzfeed.

Robb made her way to the orthodontist to get her retainer fixed, where she said she was initially embarrassed to tell him how she broke it. But, they laughed about it and she probably thought that was going to be the end of it. Little did she know, her orthodontist happens to be active on Tumblr and shared the story with his followers.

We love glitter on our eyelids, cheekbones and bodies, and now, your real prayers have been answered: introducing glitter beers! 

Thanks to the power of edible glitter, you can now be a glow-getter with your favorite adult beverage in hand that's just begging to be shown off on Insta. Multiple breweries, including Bold Missy Brewery in Charlotte, North Carolina and Minocqua Brewing Company in Minocqua, Wisconsin, are hopping on the glitter beer trend, Munchies reports, so now is the perfect time to plan your next GNO (as if you needed an excuse).

“I’ve done a few glitter beers and I’m absolutely smitten with them,” says Erica DeAnda, head brewer at Minocqua Brewing Company. “I think they are fun and bring a new level of uniqueness to a beer.”

The beer can be found in multiple different colors, essentially resembling that lava lamp we all had in our adolescent bedrooms. Pair with your favorite glitter polish from the 90s, and you're ready to hit the town and take some sweet pics

While these glittery brewskies are popping up all over the country, many brewmasters credit Three Weavers brewmaster Alex Nowell’s glittery IPA (Mel’s Sparkle Pony) as their inspiration, according to Munchies. 

And although it's mostly women who are brewin' up this sparkly new drink, glitter beer is intended for everyone, Munchies reports. "Even the men dig glitter beer," says DeAnda. "I don’t think it means I disrespect my craft because I put my heart and soul into all my brews—I think glitter is just a small little part of my heart, so why the hell not?" 

I mean, with a beer that looks like a party in a glass, no one should criticize your choice of drink.

Looks like your plans for this weekend have already been made!

Barbie released dolls based on ‘inspiring women’ just in time for International Women’s Day on March 8. The dolls included women from all types of backgrounds including Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, aviator Amelia Earhart, and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, according to CNN. 

The launch of these dolls is being pushed alongside Barbie’s #MoreRoleModels campaign. In a tweet, Barbie said “We are committed to shining a light on empowering female role models in an effort to inspire more girls.”

The dolls are each shockingly realistic, except for one. Allure pointed out artist Frida Kahlo’s doll minimization of her iconic unibrow and mustache. If you’re familiar with Kahlo, you’d know the significant of her faial hair. It was a symbol of Kahlo’s refusal to give in to traditional feminine beauty standards despite pressures from society. 

Allure noted a few stray hairs above the doll’s nose, but it’s incredibly sparse in comparison to Kahlo’s actual unibrow. From afar, and in most of the promo pictures, Kahlo looks perfectly waxed like the other Barbies. 

So, while the internet celebrated this launch, they also had a lot to say about the erasure of Kahlo’s style and some critiques about the line’s overall diversity. 

Despite the controversy, it's clear that Barbie has come a long way since it was first launched. The first black Barbie, Christie, didn't come out until 10 years after Barbie's initial launch, according to People. It wasn't until the late 90s that the first Barbie in a wheelchair came out—and it was quickly criticized because her wheelchair didn't fit through the doors of the Barbie Dreamhouse, PRI reported. 

One of their most notable expansions to the line was the inclusion of Barbies of all shapes and sizes in a 2016 launch. This was the first time that Barbies came in any size besides skinny-and-tall in their history. 

This latest launch was clearly done with good intentions to inspire young girls that they really can grow up to be anything, but a crucial oversight of some of the details may have hurt their message. 

(Photo Credits: Cover)

We often have high hopes for our internships. We want to be challenged, mentored, and ultimately come out of them with a far deeper understanding of our future career. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. We’ve all heard of the intern who does nothing but fetch coffee and organize papers. But if this ends up being you, what are you supposed to do?

Luckily, your internship isn't a lost cause just because you don’t feel like you’re being challenged. Here are five things you should do if you don’t feel like you’re learning anything at your internship.

1. Learn from others

One of the best resources that you have is the people who have already made it to wherever you want to be. You don’t only have the opportunity to learn ‘hard skills’ from them. Instead, you can also ask questions and learn by example. “If you work with others, ask why they chose this organization to work at, the things most exciting and surprising things they've learned during their time there,” Jasmine Cui, a junior at SUNY Geneseo, suggests.

There aren’t that many opportunities to meet and learn from people in the field you want to go into, and your internship is a great time to do that!

2. Ask if there’s anything else you can do

Depending on the workplace environment, your boss may be open to you trying out more challenging tasks. Lili Pfeifer is a sophomore who works as an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She suggests that if you don’t feel like you’re learning anything, you should “ask your supervisor if there’s an opportunity to expand your skills.” Set aside a time to meet with him or her and explain how eager you are to learn more. You could either propose a more challenging project or ask if he or she has anything in mind for you already!

Make sure that when you meet with your supervisor, you emphasize how eager you are to be challenged and learn, instead of acting like you’re bored or feel like you’re too good for the position.

3. Try to get involved with the specific areas of the field that interest you

There may not be any room for growth in your specific role, but that shouldn’t stop you from learning about the areas that you’d like to be a part of someday.

Say you’re interning at a magazine. Even if your main job is assisting the fashion editor, if your dream is to work for the business aspect of publishing, then ask one of the people in the business department if you can get involved on a project with them. This would probably add additional unpaid hours to your internship, but it would give you an opportunity for growth that you wouldn’t have if you weren’t involved in the internship.

Just make sure you consult your supervisor before taking on any additional roles!

4. Build connections

The vast majority of jobs come from who you know, not what you know. So even if you don’t get a lot of challenging tasks at your internship, the connections you build are ultimately way more important. Make great impressions on everyone, because you never know who could be the one to recommend your next boss to hire you.

If you want to build your connections even more deeply, consider asking your supervisor or coworker(s) to coffee. That’s a great way to get a chance to learn more about what they do, and ensure that if you ever need a rec letter or another form of recommendation, they will know you well enough to give a good one.

Maria Harshe, an attorney who advises small businesses, recommends that you “think of an internship as an extended multi-layered interview. Yes, the enterprise offering the internship is likely evaluating you to see if you are a good fit for future employment. But what do you think about that particular business or enterprise? Do you like the work it does and how it does it? Is the firm culture one in which you would like to spend the majority of your waking hours? Is the work product something that energizes you? Engage. Ask questions. Network. You’ll have no other opportunity quite like this to dig deep into a particular establishment.”

Make sure to follow up on the connections that you build as well! This can be done by sending follow-up emails or adding them on LinkedIn. You never know when you’ll need that connection to move up in your field.

Related: 7 Ways To Make Networking Less Intimidating

5. Embrace the bitch work

Sometimes, in order to move up in your field, you’re going to have jobs that don’t challenge you. You’ll have to grab coffee, you’ll have to do paperwork—it’s a rite of passage. You don’t want to be that one intern who shows up at the office and tries to own the place. Instead, know your place and be grateful that you even have an internship. You’re not the boss here; you’re the one who’s here to observe everyone around you. It’s okay to embrace your role as the lowest on the totem pole.

Making it in the workplace isn’t easy, and you’re not always going to enjoy your jobs and internships. You can’t expect to magically make it big. Instead, you have to embrace all of the bitch work that it takes to work your way up in your field. Everyone has to do it! Do your time, and someday you’ll be glad that you did.

As Harshe shares, “In any business there is a wide range of tasks that need to be done, from the higher level and prestigious to the more mundane and menial.  Interns should absolutely be ready to step into and embrace the challenging high profile work opportunities that are offered to them.  But they should also demonstrate a willingness to perform grunt work or other lowly tasks – whatever it takes to move the business forward.  An intern who is a good team player will be looked upon favorably by co-workers and superiors alike.”

Internships aren’t always fun, but they can be and ultimately, they’re such important resume-builders and critical for your future success. You will never regret putting your all into something, even if you don’t feel like you’re learning anything concrete.

Despite her husband no longer being president, Michelle Obama still manages to be the FLOTUS America deserves. Last week, an adorable two-year-old named Parker Curry sent the Internet into a tizzy when a photo was posted of her gazing up at the gorgeous portrait of the former First Lady that hangs at the National Portrait Gallery. The post was shared 35,000 times and caught the eye of one Michelle Obama.

The all around lovely human being then invited Parker and her mother Jessica to her office in Washington, D.C. where she talked to the sweet girl and her mother about, presumably, what it means to be a queen and how to one day rule the world with kindness and heart. Probably.

But the best part? The two got down and danced to Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off" right there in the office! Michelle Obama posted the video to her Twitter.

She said that she was glad to have met her and that one day she hoped to be staring up at a portrait of Parker just as Parker had done with Michelle's.

The sweet exchange had social media in a full on meltdown yet again. Twitter users were full of heart eyes and happiness at the tender moments between Obama and the little girl who sees her as a queen. It's moments like these that remind us there's good still left in the world.

Keep dreaming big, Parker. One day you might be the President yourself.

Have you ever found a department store overwhelming? With sometimes floors'worth of options to choose from, the selection can seem endless — but not for everyone. 

When Lisa Vogl converted to Islam in 2011, she found it difficult to find modest clothing that was accessible and fit her style and budget. Vogel was proactive about the problem and, by 2015, she solved the problem by designing the clothing that she always wanted. Vogel and designer Alaa Ammuss created the Verona Collection, which includes modest clothing, Hijabs, and accessories that are sold online. 

Unsurprisingly, Vogl wasn’t the only woman with this fashion need. Within two years, the brand had two shipping distribution centers and a physical store in Orlando, Florida. In 2016, Jeff Gennette, the CEO of Macy’s, asked Vogl to create a line for the department store. While Macy’s isn’t the first recognizable brand to create a line of modest clothing and hijabs (brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and DKNY have all done so) this line is different in that a Muslim woman created it. Vogl is the first Muslim woman to sell Hijabs in a U.S. department store, which is another accomplishment that she can add to her ever-growing resume. 

Vogl spoke about her “big break” and the inspiration behind this groundbreaking line with Bustle. In creating this platform, she hopes to reach other women in the Muslim community who experience similar struggles. Speaking to Bustle, she said, "My goal when starting Verona Collection was to give my fellow sisters confidence to be proud of who they are, and if they choose to wear the hijab, to wear it with pride." 

If you’re interested in Vogl’s collection with Macy’s, check out some of the amazing pieces. While the collection is currently only available online, at the rate Vogl’s going, I wouldn’t be surprised if these items were everywhere by next year! 

Verona Collection Hand-Dyed Ombré Hijab ($14.95 at Macy’s)

Verona Collection Valeria Belted Long Cardigan ($59.95 at Macy’s)

Verona Collection Striped Wide-Leg Pants ($49.95 at Macy’s)

Verona Collection Jersey Hijab ($15.95 at Macy’s) 

He may be overly accustomed to making us cry on a weekly basis on This Is Us, but Sterling K. Brown is now determined to make you laugh too. Scheduled to host Saturday Night Live this Saturday, March 10, Brown has appeared in a SNL promo in which he humorously recreates the show's opening. If Randall Pearson's corny dad jokes make you crack a grin, then it looks like you'll love Brown's goofy side in this video. 

While he's swept up practically any existing Actor in a Drama award since This Is Us premiered, Brown first proved that he would be a fitting host for the sketch comedy show when he announced his new gig. Imitating the show's classic introduction of its host, Brown shared the news with fan on social media last month. 

In his promo for this weekend's episode, Brown recreates the opening credits with cardboard sets and small plastic toys. Assigning a different toy to each SNL cast member (Leslie Jones as Tinkerbell is my favorite), Brown also provides the voiceover introduction of the cast. At the end of the promo, Brown flips the camera to face himself, wittily introducing himself as Steve Martin before saying his name. 

Brown seems totally game for anything while hosting the show, telling CinemaBlend about his initial pitches for the episode. "I would expect either a This Is Us or [The People v. O.J. Simpson] spoof, or both," he said. "I expect to do something definitely with Leslie [Jones]."

Those who keep up with SNL may recall that cast member Chris Redd imitated Brown in the show's recent sketch, "Lion King Auditions." It was a very Randall-esque impression, so here's hoping that either Redd or Brown poke fun at the This Is Us character this week. 

Good luck to Brown as he tries his hand at the live show on Saturday! Fingers crossed that watching won't require the use of tissues. 

To me, nothing beats plain old chocolate M&M's, but I'm always up for changes. PopSugar reports that the company has now released three different flavors to select retailers for fans to pick which one becomes a permanent addition to the brand. So, where are these retailers? Sign me up if chocolate is involved!

The new flavors – Crunchy Raspberry, Crunchy Espresso and Crunchy Mint – already sound totally different from any other kind of candy I usually see. According to tasters at PopSugar, Crunchy Raspberry has an underlying fruit flavor, which blends well with the candy's dark chocolate. Crunchy Espresso sounds perfect for the coffee addict, with tasters promising that the snacks have a strong coffee flavor. 

While raspberry and espresso are always tastes I enjoy, Crunchy Mint seems to be the distinct winner of this particular testing team. Described as a "bite-size Girl Scouts Thin Mint cookie," the Crunchy Mint M&M's may very well be the flavor to beat. Who wouldn't want a handful of mint-flavored M&M's to get them through their mid-afternoon slump? 

Those interested in voting for the permanent candy flavor can reference the brand's site before May 25. The ultimate winning flavor will be announced in August and eventually be sold nationwide for 18 straight months. Crunchy Mint, we'll see you this summer!

Among other factors, the various honors programs offered at your top schools can make or break your decision of where to go to college. The thing is — not many high school seniors know that they should be checking out the amazing honors programs available at nearly every college in the country! Honors programs are designed to reward high-achieving students with advising, financial assistance, and post-grad guidance. Honors Programs operate within a college, enrolling a select number of impressive students until they graduate, usually.

These are typically programs you apply for after you enroll and every school’s range of programs is different — some are diversity-based, some are interdisciplinary, some are targeted towards students interested in graduate studies. Take a look around your top choices’ websites to see if there are any programs which suit your goals. When I applied for a full-ride scholarship at my school, I was rejected. But a student ambassador called me and told me to apply for another, smaller scholarship program for students interested in the arts. Later on, I applied for and was accepted into another honors program designed for students with multidisciplinary interests! I wish I had known all of this when I was applying to schools.

I was lucky enough to chat with my friend, Cierra Martin, the College Assistant for Scholar Programs at Hunter College, for this article! She’ll tell you a bit more about the specific experiences you could have at an honors program from an inside perspective!

1.  Money

Everyone wants a bit of cash when they apply to college. Whether or not you’re offered a scholarship package upon acceptance, that there will always be more opportunities to receive money, funding, and stipends once you’re enrolled. The range of financial packages is vast and varied — some offer tuition waivers, others a stipend, some offer reduced-cost, free, or priority dorming, some offer grad school application waivers, and sometimes programs offer allowances for textbooks, technologies, and transportation. Other opportunities for work remuneration include research allowances if you’re interested in field work, study abroad funding if you’re interested in taking an international semester, sliding-scale scholarship packages based on your SAT scores, test scores, GPA, and application strength, and more. Funding via honors programs is totally different from acceptance scholarships because it’s more specialized; it’s meant to be used for things that matter to you, your ambitions, and your studies. The money is out there — you just have to know where to apply.

“Some honors programs, like the Scholar Programs at Hunter College, will award incoming freshman different scholarship packages based on their high school SAT scores and GPAs. Not all college honors programs are aimed towards incoming freshman though, so that’s something important to look up before you finish applying to schools,” says Cierra Martin, a junior at Hunter College.

2. Advisors

Almost all prestigious honors programs will pair you up with a department or program advisor. While this may not be as enticing as a hefty financial package, the support of an experienced academic advisor who is wholly committed to you and your goals is priceless. All colleges have advisors available to help their students graduate on time, find interesting internship or job opportunities, pick the right classes, and get help when needed, but honors advisors have more time to invest in you, specifically. These professionals can offer you wisdom and direction, they can introduce you to the right people, they can write your recommendation letters, they can be a shoulder to cry on when you fail your first midterm (speaking from experience.) This will be an advantage that the average student will not have. Your advisors will offer you jobs and introduce you to some of your most valuable professional connections. Your advisors will always believe in you.

“Some honors programs may ask you to mentor younger members when you’re a junior or senior. Having an older student mentor really gives younger honors students a chance to communicate openly and honestly with a peer who can give candid advice. This is a really great resource for incoming honors students, as well as awesome work experience for older students, especially those interested in social work, education, or advising," Cierra says.

3. Jobs & Opportunities

Did your ears perk up when we said that your academic advisors will offer you jobs? It’s not a guarantee, obviously, but the odds are definitely in your favor when you’re working closely with a program that has the right networks and knows your skills, interests, and ambitions. Honors programs are all about opportunity and putting you in the best possible position to be offered those opportunities. These programs want you to succeed! Invites to conferences, e-meets with notable professors, and even job openings are constantly sent out to members of any academic honors program. Other times, you’ll be invited to meet with your program cohorts for fun events, fundraisers, and parties! These are also great places to network, gain some field experience, and make friends! You’ll find yourself with tons of possibilities at your feet thanks to a team of academics and peers that just wants you to find success.

Amanda Goecke, a senior at Carthage College, is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the communications honors society. "We don’t meet very often but when we do, we’ve organized events such as fundraisers to donate money to causes that connect with our society (i.e. public libraries),” she says.

Similarly, Lizzy Balboa, a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University, says that "the greatest perk of honors programs, I’d say, is the opportunity to build community with students as serious about their academics as you are. I met all of my closest friends and roommates through honors classes and honors housing, and they provided constant intellectual stimulation, challenged me to stay focused, and encouraged me to spend my time doing meaningful extra-curricular activities."

4. Grad school help

Even though you’re still in high school, if you’re already thinking about graduate studies then you should definitely look through your top schools’ honors programs. So many undergraduate schools have scholarships, fellowships, and honors programs just for students hoping to earn their masters or doctorate after they graduate. If this sounds like a goal you have in mind, then consider attending a school that has resources and support available for students with graduate studies in mind. These resources include application fee waivers, letters of recommendation, e-meets with graduate professors, guest access to graduate lectures… The list goes on! Getting into a great school for your undergraduate degree is important, but if you’re looking ahead — like, way ahead — then checking out the opportunities waiting for you after you enroll is just putting you one more step in the right direction.

5. Career-building

Even if you're not considering pursuing a graduate degree, an honors program is a great place to explore your post-undergrad options! Especially if you're enrolled in an honors program catered to a specific field of study, there will be plenty of opportunities to participate in career-building alongside your peers. These are great chances to determine whether or not a certain career, major, or discipline is a good fit for you! Allison Easton, a member of the engineering honors program at the University of Michigan, says that her favorite part of being in her cohort is "getting to know other engineers and seeing what all these amazing people are doing. It gives me ideas for what I might want to do after college."

6. Our advice

Getting into and keeping up with honors programs is not always easy. They are academically demanding and often time-consuming. Excelling in high school is hard enough, so congrats to you for putting in such an awesome effort so far! But take time to prepare yourself for the spike in difficulty if you're considering applying for honors. The last thing you want is to be overwhelmed while you're trying to get ahead. 

Lizzy has some great advice on this: "The coursework is naturally rigorous, and the professors demand relatively high levels of critical thinking and communication. I’d bet most honors students, even those anticipating a challenge, come in expecting to breeze through the classes like they did in high school, but many are startled by the caliber of competition. They graduated at the top of their high school classes and aren’t used to rivalry from other people similarly skilled. My advice, then, is to enter the program with humility, and focus more on doing your personal best rather than on outperforming other high-caliber students. Prioritize learning the material over competing for the highest GPA."

Take a minute to look through the undergraduate scholarships, fellowships, and honors programs on your top schools’ websites. Get familiar with the kinds of opportunities that may be waiting for you once you enroll. Know your strengths, know your goals, and know your interests— there will absolutely be a program that fits your needs, even if you have to wait to apply. Getting in is important, but what may be waiting for you later on is just as exciting.

Spring break: a sunny week filled with drinks, friends and flirty guys. If you’re looking to have a little fun this spring break but don’t want to say goodbye to your hottie once the week comes to an end, you’re in the right place. If you play your cards right, you could turn your spring break fling into a relationship in no time. We talked to Dr. Ish Major, board-certified psychiatrist and author of Little White Whys to give you a step-by-step guide on how to turn a spring break hook-up into a relationship, if you’re really falling for your fling. Get ready for an awesome break—and potential new partner!

Step 1: Make your intentions clear

If you go into spring break knowing you want a relationship out of it, be sure your hook-up is on the same page. Try saying something like, “I can’t wait to hang out when we get back!” or, “It’s awesome that we live so close at home.” If he knows you aren’t just looking for a hook-up, he can either let you know it isn’t going to work or keep his sights set on you. Letting him know how you feel up front will prevent heartbreak or potential awkwardness later on.

“I think the first [and] most important step is to be honest with each other about whether [a relationship] is something you both want to pursue,” Dr. Major says. “While you’re in the moment, it might be hard to figure that out, but shortly after, once some of the party dust has settled just a bit, that can be a conversation that you both have. The key part is that you both agree to pursue it.”

Dr. Major also mentions that your fling may not be looking for the same thing as you: “Keep in mind, it is spring break, and he may not be interested in anything beyond hooking up today or tonight or for the rest of the trip, so an idea like that may turn him off. But this is about you feeling good about what’s happening, so if a relationship is what you’re looking for then claim that, stand in that dream and don’t back down from it.”

Step 2: Get to know each other

The atmosphere of spring break (read: so many shirtless men and margaritas) can make it hard to focus on reality. If you’re serious about turning your fling into a relationship, it’s crucial to be sure you really know the person. Your crush may seem like your perfect match amidst all the drinks and fun, but outside of spring break, he or she could be totally different. “Getting an idea of where he’s headed or wants to go in life will give you a really good sense of how well your lives will mesh together once your back home,” Dr. Major says. Try going out to dinner—just the two of you—to see how much you have in common. If you really know what you’re getting into and still feel the same way about him or her, you can take the next step in becoming a real thing.

“People are often a lot ‘different’ when they’re on vacation than when they’re at home in their normal routine,” Dr. Major adds. “So the person you met on spring break may not be the person he is when he’s in his natural environment. That’s where the ‘getting to know each other’ on a deeper level beyond the break comes into play. The sooner you can ask some deeper questions and have more meaningful conversations, the sooner you’ll be able to figure that out.”

If the person you’re with is the guy who hasn’t worn a shirt all weekend, always has a Natty Light in hand and is constantly flirting with other people, it should be pretty clear that he or she isn’t S.O. material. Find someone who you have a lot in common with and like for their personality, not their abs.

Step 3: Have “the talk”

If the end of spring break is rolling around and you’re still crazy about your crush, you two should have a serious talk about what’s next. If you’re both on the same page about wanting to continue the relationship, decide when you’ll see each other next. If you go to school close to one another (or even at the same school), it shouldn’t be hard to schedule a date or time to hang out. If you don’t go to school near one another, you have to be sure you’re ready for the commitment of a long-distance relationship.

So, how do you approach the conversation? Dr. Major suggests: “You can say something like, ‘Wow, I’m having such a really great time with you. I really don’t want this feeling to end. I know it might be hard, but I wish there was a way to keep this going,’ then wait for a response. That way, you’ve made it okay and not awkward to talk about the elephant in the room. You may or may not get the response you were looking for, but at least you can feel good about being brave enough to go for it!”

He also says, “It’s a spring break fling, so chances are you’re probably not from the same place, which means anything long-term may have to be long-distance for a while. If that’s the case, then you both have to be willing to put in that effort.”

Be sure to have this talk before spring break ends so you aren’t left with any confusion or misunderstandings. Having closure will leave you feeling confident about returning to normal life without worrying about where you and your spring break fling stand.

Step 4: Stay connected

Communication is key in any relationship, and it will be the deciding factor in whether or not your spring break fling will last. Continue talking to your guy after break and make sure you both still feel the same way once normal life has resumed. If you keep in touch and can see one another, your relationship is off to a good start. If there’s a lack of communication and you aren’t on the same page, things may begin to go downhill.

Try Dr. Major’s tips for staying connected beyond the break:

• Keep in frequent contact via text/Skype/calls.
• Set a definite date to see each other again soon.
• Talk about the fun you had over break and see if there were some things that they saw/heard/did that you didn’t. Share different perspectives of that shared experience.
• Talk about the people you know and the places you’ve gone. Chances are you may have some people/places and things in common that you didn’t expect!
• Give each other a glimpse into your ‘real worlds’ and your real-world selves. Spring break is a different setting; now it’s time to get to know each other in your natural settings in the midst of your day-to-day routines and see if the chemistry is still there.

If you aren’t ready to say goodbye to your fling once spring break comes to an end, follow our guide and you can hopefully turn it into a relationship. If your feelings are as strong as you think they are, you’ll be able work on transitioning from spring break to normal life. Be yourself and you’re bound to find the hottie of your dreams. Good luck, collegiettes!

Happy International Women’s Day collegiates! In honor of this holiday, Google showcased 12 female artists from 12 different countries by featuring them in their fan-favorite doodles (you know, the beautiful images on the Google home page?).  In each doodle, a woman artist shares a part of their own story and the experiences that influenced their lives as women. 

 The goal, according to Google's press release, was to "celebrate our collective experiences, with all of their commonalities and differences" and to “shine a light on the important and far reaching impact of everyday women.”

You can check out previews of the doodles below, as well as each of the artists' responses to what International Women's Day means to them and the impact they hope their work will leave behind: 

Chihiro Takeuchi (Japan)

“It [International Women’s Day] means an opportunity to share the stories of Japanese women with the people all around the world, regardless of their age or gender and to inspire young women to change the new millennium for the better.”

“I hope that people will feel that they are never too old or too young to challenge themselves with new activities, new jobs or new things to learn.”

Philippa Rice (UK)

“International Women's Day is a great opportunity to support, promote and celebrate women artists and writers from around the world and to share our stories. I love to see my social media feeds filled with art from loads of my favorite artists and discover the work of so many women who I wasn't aware of before.”

“My story is about how overwhelming it is to become a mother and how talking to others and sharing your troubles can make you feel better. I hope that if anyone reads it and identifies with it, then they can at least feel that they're not alone.”

Laerte (Brazil)

“A moment of celebration, learning, growing.”

“I hope it helps to see how our prejudices many times destroy meaningful possibilities in life.”

Tunalaya Dunn (Thailand)

“It is a day to remind us to move forward collectively.”

“I would like people to feel a sense of unity and realize the impact within themselves.”

Isuri Merenchi Hewage (Sri Lanka)

“It’s a day that makes my heart happy to hear and see women all around the world say ‘we’re women, we’re here, and we’ll keep fighting’.”

“I hope Aarthi’s story inspires women to be brave and fearless; I hope it inspires women to keep on being courageous, and to weather through the rough seas of inequality.”

Karabo Poppy Moletsane (South Africa)

"International Women’s Day to me is a way to celebrate and show gratitude to those who fought for gender equality across the world. And I see the best way to celebrate and thank these history makers is by having women everywhere make the most of the opportunities we have and really explore this unbridled potential we posses. Also not forgetting the countries where gender equality is not embraced and as a collective of people find ways to change this and support those that are fighting for this goal."

“I hope the take away from my story is; exclusionary rules or stereotypes should never deter someone from doing what they’ve always wanted to do, instead this should act as motivation to pursue their unconventional dream and be the pioneer that opens the door for those with similar dreams to follow suit.”

Tillie Walden (USA)

“IWD, to me, is about noticing and understanding just how vast and rich the definition of womanhood can be. There is no one way, or right way, to be a woman. And I feel like IWD is a celebration of that.”

“I’ve always been at peace with the idea that people will always take only what they want or need from my work, despite what my intentions may be. So I don’t know if there’s anything I’m hoping they’ll take away specifically. What I do hope, though, is that people simply get a chance to take a few minutes away from their own lives to dive into some art.”

Kaveri Gopalakrishnan (India)

“To me personally, this is a day (among others) for the recognition of women and women identifying peoples voices, and acknowledgment of the kind of efforts that have been made for every time I do not consider my gender as a key factor in a personal or professional scenario. There are small moments of celebration, and a lot of gratitude, and a lot more dialogue and conversation in the making and ahead of us. I don’t see it as a day of celebration: rather, it’s a reminder.”

“This is a story about books and building worlds. When I was very young and unsure of my own worth, it was reading that saved me. I didn’t think I had the words to speak out for myself, and so wrote for myself and read other peoples words. Surrounding myself with books (whatever was handy, even labels and instruction manuals) sort of grew me into the person I am today, instead of retreating into a shell (Contrary to the image of a bookworm :) ). I hope to share a story about setting your teeth, building yourself up and growing the wings and means to uplift yourself into a lighter place. There’s a kind of toughness and determination that comes from finding yourself in a story, and then changing the plot. Hope and strength. I hope this comic conveys that feeling, in some, sense. I’d love to hear different interpretations as well of this wordless, slightly abstract tale.”

Anna Haifisch (Germany)

“It’s an important day to raise awareness for all the women of the world. It’s a shame that there’s still so much violence against women. I’m a feminist and I will always fight for equality.”

“I don’t want to teach anybody. This story hopefully works on an emotional level. A thing people hopefully take away from this story is that circumstances can change for the better even though the world might look like a dark and grim place sometimes.”

Estelí Meza (Mexico)

“It is an effort to remember that a lot of inequality between women and men still exists. And the participation of everyone will help to have an egalitarian world.”

“I hope that women who are in this situation feel comforted and people are more sensitive to this reality.”

Saffa Khan (Pakistan/UK)

“IWD is not only to celebrate numerous achievements of women across the fields of science, arts & humanities, but also to recognise the sacrifices & changes made by women as they fight for recognition & equality everyday in a society dominated by men.”

“Being an immigrant, I want people to simply be able to empathise and visualise this small fragment of my most cherished memories of the home I had to leave behind and to understand that the love & support received from strong womanhood can help you accomplish anything.”

Francesca Sanna (Italy/Switzerland)

“To me, the International Women’s Day is an occasion to remember and celebrate all the brave, strong and incredible women who fought for women’s right and gender equality, and to remember how important is to keep doing so. It is also an occasion to celebrate all the connections with the wonderful women who help me in my personal and working life.”

“I think that everyone can read a story in their own personal way, but perhaps the main aspect I wanted to convey with my story is how powerful and at the same time scary and difficult it can be to share one’s own experiences. I always struggled with exposing what i think is my most vulnerable side and sharing it with others. But especially in the past year I fully appreciated the importance of sharing and the power of the connections between people – and between women – that this creates.”

Head over to Google and click on the comic strips to flip through each artist’s story. You’ll be so happy you did.

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.)

The French Campaign Equivalent to Time's Up Lights Up Eiffel Tower for International Women's Day

Deadline reports that the group of French actors, directors and producers behind the campaign #MaintenantOnAgit (#NowWeAct) lit up the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday with the movement's hashtag and colors tonight in honor of International Women's Day. These representatives from France's film industry launched their campaign last month to help female victims of violence. 

With the Tower scheduled to light up at 7 p.m. French time, French Culture Minister Françoise Nyssen and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo first spoke from the monument itself on behalf of the movement. The special ceremony comes less than a week after France's Oscars equivalent, the César Awards, where guests wore white ribbons in support of #MaintenantOnAgit. 

City of San Francisco Will Take Down Controversial Statue of Native American Man

San Francisco will remove a controversial statue showing a "submissive" Native American man after the city's art commission voted to take it down in response to last summer's white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The New York Times reports that opponents of the statute, "Early Days," find its depiction of a Native American man sitting below a standing Catholic missionary disrespectful and racist. "Early Days," which also features a Spanish cowboy, was built in the late 19th century. 

Other critics have focused on how the statue puts Native Americans in an inferior role and how the man is clearly a Plains Indian rather than a member of a tribe native to California. The statue's presence in the city was previously debated in the 1990s, when San Francisco added a plaque explaining its historical message. 

According to a spokeswoman for the arts commission, the city will remove the statue sometime this year and then keep it in storage. 

New Zealand Company Pays Employees to Ride Bikes to Work​

We all hear about finding a way to contribute to a healthy environment, but being kind to Mother Earth is sometimes easier said than done. One New Zealand ad agency is trying to prove otherwise. Christchurch company Make Collective has started paying employees $5 a day to ride bikes to work. If a staff member bikes for at least half of their yearly total of work days, Make Stuff will increase the bonus to $10 a day. 

Given how great New Zealand weather must be, all but one of the agency's employees have apparently taken up the company on its offer. In addition to the biking being environmentally friendly, the early exercise also helps staff feel particularly energized for work. Sounds like a win-win deal! Now, if only those of us still experiencing winter could stick to this kind of pattern...

What to look out for...

Happy International Women's Day! March 8 celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and nowadays, honoring what this title means is more important than ever before. See if your campus or nearest city is hosting any special events to commemorate the day!

When you’re breaking up with someone, it’s totally normal to think you’re doing them a favor by setting them free to pursue other more fruitful relationships. Of course, in his own twisted way The Bachelor’s Arie Luyendyk Jr. wanted the same thing for his now-ex, Becca Kufrin.

However, when the little devil on his shoulder suggested that he film the breakup for all of America to see, Arie must’ve said, “I love that.” And what was the logic behind this poor decision? To make Becca the next Bachelorette, or so he claims.

In an interview with Good Morning America, Arie admitted to wanting public closure."I really wanted everyone to know that this was on me. This was my fault,” he said. “And I felt like filming that would let people know that, that if there were any questions on the breakup, those would be squashed if they saw the breakup. And I wanted her that opportunity, honestly, I wanted her that opportunity to be the potential Bachelorette."

Claiming to only want happiness for Becca, Arie continued, "I'm very happy for her. I'm happy that she's going to be able to find her true love through the show. This ending obviously wasn't perfect and I know it was difficult for a lot of people to swallow, but I'm happy.”

Whether the breakup was filmed or not, it’s probable that Becca would’ve been chosen for The Bachelorette because she deserves love more than anyone right now.

Women's clothing retailer Wildfang has launched an amazing collection in time for international women's day and we are so here for it. Heavily inspired by the iconic protest slogans of the sixties, Wildfang's collection released staple pieces with powerful messages. The collection plays on a modern take of popular feminist text - I mean, who doesn't want a jacket that says 'Slay The Patriarchy' with Beyonce on it?

Even better, a portion of all proceeds directly go to the Malala Fund, a non-profit organization run by feminist icon Malala Yousafzai that focuses on providing secondary education to underprivileged and discriminated girls around the world. 

The line includes apparel and accessories, ranging from $9 - $188 and include sizing from XS-2X. The collection is available now on Wildfang. Check out some of our favorite picks below!

1. Wild Feminist Crew ($60)

2. Fight For Your Rights Protest Patch Bomber ($188)

3. Wild Feminist Chenille Crew ($56)

4. Fight For Your Rights Protest Button Set ($10)

If you're gonna rep your feminism in your style, it's definitely important to make sure that you trust the brands you're buying from — every day and not just during International Women's Day. Be sure to shop smart and shop ethically! 

So let us guess. You did really well in high school and are excited to make your parents proud in college as well…except your grades aren’t reflecting that. Your final grades resemble alphabet soup more than you’d like to admit. What happened? You were a stellar student not too long ago. Have you suddenly become inept? Or are your classes just that much harder? Truthfully, there are a multitude of changes going on in college that can affect your academic performance in college. We’re getting to the bottom of why you may not be doing as well as you’d like, and providing tried and true tips for doing better academically. Your habits from high school aren’t paying off in college, and here’s why.

1. Not going to class

Not going to class seems like a blatantly obvious reason for doing poorly in college, but you’d be surprised at how many people believe going to class is optional. Whether or not your teacher enforces or suggests attendance, it is in your best interest to go to class. And yes, you will one day be tempted by the indulgent thoughts of taking a nap instead of attending only to get notes from a peer later, but ultimately, this cannot be your primary source of education. Copying down notes is not a substitute for actually learning the material, studying and applying the concepts. Missing a class or two because of extraordinary circumstances is quite different than purposefully relying on loyal friends to do your work for you. And if that’s not enough motivation to go to class, remember: college is not free. In some capacity, someone is paying for your education, and it is wise to take that as a sign of privilege and actually reach your full potential.

In addition to hearing the lectures, it is also wise to attend classes to get to know your teacher. Eventually, you will need recommendation/reference letters that will come in handy once job interviews come around. In high school, you’re probably familiar with small classroom settings in which you’d see your teacher every day. They know you by name and you become close with them unintentionally. This is not necessarily the case in college. In college, your success is ultimately up to you. Whether or not you want to get to know a teacher is entirely your decision.

2. Not making time to study

This is definitely a common mistake the first semester in college. Most kids are used to studying the night before an exam and receiving an A. This is close to impossible for college exams (depending on your major, of course). For most exam-based courses, it is in your best interest to begin studying a week or two before the exam. This means re-reading your notes from the class and following along in the (expensive) textbook. This may seem like common knowledge, but you’d be surprised by how many people don’t take this crucial step. When you’re trying to learn chapters of information a couple days before the test, it will seem impossible— because it is. You’re supposed to be learning information over a prolonged period of time, not in a couple hours before the test.

Coordinators at Lehigh University’s Center for Academic Success include “studying as you go, and using your daytime hours to study” as tips for acing exams. Most universities have centers such as this one that are there for your intellectual benefit.

3. Poor study habits

So you may be telling yourself, “I go to all of my classes, I do what’s expected of me, why am I not getting good grades?” And the answer to that question is simply that the quality of your study sessions is poor. Spending hours and hours highlighting the textbook and re-reading notes is only one aspect of successful studying sessions. Once you are accepted into college, it is clear that you can learn, memorize and recall information. Professors are no longer looking for the student that can spend the most time memorizing facts, but the most hardworking student that puts in a valiant effort to analyze information, apply skills and fully grasp material outside of a classroom’s context.

This is where the discrepancy is. According to experts at Lehigh University’s Center of Academic Success, “forming study groups and setting hourly study goals” are some of the most time effective ways to study so you’re not spending hours in the library with little work done. You should also be “testing yourself” on the material because it “helps [you] learn to recall information, and gives [you] practice for the real thing.”

Many people either don’t know about these strategies or don’t have the motivation to implement them. However, the countless hours motivated people put into their degree is worth the struggle.

Related: What to Do If You're Failing a Class

4. Procrastinating

We’ve all been there. Instead of finishing an upcoming assignment, people choose to socialize, catch up on shows and take quizzes on Buzzfeed. Nia, a freshman from Lehigh University says, “With so many fun things to do on campus, it is very easy to avoid doing work. The availability of Netflix makes it that much harder.” Many students can relate to the problem Nia is facing in college. Procrastinating is a dangerous habit that most students are well aware of having. It is the most intelligent student’s kryptonite. You can acknowledge what must be done in order to receive good grades, but not have any motivation to do it. Studying is hard, and we totally agree that it is not nearly the most fun activity you can think of doing. However, education is all about the long term goals. The ability to put off immediate gratification for long-term success is a rare quality in young students today.

College is not about being the smartest person on campus, it’s about being the most hardworking and motivated. You’re going to be tempted to do fun, ridiculous and scandalous things because you’re young, and the consequences seem tiny in comparison to your entire academic career. We’re certainly not here to tell you to give up on adventures and happiness, and no one should. But don’t let late nights and partying become your entire life. Think of something you can do today that you would thank yourself for tomorrow. College is the time to figure out how to achieve a social and academic balance, and what works best for you. Your grades are somewhat of an indicator of how much time and effort you may have put into your classes. Think of that next time you start to type Netflix in your search bar.

5. Having too many distractions

You’re finally setting out time in your day to get shit done. You’ve made the right decision to study rather than go out, but now you can’t help but stare at your phone and have major FOMO over all the excitement you’re missing out on. Next thing you know you’re switching between every form of social media and the hours you set aside for schoolwork have just been wasted on liking and commenting on memes. Our advice to you is to turn your phone off and set it in a place it would be a hassle to reach. We know, the horror.

If you’re truly that serious about studying and you know you’re the type to get distracted, you’ll thank us later for this one. And if you’re one for loopholes, we're sure you’ve already thought about the fact that a giant version of a phone sitting in front of your face won’t be much help either. Yes, we're talking about your laptop, computer or tablet. Often, school assignments are posted online and when you realize that the boring reading passages your English teacher assigned are just a click away from puppy videos, you spend just as much time scrolling away on your Facebook account.

Josh Newton from Rowan University says, “You have to remove yourself from enjoyable activities. When I’m in a more public environment, like a library, it encourages me to do my work instead of when I’m home surrounded by electronics.”

Hooray! We have a solution for you serial scrollers. The first step toward curing your online addiction is to download a Google extension on your browser called StayFocusd. You can find it on the Google Chrome Web Store. It basically allows you to set time limits on certain distracting websites so you can actually get work done. This takes a lot of motivation, but it will be so worth it when you pass that exam with flying colors.

6. Not going the extra mile

If you’ve truly tried all of the steps above in order to get good grades and are still struggling, this is when I’d suggest you go the extra mile concerning your grades. You can ask for help. No one said you’d have to do this all alone. We get it. College is hard and the massive textbooks you’re staring at just seem more and more intimidating the longer you look at them. The final step is to look up your professor’s office hours. Attend those hours, or schedule an appointment to meet individually with your teacher. Address your concerns and bring up any questions you may have asked while you were studying. Another option is to get in touch with your school’s tutoring department. Sometimes having a peer there for you to answer immediate questions is more useful than doing it all alone. This step is all about reaching out and asking for help before it becomes too late.

If you’ve done all these steps, it’s safe to say that you have truly tried your best to be successful in school. And at the end of the day, knowing you tried your best is a much better feeling than regret. Good luck and enjoy your better grades!

On Wednesday, Nikolas Cruz was indicted on 34 charges of premeditated murder and attempted murder with regards to the massacre that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, CNN reports. Seventeen of these charges were premeditated murder in the first degree and 17 were attempted murder in the first degree. It is reportedly likely that Cruz will plead guilty to avoid the death penalty.

Cruz had been staying with the Snead family, who had taken him in after both of his parents died. He had previously stayed with Roxanne Deschamps, a family friend, but he reportedly moved in with the Sneads after Deschamps told him he could only stay with her if he got rid of his guns.

The Snead family’s lawyer, Jim Lewis, provided The Palm Beach Post with details of text messages between Cruz and the Sneads’ teenage son minutes before the massacre occurred. At 2 pm., 20 minutes before the shooter opened fire, he reportedly texted the Sneads’ son, who was in class at Stoneman Douglas, and asked him what class he was in and who the teacher was. When the son replied, Cruz asked him to ask the teacher if he remembered him (as Cruz had been expelled from Stoneman Douglas.) This teacher is not one of the people he shot.

Cruz then texted Snead and told him he was going to see a movie, and then told him, “I’ve got something big to tell you.”  Snead pressed him for details, but Cruz only said, “No big deal. Nothing bad." At 2:18 pm, the texting stopped. Snead texted Cruz several times without a response. Then the shooting started. Cruz then murdered 17 people in about ten minutes, before leaving the school undetected in a crowd of students.

Lewis told The Palm Beach Post that Cruz hadn’t given any recent signs that this was going to occur: “No bad feelings about anybody's school. No bad feelings about Douglas in general.” Six weeks prior to the shooting, the father of the Snead family had asked officials of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School if Cruz could re-enroll, and they had said no.

The indictment alleges that Cruz killed and murdered Luke Hoyer, Martin Duque-Anquiano, Gina Mantalto, Alexander Schachter, Alaina Petty, Alyssa Alhadeff, Nicholas Dworet, Helena Ramsay, Christopher Hixon, Carmen Schentrup, Aaron Feis, Scott Biegel, Meadow Pollack, Cara Loughran, Joaquin Oliver-Padauy, Jaime Guttenberg and Peter Wang.

Cruz has been segregated in jail due to his high-profile status and Wednesday, the day of his indictment, was the first full day back to school at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Usually the members of the Kardashian-Jenner clan like to keep us guessing, leaving it up to us to speculate over the meaning behind their mysterious new jewelry and tattoos, or keeping us in the dark about major life changes.

Wednesday night, however, there was no mystery about Kylie Jenner’s shiny new “J.W.” ring. Showing off her brand new bling on Snapchat with the caption “Jacques Webster & Jordyn Woods. Real ones. Ok…”

Jacques Webster is Travis Scott's real name, and Jordyn Woods is none other than her bestie we see her with all the time, so she left no mystery as to what the ring represented for her. So for those thinking the initials belong to some new man she’s seeing, or that it's an engagement ring, as you can see that's not the case. Kylie and current boyfriend Travis Scott are reportedly stronger than ever with the arrival of their new baby Stormi, though, according to E! News.

The rapper actually teamed up with Kylie's BFF Jordyn to buy this ring.

If I ever got a friendship ring as nice as this $450, 14 karat gold ring, I’d be ok without an engagement ring too.

Image: courtesy of Disney/ABC on Flickr