There are few opportunities more exciting than a summer backpacking trip through Europe. Before your journey, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared, but it may seem a bit daunting to know where to begin. Luckily, from lodging to transportation, we’ve got you covered. Check out HC’s travel tips to make sure you make the most out of your summer backpacking experience!

Mapping a route

Planning your own route

There are about 50 countries in Europe, so when you’re determining a route, the options are almost endless! If you have no idea where to begin, visit Triptuner. The site provides six basic questions to match you with locations that will best suit your traveling needs. Just specify Europe as your location and slide the “tuners” to adjust the type of trip you are looking for. The site asks questions like: Do you want a relaxing or active trip? A remote or urban destination? A beach or mountain location? After you answer each question, the site suggests locations that match your interests. Triptuner is the perfect starting point to get general ideas for cities you may want to visit.

For more detailed help with route planning, check out Mygola, a site that helps users create custom trips. You can choose a trip from their itineraries and then customize the trip (you can add or delete cities to your heart’s content) to create your dream trip. The site allows you to plan your trip day-by-day, provides the option to book everything you’ve planned right then and there and even gives you the option of asking a travel expert for advice!

When planning, you may wonder if you should hit a different city each day or spend several days in each city. It’s completely up to you! If you spend a short amount of time in many cities, you’ll get to see a ton of different places, but you won’t have time see everything in every city, and you’ll constantly be traveling.

“I felt rushed everywhere,” says Sarah Kahwash, a recent graduate from Kenyon College who traveled to Bristol, London, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Thessaloniki, Paris, Nice and Lille. “Realistically, nobody can exhaust all the wonderful things a city has to offer in a week or less. But my objective was to visit many interesting places, so I went for breadth as opposed to depth.”

Research travel blogs like Bakpak Travelers Guide andTravelettes to read about what others have learned when traveling so you can make the best decisions when planning your own trip. Bakpak Travelers Guide has information on choosing a route, a free downloadable guide about European hostels, and two-week trip ideas.

Travelettes, a blog written by young women who have traveled the world—they bill themselves as backpacking in heels, which we really wouldn’t recommend trying—contains posts with what they’ve learned while traveling in Europe, including their take on the best European cities and hotels!

Picking a pre-planned trip

If you decide that you don’t want to plan everything by yourself, consider going on a group trip like those offered from EF College Break or Topdeck.

Going on a group trip will mean you won’t have stress about planning out every detail of your route, and you’ll be traveling on a trip planned by travel experts. “I did a 22-day Europe Unplugged Adventure trip with Topdeck tours,” says Kelly Dood, a junior from St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada, who has backpacked through Europe on her own and with Topdeck. Of her group trip experience, she says, “It is excellent if you love camping and enjoy both the tourist and the real-life experience of the places you visited.”

Budgeting

We didn’t need to go to college to learn that money doesn’t grow on trees (sigh—if only). You may be able to plan the perfect 30-day, 30-country trip, but can you afford it? You’ll need to determine realistically what you can manage.

“I saved about $3,000 for my trips,” says Brooke Kamenoff, a recent graduate from Northeastern University. “I generally spent anywhere from $150 to $550 on weekend trips, which includes flights, lodging, food, etc.​ I went to London, Paris, Lisbon, Berlin, Barcelona, Brussels and Amsterdam.”

Determine your overall budget for the entire trip, and from there, make allotments for transportation, lodging, food, attractions and other expenses. Then, see if you can realistically meet your budget with the travel plans, and adjust accordingly.

“Plan ahead, look for good deals on flights and hotels, buy food at reasonably priced stores and markets, take pictures instead of buying souvenirs,” Sarah advises. “My advice for budgeting trips would be to distinguish clearly between necessities and luxuries. I was willing to spend as much as I needed to feel safe, so when I went for hostels and motels, I tried to research their reputation and surrounding area.”

While traveling, you should also check exchange rates often by tracking them online, as the American dollar can be worth more or less than other currencies from day to day. Avoid currency exchange booths in high-traffic areas, such as airports or bus stations, as these booths tend to offer customers extremely high rates.

“If you are fortunate enough to have a credit card, your best bet is to talk to your provider about the cheapest and easiest way to withdraw cash abroad,” Sarah says. Many banks charge transaction fees or ATM fees in foreign countries, so check with a representative at your bank to find out what fees you may incur while traveling. Some banks have international partners, so you may be able to use a partner bank—whether you use their services or ATMs—without additional fees.

There are also credit and debit cards that do not have foreign transaction fees, like theBank of America Travel Rewards Card,which has no foreign transaction fees, and the Charles Schwab Bankdebit card that rebates all ATM fees. Check out this list ofcredit cards with no foreign transaction fees to see if your card is on there, and if it’s not but you are planning on doing a lot of foreign traveling over the next several years, consider getting one that is.

Packing

Packing for a long-anticipated trip through Europe can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be!

For starters, if you’re going to backpack through Europe, you’re going to need a good backpack. “I have a pack I take on hikes with me,” says Erin Appenzoller, a recent Emerson College graduate. “When I backpack through Europe and bounce from hostel to hostel, I like to have that with me. It’s so much easier than trying to travel with a suitcase.”

Erin, who recently spent several weeks backpacking through Portugal and Spain, recommends looking for backpacks at Eastern Mountain Sports, REI and Amazon. Check out REI’s backpack guide for tips on how to choose the right backpack for you.

After you’ve determined what bag to bring, deciding what to put inside of it is another battle in itself, since it’s likely that just the thought of packing light makes you cringe! While you may have enough shoes to fill an entire duffel by themselves, it’s not practical to lug around items that you don’t need.

“There’s no reason to bring a different outfit for every occasion,” Erin says. “Whenever I go away, I always bring a limited number of shirts, pants and shoes, then mix and match.” Last summer, when traveling for two weeks in Europe, Erin brought:

• Two pairs of jeans
• Two pairs of shorts
• Five shirts for daytime
• Three shirts for nighttime
• Two dresses
• Two jackets

“That gave me more than enough options,” she says. Bring clothes that you can mix and match so that you can create different outfits. You’ll also want to check past temperatures for the month you will be traveling to get an idea of what type of weather to expect and pack accordingly.

It might be difficult, but limit yourself to only bringing a few pairs of shoes. You should bring practical walking shoes, a pair of cute yet comfy shoes for going out and a pair of sandals that can double as shower shoes.

As for other necessities, we suggest packing:

• Medications (be sure to bring enough to last your entire trip)
• Makeup
• Toiletries
• Umbrella or raincoat
• Camera
• Outlet adapter

You might want to leave your hairdryer, curling iron or straighter at home, as they tend to be bulky and weigh down your bag. Limit what valuables and electronics that you bring—take only what is absolutely necessary.

Transportation

You’re going to be traveling a lot. Because there are so many different types of transportation available, you should research all of your options to ensure you get the best deal when traveling between cities and countries.

Trains

If you want to travel by train, consider buying a country or even multi-country train pass. There are different types of options available, so make sure you determine how much traveling you plan to do in order to buy the type of pass that best fits your needs.

Visit Seat 61 for advice about what type of train tickets you should buy. This site also provides country-specific links so that you can easily find different railway companies in each country you are traveling to.

If you want to do a lot of traveling, you may want to buy a Eurail Global Pass, which provides you with the option to travel between 28 countries in Europe, including Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey, to name a few. A 15-day youth global pass (for those ages 12 through 25) for continuous travel costs $435, and a monthly pass costs $687. With this ticket, you can travel on trains run by participating railway companies, and while you don’t need to buy any other kind of ticket, on some trains you will need to make a reservation to ensure that you have a seat.

If you are only going to be traveling within one country, you can get a specific pass for that country. For example, an Italy pass starts from $238, Spain starts from $262 and a Benelux Pass starts from $148 for travel between the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium. Eurail also has regional passes for traveling to countries next to each other; tickets vary in price depending how many days you want to travel. You can also get a discounted pass called a SaverPass if you are traveling with friends! The pass allows 15 percent off for adults traveling with two to five other people.

If you want to constantly travel, you should choose a Eurail pass that allows you to travel on consecutive days. If you want to travel every few days, you should choose a Eurail pass with a flexible validity period so you can choose which specific days you want to travel and only pay for the days you do travel.

“The pass was really helpful if we were doing day trips to a couple small cities and towns,” says Kasia Jaworski, a senior at Villanova University who used a Eurail pass when traveling in Italy last summer. “I would take the train up to four or five times a day. I never had to worry about train/bus times or buying a ticket online before and then realizing we weren’t going to make that train/bus. It gave me a ton of flexibility, and it definitely saved me a ton of money!”

Pro: Train passes allow flexibility for constant and spontaneous traveling, so they’re great if you want to be doing a lot of traveling. You also won’t have to waste time going through airport security.

Con: Passes will only save you money if you’re doing a lot of traveling.

Buses

Two reliable European bus lines are Eurolines and Busabout. Eurolines can offer tickets for as low as one euro, and those under 26 receive a discount. The company also has a 30-day pass that offers unlimited rides between 53 cities for 265 to 405 euros depending on the month. With Euroline, you have to book your first destination in advance and then you have the freedom to book as you go, and thus, you can travel at your own pace. Busabout has similar multi-route deals; however, this bus company is slightly less flex

ible because it requires you to travel along predetermined loops, meaning you have to visit specific cities in a certain order. However, you can stay in each city for as little or as long as you’d like. One trip option is their North loop bus route between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria for $745.

Pros:A bus is often the cheapest means of transportation from point A to point B. Bus passes are good for seeing a lot of places in a short amount of time.

Cons: Buses are often cramped and uncomfortable, and the cheapest buses tend to only go to the most popular destinations. Buses are the slowest means of transportation (but they’re faster than walking!).

Airplanes

Europe has two great budget airlines that offer round-trip flights for insanely low prices: Ryanair and easyJet. After backpacking throughout Europe, Kelly recommends Ryanair, which offers roundtrip flights for as low as 10 euros!

Since you’ll want to find the best deal out there, compare prices of multiple airlines by using sites like eDreams, KAYAK and Skyscanner. “Keep your eye on flights and set up alerts for when they drop,” Kelly advises. “I’ve had friends get flights from London to Croatia for $0.01 with $9.00 in taxes, so it’s definitely worth the extra time to check.”

While budget airlines may become your new best friend, be aware that budget airlines tend to fly into airports that are located outside city centers, which might actually make it more expensive to fly into them once you add in the cost of transportation from the airport to the city you are going and back again. “My Ryanair flight to Paris flew into an airport that required us to take about a two-hour bus ride just to get into the center city,” says Therese Burke, a sophomore at Saint Mary’s College. “Make sure you plan for transportation from the airport.” 

If you don’t have a specific destination in mind but you know you want to plan a trip, try downloading Adioso, an app that allows you to search flights to “everywhere” that will give you options of the cheapest flights possible to different locations. The app is built for the flexible traveler: for people who don’t have specific dates in mind to travel or where they want to go.

Pros: Airlines are the fastest way to get from point A to point B. Budget airlines make it possible to score cheap flights.

Cons:You’ll usually have to book flights well in advance to get the cheapest deals. Budget airlines tend to have major restrictions on the amount of baggage you can bring, so if your bag is oversized, you may be slammed with additional fees.

Lodging

From staying at a five-star hotel to crashing at a stranger’s house for free, there’s a myriad of different lodging accommodations available for whatever price range you may be looking for.

Hostels

Hostels can be a backpacker’s best friend, as hostels provide travelers with cheap lodging. Use sites like Hostelworld and HostelBookers to find the cheapest lodging options available. Multiple-occupancy rooms (a single room that strangers share that has multiple beds) tend to be the cheapest. Some hostels include a free meal with the price of your room, which can help you save on food costs, too!

“If you’re looking for a cheap place to stay for a night or two, usually in the center of the city, hostels are a good option,” says Sara Splitter, a senior at the University of Notre Dame who’s traveled to Austria, France and Italy. “They can, however, nickel-and-dime you for things like towels and sheets, which is why I would only stay for one or two nights.”

Hostels vary greatly on the amenities that they offer, so research what each hostel offers in advance to make the most of your money. When choosing a hostel, consider:

• Location: Is the hostel located in the center of the city or near other attractions? If it’s on the outskirts of a city, how much would transportation cost to and from the center of the city? Is the hostel in a safe part of the city?
• Security: Are lockers available for you to keep your valuable items safe? Do you have to bring your own lock?
• Linens: Are linens included? If not, how much per night does it cost to rent sheets and towels if you don’t want to bring your own?
• Cleanliness: Pay attention to cleanliness reviews. If you read multiple reviews about cleanliness problems, you may want to consider a different choice (you want to avoid staying somewhere that might have bed bugs or rats!).
• Extras: Does the hostel provide any free meals? Does the hostel have a free city tour? Free Wi-Fi? Is there air conditioning?

Alternatives

While finding a cheap option is probably one of your top priorities, price shouldn’t be the only factor that you consider. “Sometimes the cheapest option isn’t the best option,” Kasia says. “I would definitely recommend spending a little more money for clean, acceptable lodging!”

Airbnb

Airbnbhelps users find a place to stay in 192 countries. It allows people to rent out spaces that they own (the site has over 600,000 available) to travelers for a range of prices. You can find accommodations ranging from an apartment for a night to a villa for a month.

“The personal relationship is awesome,” says Sara, who used Airbnb in Rome, Vienna and Siena. “Your host is nearly always available to answer questions about the city or transportation or restaurants nearby.”

The site has a layer of safety, as both guests and hosts are verified through the site via social networks and official IDs. “Even though I’m crashing in the home of a stranger, I feel safe because of the extent to which the website checks everything out,” Sara says. “The other thing to remember is the host is opening their home to a stranger, so they probably feel just as nervous as you do!” 

Brooke also had a positive experience with Airbnb. “I stayed in an Airbnb with friends where we were in a private room in an apartment with locals,” she says. “They gave us great ideas on what to do and were great resources when visiting the city. They also recommended that we rent bikes in Amsterdam and bike everywhere—it was absolutely one of my favorite experiences.”

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is another great site that allows users to become connected with hosts in any country in the world—and the best news is it’s free!

“CouchSurfing basically allows you to create a type of social media profile,” says Avril, a senior at Florida International University who couchsurfed in Spain and Israel. “You can add information and pictures of yourself. No monetary exchange is made during your homestay with the host you chose, and you communicate with the person online before you show up to coordinate duration of stays.”

To stay safe, couchsurf with a friend and take the time to read other users’ reviews on the site and pick hosts who have an established reputation. “What really made me feel safe about the process was that there would be reviews from previous couchsurfer profiles to rate hosts,” Avril says. “I used Google [Maps] to make sure I was in a safe area, and always made sure to have emergency contacts.”

Kelly also used Google to look for additional information about the hosts she was going to stay with. “I always checked the reviews and Googled the families’ names; sometimes newspaper articles would come up about small village news and stuff like that,” Kelly says. “Couchsurfing was a little intimidating at first, but once I stayed with a few people, I definitely loosened up about it. Now I recommend it to everyone!”

Above all, trust your instincts and don’t stay anywhere you don’t feel comfortable. Have a backup plan with a place to stay (such as a nearby hostel) just in case.

WWOOFing

Finally, WWOOFing, or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, is an organization that allows travelers to volunteer to work on a farm in exchange for food and lodging. The length of your stay varies depending on the job and the arrangement you make with your host; some are only for a few days, while others can last over a month.

This is a great option for nature-loving collegiettes, especially in the summer when the weather can be beautiful! Check out this HC article on WWOOFing to learn more.

Safety

While you should be adventurous and get out of your comfort zone while traveling, you should always make sure that safety is still your number one priority. “Don’t walk down alleys at night, but even during the day unless it’s very visible, and don’t accept drinks from strangers,” Kelly advises. 

Erin says safety is her top priority when she looks for hostels. “It’s important to remember you’ll be sleeping in a room with strangers,” she says.

Take advantage of hostel lockers when they’re available to keep your important belongings safe, but definitely leave expensive and sentimental belongings at home. “I bring a really durable key lock to keep my pack safe when I’m in between cities. Then, I lock my pack away in my hostel locker wherever I’m staying,” Erin says.

To stay safe abroad, Sarah says, “I tried not to carry too much cash. As for passports, boarding passes, etc., I kept them in my hand purse so that they were immediately accessible, and I checked they were there before leaving or arriving anywhere.” Be aware of your surroundings, and be especially vigilant for pickpockets in touristy areas.

Make sure to know how to dial the police in whatever country you are traveling in—911 isn’t the go-to number in all countries, so have your country’s emergency contact numbers on hand. And if you’re going to be traveling on your own, check out our tips for traveling solo.

Exploring

In the end, it’s all about making the most of your Eurotrip. Take more pictures than you think are necessary and break out of your comfort zone—visit cities you’ve never been to before, try food that you’ve never tasted and have a conversation with someone from a culture that you know nothing about!

Don’t be afraid to start conversations with local storeowners, your hostel owner or even other travelers. “Start one [conversation] yourself,” Kelly advises. “I met people through the hostels and at cafes and museums. The hostels always had lounges to watch TV or cook food, and eventually conversations would start up.”

You may be surprised how many interesting people you can meet when traveling, and other travelers are often some of the best resources you can go to for travel advice.

Doing research online ahead of time can help you make the most of the time you have in a city. Stay.com sorts hotels, restaurants and attractions by popularity, price and location. The ones you select get compiled into your own personalized guide, and the site even plots your destinations on a map. USE-IT has guides and maps made entirely by young locals. “It has the best advice for where to eat and what to do when you’re traveling through less popular cities,” Sara says.

Be flexible and, above all, have fun! No matter what curveballs may come your way while traveling, learn from them and go with it. Chances are you will face a roadblock or two—a flight might get delayed, a major attraction might be closed or the hostel you wanted to stay at might be booked—but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have a perfect trip.

“Don’t be afraid to get lost,” Kasia says. “Explore, and if you get lost, you might stumble upon a great restaurant or shop that you wouldn’t have found otherwise! It’s all part of the experience.”

Here at Her Campus, we believe in pink. From timeless to trendy shades, the color's always been a hit, and in honor of the classic hue, June 23 celebrates National Pink Day. 

You've mastered pink in all other forms—monochrome outfits, trendy nails, and the perfect shade of blush—why not try something a little more adventurous? Colored hair is totally chic and completely in this season, and unlike other risky shades, we can promise that your adored and trusted tint won't let you down. 

1. Highlights

If you're nervous to go fully dyed, highlights are a lovely way to add a subtle hue. These soft salmon streaks almost look natural, and they beautifully compliment dusty brown hair.

2. Chalk

Muted and totally temporary, pink hair chalk (get it in this 5-pack from Free People for $14!) is the perfect way to achieve a festival-ready look in seconds. Feel free to test a multitude of tones and just wash it out when you're done!

3. Dip-Dye

Another option for a mildly-colored mane, the dip-dye trend is far from over. Take a dip in any pink shade for a colorful twist on your natural hair. Best of all, a simple trim will rid you of your tint as soon as you're ready for a change!

4. Natural to Pink Ombré 

An upgrade from dip-dye, an ombré look again allows you to embrace your natural shade while adding a bit of fuchsia-infused flair. Try a single shade, or mix and match different hues for a more complex color transition. Need some inspiration? Violets look lovely when paired with pinks.

5. Pink to Pink Ombré

If you're ready to go full out, begin with a lighter shade and slowly progress to something brighter as you travel down your strands. We adore this pinkish plum, which begins soft and ends strong.

6. Rose Gold

The shiny, subtle shade, embraced by the likes of Blake Lively and the Olsen twins, looks so seamless that it can almost be mistaken for a natural hue. Perfect for those with golden or copper locks, adding this pretty tint makes your natural color pop, working like a highlighter for your hair.

7. Ruby

This unique shade, known as Thulian Pink, has an air of elegance. Reminiscent of something royal, it's truly breathtaking and perfectly uncommon for anyone aiming to trendset. 

8. Peach

Such a toned-down tint is perfect for a subtle surprise. It's so close to a natural strawberry blonde that it doesn't risk looking artificial.

9. Pastel

The beauty world is raving over the two newest color trends—pretty pastels and sultry silvers. Combine both for a classy colored look that's dim enough for an office but still made for a street style shoot. 

10. Bubblegum

Channel your inner Barbie by opting for a more subdued version of the doll's favorite hue. The blush shade is light and summery, and will go perfectly with your summer whites and pastels.

11. Neon

Go grunge with hot pink while you're still young enough to rock it! No regrets, right?

12. Streaks

If your head's a little darker, red-infused shades are the way to go. Try coral, crimson, and even tomato!

13. Magenta

Combine magenta, fuchsia, and orchid tones for a bright and bold look. These shades are absolutely gorgeous, and it's refreshing to see them slapped onto strands.

As always, we recommend going to a professional for the more advanced looks, but if you're digging something DIY, dip-dyes and chalks can achieve that perfect pink you're craving.

Which shade has inspired your next look?

Hey collegiettes!

We know you love reading HC on your laptops, your smartphones, and your tablets... but now you can truly curl up with HC because our first-ever book, The Her Campus Guide to College Life, just hit stores!

Order your copy online here or head to your local Barnes & Noble! And be sure to check out our upcoming schedule of book signing events and see if we're coming to your area!

The Her Campus Guide to College Life: How to Manage Relationships, Stay Safe and Healthy, Handle Stress, and Have the Best Years of Your Life covers everything you need to know to rock college, from how to get along with your roommates to how to avoid the 'freshman 15', deal with tough professors, snag internships, decide whether to study abroad, and much, much more.

Whether you're already an upperclassman or are just getting ready to go off to college next fall, this book has everything you need to survive and thrive on campus when it comes to all aspects of your life. Our book also includes handy resources like a template roommate contract, dorm room grocery list, and more.

Want a sneak preview? Read an excerpt from our book here then order your copy!

I can't wait to hear what you think!

HC Love,
Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, Co-founder, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus

After lots of anticipation and much drama, Iggy Azalea's collection for Steve Madden launched last February. It features sleek flats, wedges and stilettos in bright colors and metallic shades that look like they came straight out of one of Iggy's videos.

And as if these shoes weren't cool enough, most of them are now on sale on the Steve Madden site, with finds ranging from $50 to $65—meaning you can score Iggy's signature style for even less.

The sassy Australian singer's goal for the collection was "to make shoes your girlfriends would love and your boyfriends wouldn't understand," and that's exactly what she did. So if you're looking to add some fun, cutting-edge pieces to your wardrobe, look no further than these cool-kid shoes. Hurry, though—we bet they'll be selling out ASAP!

How many times have you heard someone say something just utterly and completely off about the LGBTQ+ community? It could be a question, a statement or a casual comment. It could have come from within or outside the LGBTQ+ community, but whomever you heard it from, you were probably blindsided. So for the good of the queer and non-queer community, let’s head off some awkward conversations by clearing up some of these ideas once and for all.

1. People who are asexual and aromantic don’t fall under the LGBTQ+ umbrella

Because asexuality and aromanticality are not often talked about, plenty of misconceptions surround these completely valid identities—including that they are not identities that fall under the queer umbrella. Many often confuse the “A” of LGBTQIA to stand for ally, rather than asexual, and that is only the tip of the iceberg.

Chloe, a student at Mount Holyoke who identifies as being on the asexuality spectrum, notes that there is debate about whether being asexual falls under the queer umbrella, given that asexuals can be heteroromantic, meaning romantically attracted to the opposite sex.

“Since the LGBTQ+ community has fought so hard for our sexuality recognized as normal, it definitely makes sense that people in the queer community might not understand or care to educate themselves about the asexual spectrum,” says Chloe. She recommends having discussions about what asexuality is because a lot of people don’t understand it.

“Be aware of setting, though—the LGBTQ+ resource center is a great place to facilitate these kinds of hard conversations. You can’t respect something if you don’t understand it,” she says.

2.Non-binary people are just being “trendy”

It may seem like there’s been an influx of people who are coming out as being non-binary, leading people to consider it as trendy and “in”—rather than a result of a society that is finally moving toward allowing for different expression.

To make sure we’re all on the same page, people can identify as women, men, or non-binary, which means that they could identify as something other than solely a man or woman. Gender is not a binary—there’s a spectrum. People identify as male, female, in between, both and neither.

Lane, a sophomore at University of Massachusetts who identifies as genderqueer, says, “I spent hours wondering why I didn’t feel like a girl and why I didn’t feel like a boy. I didn’t feel like either, which was so confusing until I found out about the existence of different gender identities. Genderqueer fit because sometimes I feel both, sometimes I feel neither, and sometimes I lean a bit more towards one than the other.”

They explain that the best thing you can do to support non-binary people is to check in regularly about pronouns, respect them and really try to understand that this isn’t a phase.

3.Transitioning means the same thing to everyone

This isn’t necessarily true. Yes, many people who come out as being trans* or non-binary feel the freedom to express themselves differently after they have come out and make changes accordingly. They could do this by purchasing binders, cutting their hair, growing their hair out, wearing more or less makeup, shifting their clothing style, getting surgery or any number of other shifts in presentation.

That doesn’t mean, though, that every non-binary or trans* person is going to change their presentation. Lane says, “I don’t plan on getting bottom surgery, but I do bind and have thought about having surgery to make my chest more neutral. That’s just me, though, and what I need in order to minimize my dysphoria. It’s completely individual.”

4. Coming out as non-binary is a stepping stone to coming out as trans*

People enjoy categorizing each other and sometimes have trouble grasping the concept of “gray areas,” so when someone comes out as non-binary it’s sometimes assumed that they’re actually trans* and are phasing into transitioning.

Chandler, a junior at Smith College who identifies as non-binary, says that people often act like they are actually trans* and imply that they’re going to transition soon.

“It makes me feel like I don’t exist, that it’s just a transitioning phase,” Chandler says. “Honestly, it’s invalidating.”

Chandler says that when their peers imply that they’re trans*, they make a point to stand up for themselves. “You have to make sure you’re not reacting defensively. In that kind of situation, you have to be an educator in order to make sure that your identity is being respected.”

5. If you’re non-binary or androgynous, you will present as masculine

Sarah identifies as genderfluid and fluctuates between presenting as traditionally feminine and somewhere in the middle. “When I’m presenting as feminine and I explain that I use ‘they’ pronouns, I get a lot of weird looks. It’s really frustrating and it makes me feel like my identity isn’t valid.”

The gay male community often represents the queer community, but we should make an effort not to make the “norm” and the “neutral” masculine. Gender presentation is completely different than gender identity. As a community that prides itself on respecting others’ identities, we need to respect masculine, feminine and any other presentations in order to get respect from outside our community.

6. Bisexual people just can’t make up their mind or are confused

Stop. Wait a minute. Negativity about bisexual people comes from the mainstream community and from the queer community (just check out Arielle Scarcella’s video about lesbians’ stereotypes about bisexuals). No identity deserves to have these negative stereotypes attached to it.

“People think I’m a lesbian who doesn’t want to come out all the way yet,” says Briana, a freshman at UNC Chapel Hill who identifies as a bisexual woman. “It’s so wrong—just like how you know what you like, I know what I like. I just happen to have the capacity to be attracted to more people. I am fully confident that I can be romantically and sexually attracted to both men and women.”

In addition, if a bisexual woman has dated a man in the past and a woman now, it doesn’t mean that she was straight back then and is a lesbian now. Briana says, “I just wish people would respect that I have thought about my sexuality so much. I know I could be in a romantic relationship with a man or a woman and, other than that, I don’t see why people care about my sexuality so much.”

7. Bisexual people are promiscuous and are more likely to cheat on you

First of all, being bisexual does not mean that someone necessarily is attracted to many people and, if they are, does not mean that they will act on those attractions. Bisexual people are no more promiscuous than are straight people, gay people or anything-in-between people.

“Being bisexual has definitely hurt my romantic life,” says Briana. “In the past, a girlfriend found out I was bisexual and started talking about how she didn’t feel like she could fully satisfy me and about how she thought I was going to cheat since she ‘wasn’t enough.’”

If you’ve discussed monogamy with your partner and you feel a connection, it doesn’t matter whether they are gay, straight, bisexual or anything else; cheating shouldn’t happen. If it does, it’s not due to your partner’s sexuality.

When it comes down to it, most of these misconceptions come from people pushing their own ideas onto others’ identities. Treat people like people, respect their identities and try to strip away the layers of stereotypes and judgment that exist; your friends will feel more respected and you’ll wind up learning more than if you had just let your preconceptions of stereotypes shield you from actually getting to know people.

These views reflect the opinion of the author.

Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Cynthia Hurd, Rev. Daniel Simmons, Tywanza Sanders, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Myra Thompson, Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance. The Beautiful Nine. These are the nine victims of the horrific shooting that took place last Wednesday night, when Dylann Roof entered the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina during a bible study to shoot black people. As a black collegiette and a human being, this hate crime has only reinforced the pain felt when Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Renisha McBride and countless other unarmed black men and women were senselessly gunned down for nothing other than living. Also, with recent videos showing extreme policy brutality against unarmed black men, women and children at protests, pools and in various neighborhoods, this shooting brings up the topics of racial divide in America, the media's message on race and the question many black people are asking today: if we aren’t even safe in our place of worship, where are we safe?

Racism is nothing new in the world, least of all America. Despite the fact that we have a black president and no longer live in the Jim Crow era of the 1960s where lynching black people was an occasional occurrence met with celebration, racism is still alive and well. As I watched several news outlets with my parents, I came to the realization that several of the victims grew up during the Jim Crow era, having to endure the time when there were separate water fountains, bathrooms and lunch counters for blacks and whites. Then, they were able to see the progress America made as a country; laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and many others were enacted for blacks to live out the rights that should have already been afforded to them as human beings. They saw President Obama be elected as our first black president in 2008 and once again in 2012. They saw that in 2014 and 2015, racial tensions increased with the outrage in Ferguson and Baltimore, leading many to question whether we were still in the 1960s, only for these victims to see this progress and still be killed by a white racist born decades after Jim Crow. This realization made the crime even worse, because not only were these victims robbed of their lives, but robbed of hope as well.

As I said, I watched various news channels on the Charleston shooting with my parents and I saw no mention of Roof as a terrorist by the media, but only a young boy who was described as wild. Many of my friends and many vociferous voices of all races made the point that if the shooter were of color, particularly of Middle Eastern descent, he would be labeled a terrorist automatically, and if he were black, he would be a thug, a gangster, a criminal. This is where the media's role in race relations brings up the critical, yet subtle point that often times, white perpetrators are given a sympathetic angle in the media and often described as troubled or disturbed. This selective descriptiveness by the media only helps to perpetuate racial stereotypes and negatively impact not only the way we look at one another, but the way we look at our individual selves.

While there are no words nor actions that can bring back the nine victims of this attack, we can only hope that the killer will be brought to justice as we support the victims' families and echo the words of Christopher Singleton, the son of victim Sharonda Singleton: “Love is always stronger than hate. So if we just loved the way my mom would, then the hate won't be anywhere close to what it is.”

Exercising on the treadmill can be an awesome workout—but most of us don’t know where to begin. Instead of going for a boring run at the same pace and incline for half an hour, give your body (and your booty!) the workout it really wants! Taking advantage of this workout’s varying intervals and inclines, you’ll burn major calories and work your way to your best butt ever in just 30 minutes. Happy running, collegiettes!

Summer is a great time to hit the beach with friends, have a picnic with your beau and work on your tan. Unfortunately, there are some days where it’s simply too hot to do anything outside. And naturally, when it’s too hot, we resort to napping, Netflix bingeing and planning our dream wedding on Pinterest. But if you want to keep your summer days fun and productive, we have some tips for you! Here are nine activities for those sweltering summer days to keep your boredom (and sweating) at bay.

1. Hit the gym

It’s that time of year again: bikini season! What better time to work on those abs than when you’ll be showing them off at the beach?

“On days when it’s too hot to run outside, I force myself to go to the gym,” says Alexis Watson, a sophomore at Simmons College. “That way, I’m still being productive instead of sitting inside and watching TV.”

Now’s the time to try out a yoga class or get back on the elliptical machine. Take advantage of the sweltering days and escape to your local air-conditioned gym – no excuses!

2. Head to the library

Air conditioning and romance novels – what could be better? When it’s too hot to do much else, consider taking a trip to your local library. “If I'm really dying when it's too hot out, I like to find a quiet spot in the library and read whatever catches my interest for several hours,” says Angie Lorden, a student at the Defense Information School in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. “I find the library to be more peaceful in the summer anyway because more people are out and about doing summer things.”

So instead of sweating it out, rent some DVDs, check out magazines and stock up on juicy beach reads!

3. Pick up a hobby

You may not have much free time in the fall, so take advantage of your free days and teach yourself something new! Always wanted to learn the guitar? Try out music lessons.Planning to study abroad in Italy? Invest in Rosetta Stone. Since you have a good chunk of free time, summer is perfect for learning a new language or picking up a hobby. So if you’re bored and overheating, consider taking up that interest that you haven’t had time for throughout the school year. There are tons of different ways to pick up a new hobby, so start researching!

4. Try some new recipes

It’s about time you stopped pinning recipes on Pinterest and actually started cooking them! Hot days are the perfect time to make those delicious smoothiesand homemade popsicles you’ve been dreaming of all spring.

“I love to cook, but I hate the heat, so when it comes to trying something new in the summer, I try to steer clear of the oven,” says Hannah Davis, a junior at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. “I love mixing fresh fruits into smoothies and making homemade sorbets as well. It's both entertaining and refreshing!”

Need somewhere to start? Take a look at our favorite smoothie recipes!

5. Get ahead on work

Okay, okay—we know that summer is supposed to be reserved for relaxing, but it never hurts to get a head start! If you’re feeling productive (and sweaty), head inside and start working on your to-do list for the fall. Look up the books you have to buy for class, start searching for an internship for the fall or update your resume. You may be hesitant now, but you’ll thank yourself in a few months.

6. See a summer blockbuster

With all the big-action blockbusters and cheesy rom-coms coming out, summer is arguably the best time for movies. If it’s too hot outside to do anything, move your party to the movie theater and have a relaxing afternoon!

“You get to live in a different place for a while and get away from work and the mundane parts of summer,” says Ivy Stafford, a junior at Keene State College. “Not to mention that the A/C is a major plus!”

7. Have a girls’ night (or day)

Summer is the best time to catch up with your high school friends, and those hot days are the best for manis, s’mores and chick flicks. “I love getting together with my girlfriends in the summer,” Alexis says. “Since we’re all home for the break, it’s a great time to catch up and do fun summer-y activities that you can’t do while we’re at school.”

So rent some movies, stock up on junk food, break out the face masks and have a good, old-fashioned girls’ night! Alternatively, you can stir up some ice-cold lemonade, fill some water balloons and have a girls’ day to beat the heat.

8. Take a class

We know you’re probably not in the mood for school, but taking a class can be a super-enriching summer experience! Not to mention it can get you ahead on your credits for school. Even if you’re not interested in anything academic, there are tons of fun and creative classes out there.

“Last summer I joined my mom at a ceramics studio she went to,” Alexis says. “It was really fun and relaxed, and it was cool to see our progress throughout the summer.”

Even if you’re not so keen on spending your summer in a classroom, do some research and find a fun art class or something else that piques your interest!

9. Play tourist for a day

Though you’re probably not a big fan of those summer tourists who invade your town every weekend, you might take a hint from them and enjoy the sights. “Last summer, when my friends and I got bored, we drove down to the nearest city and acted like tourists for the day,” says Christina Moore, a senior at the University of New Hampshire. “We went out to lunch, took a boat tour and visited the aquarium. Normally I hate doing touristy things, but it’s fun to do every once in a while!”

Spend the day acting as a tourist with your friends and visit whatever indoor attractions your town has to offer, like museums or aquariums. And if you don’t think your hometown (or anywhere nearby) has anything too special, hit the road and play tourist elsewhere! A nice, long road trip accompanied by friends and air conditioning is never a bad idea.

We may long to spend our sunny days outside, but sometimes it’s good to relax and recuperate inside, especially when the weather’s super hot. And while being stuck indoors on a sunny summer day may not seem ideal, it still has potential for fun! Instead of spending your summer inside watching TV and lazing around, try a few of these fun and productive activities.

Now is your chance to join the likes of Alaska Young, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Margo Roth Spiegelman. For the next week, John Green is holding a charity auction with donations going to the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. The prize? An opportunity to have a character in a future John Green novel named after you (or someone you love). While Green says he can't promise what character you will be, you will make an appearance in one of his upcoming YA books. You'll also receive an autographed copy when the novel is published.

As of right now, there are only four bids, and the current bid is $1,750. Feeling generous? Support the nonprofit literary organization PEN/Faulkner and help put more writers in schools. After all, a chance like this doesn't come along very often. You'll be helping out a good cause, not to mention the infinite bragging rights. What are you waiting for?

As college women, we’re given a choice of what to study, keeping in mind that there are certain things that women still haven’t achieved in our society. We’ve grown up worrying about sexism in the workplace as well as wondering if we’ll ever see a woman elected to the presidency. With Hillary Clinton’s announcement that she’ll officially be running for president in 2016, and with her lack of serious competition in the Democratic primary, it’s looking increasingly likely that we may soon have our first female president. Until the next election though, the only images of women as president have been in fictional TV shows and movies.

The film Miss Representation, a documentary about the sexism women deal with in the media, “at a young age, an equal number of boys and girls want to be president. But by age 15, many more boys want to be president than girls.” It’s hard for girls to aspire to something if they have no role models to compare themselves to.

Hillary Clinton herself said essentially the same thing at her recent campaign rally on Roosevelt Island. She wants American to be a place “where a father can tell his daughter yes, you can be anything you want to be, even president of the United States.”

In the year 2015 this seems like a very realistic goal, but public opinion hasn’t always been so supportive of the idea of men and women being equal, let alone having a female as commander-in-chief.

The American National Election Study has surveyed people for the past 40 years on the issue of women’s equality in the workplace. They ask the question, “Some people feel that women should have an equal role with men in running business, industry and government. Others feel that women’s place is in the home. Where would you place yourself … or haven’t you thought much about this?”

During the first year of the survey, 1972, just 47 percent of people thought women should be equal to men in the workplace, 24 percent of people were neutral on the subject and a staggering 20 percent of people felt that a woman’s place was in the home. In 2008, 7 percent of people still believed a woman’s place was in the home, 10 percent remained neutral and 83 percent backed equality.

The shocking thing about public perception on the possibility of a female president is that men and women answer equivalently when asked if they would vote for a female candidate. In other words, it wasn’t just men who didn’t back equality. In fact, according to Gallup, for much of the time men have actually been slightly more in favor of voting for a female president than women themselves.

In 2015 it seems that we have largely overcome this issue with 95 percent of Americans saying they would vote for a female candidate if she were qualified and in their party. What’s important is maintaining the progress we’ve made so that in the future maybe high school and college girls will be able to dream of becoming president that same way boys do.

Break out the Ben and Jerry’s! There’s a pretty good chance you’re going to break up with someone during college, but not all breakups are created equal. From the gut-wrenching to the inevitable, some breakups require months of mourning, and others, only days before you’re blasting Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” Read on to see which ones you’ve experienced (and which you’ve yet to experience)!

1. The Thanksgiving Breakup

Also known as the “Turkey Dump,” this is when you and your high school sweetheart return home during Thanksgiving break and (probably in melodramatic fashion) decide that the relationship is no longer working. You agree it’s time to “do college right” and have a proper freshman year filled with dormcest and frat party hookups. All further contact between the two of you will be reserved for holiday breaks where you may occasionally send or receive a nostalgic booty text.

2. The Taylor Swift Breakup

In her words, “you are never, ever, ever getting back together.” Maybe he cheated on you or just turned out to be a total jerk, but this is the breakup in which you gather all of his things, throw them in a cardboard box and then demand your roommate give them to his roommate. Custody is determined and friend groups are split. Maybe he’ll desperately try to win you back, but to no avail. You are over it. Next, please!

3. The Slow Fizzle Breakup

So maybe you two were never even officially an item, but between missed calls and ignored texts, suddenly you went from consistent late night “study sessions” to barely acknowledging each other. You’re not quite sure what happened. You send a few catch-up texts with invites to casually hang, but it just never happens. You decide he simply got wrapped up in fraternity life or his demanding major and just doesn’t have time for a girlfriend. You’re not too upset about the whole ordeal, but you do reroute your walk to class to avoid him.

4. The Study Abroad Breakup

This is the breakup that you knew was coming all along. You two met each other in a sweaty nightclub in Paris or a café in Barcelona and things were never the same. (That accent, though.) You fell tragically in love with him and at the end of the semester, he even drove you to the airport where you shared such a sad, tearful goodbye that you felt like your life was a movie. You didn’t think you could handle the distance, but you promised to stay in touch. Now your contact is reduced to casual catch-up sessions via Facebook, but you’ll always remember the beautiful times you shared together.

5. The Sigh-of-Relief Breakup

Remember that time you said yes to the rando that asked you out, out of sympathy or maybe curiosity? A few months of dating go by and you realize you’re just not that into him. From his questionable wardrobe choices to his gross habits, this boyfriend was never the One. There simply was no future. Your friends were always confused as to what you saw in him and quite frankly, you were always out of his league. You were a little nervous pre-breakup but you took a deep breath, let the guy down gently and then bought yourself some champagne on the way home. Single never tasted so good.

6. The Déjà Vu Breakup

You broke up with him... and three days later, you two are posting love proclamations on Facebook much to your friends’ dismay. You break up every few months, only to sort things out and then come out strong again. He’s probably not right for you, and you might not be right for him, but for some reason, you just can’t give each other up. This will probably continue throughout your entire time at college only to be stopped by your bestie (bless her heart) who stages an intervention and then sets you up with someone way more stable.

7. The “Let’s Be Friends” Breakup

The relationship just wasn’t turning out the way you had hoped it would. Maybe he was too in love with you or you were too in love with him, but things just weren’t balanced. You decide it would be worth it to salvage the friendship, even if you were never truly friends to begin with. You continue hanging out, sans hooking up, but some flirtation remains. Then, he starts dating someone else and you realize a clean break might have been better. Or, if you’re lucky, you two actually forge a really fruitful friendship and realize that that was what you wanted all along. Friends for the win!

While some breakups are easy, others may leave you with no sense of closure and may still be hard to think about. In all seriousness, breaking up is never easy to do — so if you’re struggling, pop in your favorite T-Swift album, grab the ice cream and let yourself mourn. Otherwise, enjoy the single life, collegiettes! 

When we think about the world’s best boss, only one name comes to mind: Michael Scott. So who better to guide you through the stages of your summer internship than the laugh-inducing regional manager of Dunder Mifflin?

After a long search and an excruciating amount of résumé edits, you finally found a summer internship. And you couldn’t be more pumped to get started on this big step toward your sure-to-be amazing new career.

You’re looking to impress all your cool adult coworkers and get your network on.

You instantly feel a little bit out of the loop, being the new gal and all.

But you just decide it’s not a big deal. You’ll fit in eventually.

You get your first assignment, and you feel pretty great about it. At least you know that this is the time to show off your expertise.

You can do no wrong in your boss’s eyes, and before you know it, you feel like you’ve worked there forever.

You’re learning so much, and you realize you were made for the workforce.

All your worries about getting a job after college have disappeared…

Until you realize you have to go back to school soon.

You’re sad to leave all your new friends and the job that made you feel like an actual grown-up.

But you can’t complain about your going away party either.

Plus you’re kind of cool with getting back to your awesome college life anyway.

And one thing will never change no matter where you are.

As college comes closer and closer, you’ll definitely be looking to make your dorm room the cutest it can be.  Dorm decorations can get pretty expensive, especially on top of tuition, bedding and all the other necessities you have to buy.

Luckily, we put together the seven cutest and easiest DIY dorm decorations with step-by-step directions.  Making your dorm room pop with original, affordable and doable projects has never been easier. Get working, collegiettes!

1. Dry erase board

There’s no need to spend money on an expensive dry erase board when you can make one yourself (and it’ll probably be cuter!).

Materials

• Picture frame
• White or colored paper
• Gorilla Glue
• Ribbon
• Dry erase marker

Directions

1. Cut a piece of white or colored paper to fit inside your picture frame.
2. Glue ribbon tied into a bow to a top corner of your frame.
3. Attach the dry erase marker to a longer end of the ribbon.
4. Leave yourself messages on this adorable dry erase board!

2. Cosmetics organizer

Ditch the fancy cosmetics organizer for this pretty, antique-looking one you can make with supplies from the dollar store!

Materials

• Two plates (one large, one small)
• Candlestick
• Gorilla Glue

Directions

1. With the candlestick upside down, glue the smaller end to the larger plate and let dry for 10 minutes.
2. Glue the larger end of the candlestick to the smaller plate.
3. Now you have a cosmetic organizer for makeup, hair supplies or anything else you want!

3. Photo heart

Change clichéd photo collages into something fun with this pretty heart design.  Don’t spend money on expensive frames when you can make this yourself for next to nothing!

Materials

• 38 pictures of your choice (37 horizontal, one vertical)
• Ruler
• Tape

Directions

1. Develop 38 pictures of your choice (there can be less or more, but this particular design requires 38).
2. Arrange the pictures into a heart shape (two on the top of each side followed by rows of six, seven, six, five, four, three, two and one vertical one).
3. Using a ruler to ensure that your lines are even, tape the pictures to a blank space on your wall and enjoy a unique collage!

4. Fun lights

Brighten up your room with white or colorful lights you can make yourself!

Materials

• Strand of LED lights
• Package of ping-pong balls (white or colored)
• Knife
• Tacks

Directions

1. Using a knife, cut an X into each of the ping-pong balls you’re going to use.
2. Pop the ping-pong balls on top of each bulb, creating a pretty lantern look.
3. String the lights along your walls with tacks.
4. Plug the lights in and enjoy your twinkling room!

5. Hanging cutouts

Create pretty wall decorations without buying expensive mobiles!

Materials

• Stencil of your choice (can be found online)
• Scrapbooking paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• String
• Tape

Directions

1. Find a stencil you like and trace it multiple times onto different-colored scrapbooking paper.
2. Cut the designs out and attach them to a piece of string using tape or glue.
3. Hang the DIY mobiles on your dorm room walls!

6. USB desk lamp

Making a USB desk lamp is much easier than it seems, and you can buy all the materials at a dollar store!  Bye-bye, expensive desk lamps!

Materials

• USB LED light
• USB extension cord
• Mini tripod
• Wire mesh pencil cup
• Yarn, bows, ribbons or other decor
• Tape

Directions

1. Wrap the cord from the USB light around the mini tripod and balance it to point down at whatever height you want (the cord is stiff, so this won’t be a problem).
2. Balance the pencil cup on top of the USB cord and tape it for security.
3. Add any ribbons, bows or designs you want to the pencil cup.
4. Plug in your extension cord and enjoy this unique lamp!

7. Desk supply holder

Say goodbye to a cluttered desk when you make this easy desk supply holder!  Your pencils and pens will be organized in no time.

Materials

• Pringles cans (as many as you desire)
• Decorative paper
• Gorilla Glue

Directions

1. Gather empty Pringles cans (this design uses six) and clean them out.
2. Cover the cans in decorative paper.
3. Using Gorilla Glue, glue the cans together to create a unique desk supply holder.

Decorating your dorm room doesn’t have to be difficult and expensive.  With a few simple DIY decorations (and some strong glue!), your room will be the cutest in your hall.  Save money and have fun while creating these projects!

There will come a day when we Millenials have to answer a lot of tough questions for our children. No, not the "where do babies come from?" ones, but the "what is a selfie?" and "who is Kim Kardashian and why is she in my history book?" ones.

We remember the days when our parents used to tell us the tales of their bell-bottoms and the exact day they nailed every move of The Hustle, but before we know it, 25 years will have come and gone and we are going to owe our kids a whole lot of explanations for the ridiculous things we do and love now. 

1. Our super classy and appropriate dance moves

"No, I swear the Wop was a real dance! It was a lot more complicated than it looks. Want me to show you how I used to do it?”

2. Ombre hair

“No, honey, my roots weren’t grown out. It was just the style, you know, like dark at the top, light at the bottom.”

3. Leggings and UGGs

“I mean, they weren’t technically pants… but if you just tucked them into your UGGs and wore a big sweater, you could barely tell.”

4. Reality TV

“They would take eight people, stick them in a house, pay for all of their alcohol and put cameras in the corners to see what happened next.”

5. Our deep, sentimental music

*2 Chainz comes on radio* “Oh, honey, this was my jam when I was your age! An oldie but goodie! In fact, it was almost my wedding song…”

6. Selfies

“Our cameras even had these settings where you could flip the screen so you could see what your picture would look like before you took it!”

7. Vampire romances

“One day, they just ran out of ideas. Then this thing Twilight happened."

8. Instagram

“No, first you took the picture and picked the filter, then you ate the food. Get it now?”

9. The duck face

“If you were really serious, you would throw up a peace sign, too.”

10. Hashtags

“You see, way back even before I was a kid, the pound sign was something we used on a phone. Then it became so, so much more.”

11. The sloth/cat/corgi epidemic

“And then we would spend hours watching these things called YouTube videos of them doing things like dancing and riding scooters. It was so funny.”

12. Tweeting

“Honey… explaining your entire day in 140 characters isn’t as easy as it sounds.”

13. YOLO, FOMO, swag, ratchet, SMH, cray, crunk and other lingo

“When I was in college, everyone used to go get crunk at the bar and it was always so cray - some girls would get pretty ratchet. Sometimes I would think about not going, but then I knew I would have serious FOMO. That’s when I would just say YOLO and go. Luckily I did, because that’s when I met your dad. Let me tell you, he had so much swag.”

14. Fifty Shades of Grey

“No, it wasn’t porn, it was fine literature!”

15. Everything about the Kardashians

“Well, there was this guy named Ray J…”
 

This article has been syndicated to Her Campus from Something About That by Jackie Goldhar, a Her Campus Blogger Network member. Read the full post here.

Though we may forget this, inspiration can come from offline, and that’s exactly what happened with my recent DIY project.

I had the idea to create my own costume jewelry, because of a supplier I met at work a few weeks ago. I complimented her necklace and asked her where she bought it. She laughed, and told me that she made the necklace! Apparently, all she did was go to her local hardware store, pick up a few nuts and bolts, and string them on a long chain.

So, that’s exactly what I did!

I’ll be honest, when I first ventured into the hardware store, I was a bit lost. Eventually, I ventured into the plumbing section, and it was a gold mine! They had all different shapes and sizes of nuts, bolts, pipes, and other metallic goodies. It was so much fun to dig through all of the bins, almost like a treasure hunt.

As far as chains are concerned, you can buy inexpensive chains at beading or craft stores, but I didn’t think of that at the time. Instead, I bought a couple of costume necklaces from Brandy Melville so I could use the chains. Worked like a charm.

Putting the necklaces together is simple. Lay out your goodies, and start mixing and matching until you come up with something you think will look nice and try stringing them on the chain. There’s no science, and it’s trial and error.

Read the full post on Something About That.

Ever notice how happy everyone always seems in country songs? They always manage to make life sound so simple! Here are just some of the unrealistic expectations that Luke Bryan, Taytay and the rest have given us.

Expectation #1: Guys will serenade you every occasion they get...

...and do anything for you.

Reality: The men in your life sing to themselves. Out of tune. In the shower.

Expectation #2: You and your crush can communicate using nothing but your eyes.

Reality: You can barely flirt with words—let alone your eyes.

Expectation #3: All of your relationships will be dramatic and passionate.

Reality: Honestly, your idea of a perfect date is pizza and a comfy couch... with or without another person present.

Expectation #4: You will slay all of your enemies with perfect repartee.

Reality: You take their b.s. with a smile and whine about it later with your girlfriends.

Expectation #5: Your life will just be one giant party.

Reality: This is what will actually happen if you try to get drunk on a plane.

Expectation #6: You will actually enjoy whiskey.

Reality: You tried to like it, you really tried.

Expectation #7: Real men smile like this:

and shake it like this:

Reality: The guys you meet smile like this:

and shake it like this:

Expectation #8: You will look perfect in everything without even trying.

Reality: Jean shopping is actually kind of traumatic.

Expectation #9: All you need is a simple life.

Reality: Dirt roads and fresh air are nice and all, but you were sorta hoping for this kind of “simple life”—oops.

Yep, country music has ruined us.

Your friend gets engaged and asks you to be one of her bridesmaids. You immediately say yes, and can’t wait to see what color she picks for the dresses. Whatever it is, you secretly hope it’ll catch the eye of that cute, single guest... As your friend explains her elaborate plans for the big day, you start to wonder how much it will cost you to be in her wedding. 

Whether you’re always the bridesmaid and never the bride, or haven’t been to a wedding since you were a flower girl, you should be honored to stand by your friend’s side when she says, “I do.” Being a bridesmaid is a lot of fun, but it also comes with responsibilities. Read on to learn the 10 stages of being a bridesmaid.

1. Your friend pops “the question”

When one of your best friends or relatives gets engaged, you can’t help but wonder if you’ll get to be a part of her big day. Getting asked to be a bridesmaid is very special. “If you are thrilled and ready to say ‘yes’ then do. If you need to think, let her know in the kindest way possible," says Jodi RR Smith, the president of Mannersmith, whose book From Clueless to Class Act: Manners for the Modern Woman, just came out in its second edition.

It’s okay to say no if you can’t commit to being a great bridesmaid, but make sure you decline politely, and explain the reasoning behind your decision. Smith recommends saying something like this: “Thank you so much for asking me to be a bridesmaid. In a perfect world, I would absolutely say ‘yes’ to you. I hope you understand how hard this is for me, but with my student loans almost due and working for a non-profit, I am going to need to save every penny just to be a guest.”  

2. The wedding planning begins

We can’t all hire wedding planners, so that’s where you come in (with a little help from Pinterest of course!). There’s the venue, food, flowers, DJ, photographer, seating chart and more. The bride-to-be might ask you for help deciding between two venues or maybe she wants you to look up local photographer reviews. Even if it’s just a trip to the wedding rental store to watch as she compares five different shades of white linens, make sure you’re there for her. Planning is very stressful for the bride, so do whatever you can to make this process as painless (and fun!) as possible. Remember that it’s her wedding, not yours—give her your honest advice when she asks for it, but don’t be rude if you disagree with her theme or are not a fan of her flower choice.  

3. You start to worry about the cost

Being a member of the wedding party isn’t cheap. You’ll probably be paying for a dress, a pair of matching shoes, participation in the bachelorette party, a bridal shower gift, a wedding gift, hair and makeup. And those are just the basics. Destination weddings will add a big cost. But don’t feel like you have to pay for everything.

You were asked to be a bridesmaid because you play a special role in your friend’s life, not because she expects you to spend a ton of money. “Speak to the bride before you max out your credit cards!” Smith says. It can be tempting to buy tons of party favors for the bachelorette party or create the wedding day emergency kit of a lifetime, but don’t go overboard. Put together a bridesmaid budget so you can monitor how much you’re spending and avoid overspending. “As a bridesmaid, you should consider your total budget for the entire event. Sometimes your wedding gift to the bridal couple is your participation in their wedding. Then, as a gift you give a token of your well wishes and remind the couple in the card that part of your gift was being a bridesmaid,” Smith says.

4. It’s time to say ‘yes’ to the dress

Shopping for bridesmaid dresses is almost as exciting as shopping for your own bridal gown. It’s like prom dress shopping all over again (but this time you don’t have to worry about the dress code, or the awkward process of finding a prom date). Set up a private appointment at a bridal boutique and bring some champagne to turn dress shopping into a mini party. This is a great opportunity to bond with the other maids, especially if you don't know them well.

Try to help your soon-to-be-hitched friend narrow down her selection before you shop to avoid trying on every dress in the store. A few things to decide on are length, color, material and neckline. Be patient as the bride-to-be decides which dress she likes best, and don’t quickly turn down a dress she really likes. “The bottom line is that it is her choice and you need to thank goodness it is not the ’70s with the giant floppy hats,” Smith says. “The pictures will be good for a laugh years from now.” It might take a few trips before you all say ‘yes’ to the dress.

5. The bridal shower arrives

The bridal shower can be the time to showcase your skills. If you feel like you haven’t contributed much to the wedding planning, ask how you can help with the shower. It’s usually a mom or aunt who puts together the shower, so contact this person and help take on some of the duties like buying flowers, making cupcakes, or creating a photo collage of the future bride and groom. You can also help on the day of by taking pictures, greeting guests, or keeping track of the gifts. But remember that you’re a guest too, so try to enjoy yourself!

6. You get pumped for the bachelorette party

This is perhaps one of the greatest things about being a bridesmaid. Bachelorette parties are a chance to reunite and celebrate your friend’s last fling before the ring. Some fun bachelorette party ideas include a wine tasting weekend, a spa day, bottomless mimosas at brunch, a house party, or the infamous trip to Vegas. Make sure you play at least one wedding-themed game and get creative with your gift for the future Mrs. If the girl who’s getting married isn't much of a party girl, you can plan a more relaxed bachelorette party—they don’t all have to involve strippers and booze.

7. Wedding week countdown begins

The week of the wedding is for helping with any last minute wedding responsibilities, like fine-tuning the seating chart or finding something old, new, borrowed and blue. With so many pre-wedding jitters, 'bridezilla' might make an appearance. Whatever you do, remain calm and supportive. Your friend will feel better when she sees that she’s surrounded by people who love her and are there to make her wedding just what she’s imagined. Review the pre-wedding checklist and offer to help with any open items.

8. You’re at the dress rehearsal and it hits you—your friend is getting married

If you haven’t stood up in a wedding before, the dress rehearsal makes it all so real. It isn’t just about preparing the perfect wedding day playlist or booking the best photo booth in town; it’s about two people who are making a lifelong commitment to one another. 

Don’t forget to fulfill your bridesmaid duties during the rehearsal. It’s your job to bring the “bouquet” made out of ribbons and bows from the bridal shower gifts. You also need to practice walking down the aisle without going too fast or slow. If there isn’t a photographer at the rehearsal, offer to take some photos for her to add to her wedding album.

9. The wedding day is finally here

It’s the day you’ve all been waiting for—in a few short hours, your friend will be MARRIED. The wedding day is just as action-packed for the bridal party as it is for the bride. You start the day at the salon, sipping mimosas as someone curls your hair and applies false eyelashes. For a second, it feels like you’re getting ready for a dance competition or homecoming. Then you arrive at the ceremony and the wedding music starts playing. 

10. Time to partyyyy at the reception

The hard work of being a bridesmaid has paid off. It’s time to make your grand entrance at the reception and enjoy a fun-filled night with the newlyweds. Hit the dance floor, enjoy the open bar, mingle with guests and sign the guest book. Most of all, make sure the bride is having the night of her life!

Refer to this bridesmaid timeline the next time you get asked to be in a wedding, and use our tips to help the bride plan her perfect day!

Figuring out hair and makeup that’s suitable for your internship can be a daunting task. Some offices are super reserved and some are more easygoing, but no matter what kind of office environment you’ll be interning in, there’s a fine line between overdoing your beauty look and not doing enough. You want how you look to reflect how put-together, polished and reliable you are. With the help of two career experts and a beauty expert, HC pulled together a few dos and don’ts for making your beauty look appropriate for the office.

DO make sure you have groomed nails

Nails may seem like a minor thing, but they can have a big impact on your overall look. Meryl Weinsaft Cooper and Jessica Kleiman, co-authors of Be Your Own Best Publicist: How To Use PR Techniques To Get Noticed, Get Hired & Get Rewarded At Work, say in a joint statement, “at a minimum, be sure your nails are filed and cleaned. We’d typically recommend keeping your nails at a medium to short length for most positions; longer nails can be a hindrance when typing, texting or working with your hands.”

As for polish, regardless of where you work, chipped nail polish is a big no-no because it can really detract from an otherwise put-together look. When picking a polish color, you can play it safe by sticking to a neutral color. Bisi Essien, founder of Crystal-Eyez Makeup and Beauty Lounge, recommends “earth-tone colors or soft pinks.

“I will definitely advise against bedazzled nails or any designs that will cause distractions,” Essien adds. You want your nails to add to your overall look, not distract from it!

Another way to figure out what polish works for your office it to use the workplace itself as a guideline. “If you’re at a more conservative location – like finance, for example – it’s best to stick with a classic neutral one, like Essie’s Adore-a-Ball ($8.50),” Cooper and Kleiman say. “In creative industries, you may see an openness to fun color palettes or even nail art. In fact, if you are in a trend-focused company —like a fashion magazine or PR— do some research on what colors are current, and opt for those.”

DON’T douse yourself in perfume

It’s tough to find a happy medium with perfume, because while you want to smell good, you also don’t want to be the intern who leaves a trail of perfume wherever she goes. Cooper and Kleiman say to follow a simple rule of thumb: “You don’t want the scent to arrive before you or linger long after you’ve departed. A classic tip to avoid over-application is to spray the scent in front of you and to walk through it versus applying it directly to your skin.”

If you’re unsure if your favorite scent is too overpowering or if it will sit the wrong way with some people, ask your friends to weigh in! Try a couple different options and see which they prefer. “Of course, if you find the perfect scent, it can be one of your ‘signature’ elements,” Cooper and Kleiman say.

DO keep your hair neat and professional

Your hair should be washed, brushed and out of your face. “It’s okay to wear your hair down, as long as it’s not covering a significant portion of your face and especially not over your eyes,” Essien says. “You want to be able to maintain good eye contact.”

Many collegiettes have the nervous habit of playing with their hair, so Cooper and Kleiman suggest styling your hair “in a way that will prevent you from playing with or touching it – either consciously or unconsciously – as that can be distracting for coworkers and often read as insecurity.”

Again, wearing your hair down is totally fine, but “if you’re someone who doesn’t like to spend a lot of time blow-drying your hair, you may want to opt instead for a pulled-back style, like a sleek ponytail, bun or even a simple braid to ensure a polished look,” Cooper and Kleiman say. A little bit of hair spray here and there can help keep your flyaways at bay and further guarantee a sleek and professional look.

DON’T wear heavy makeup

At your internship, less makeup is more. Keep your look as natural and light as possible. Your supervisors want to get to know YOU, not an overly done-up, caked-on-makeup version of you! Heavy makeup can detract from your natural beauty, and it’s also a hassle on your part to apply every day. Less makeup also means more time to sleep in, which might even reduce the bags under your eyes you’ve been trying so hard to cover up!

“Definitely even out your skin tone with tinted moisturizer or some sort of foundation,” Essien says. A great product to try is Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer ($44) because it gives you the ultimate “no-makeup look” while evening out your skin tone.

For eye shadow, Essien recommends using natural and earth-tone colors, or “you can even pass up on eye shadow altogether.” Too Faced Natural Eye Shadow Collection ($36) has a variety of earthy and neutral colors that would work at your internship. Also, it’s a perfectly portable size, so it would easily fit in your purse to bring to work for touch-ups.

For the rest of your look, Essien says to “keep your eyeliner thin and as close to the lash line as possible. A little bit of mascara will go a long way.”

When it comes to your lips, “use a neutral-tone lipstick, or something with a bit of color,” Essien says. “It’s safer to stay away from bright or dramatic lip colors.” A good simple lip color to try is NARS Satin Lipstick in Honolulu Honey ($27).

The simpler your makeup, the more put-together you’ll look, and that’s what bosses like to see in their interns! As a final note, Cooper and Kleiman suggest checking “your makeup under the fluorescent lights when you are applying (or when you first arrive at the office), as that will help you gauge whether or not you need to tone it down.”

DO be prepared for anything

Make sure that whatever makeup you do choose to wear is waterproof. You might be sweat while sprinting to work in the summer heat, or you could be sent out on errands when it’s raining, and you don’t want to return to the office with streaks of mascara running down your face.  Switching to waterproof makeup on workdays will eliminate the stress of wondering if your makeup is smudged and ensure a more polished office look. Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Line has all sorts of waterproof products, such as mascara, eye shadow, eyeliner and more.

Also, Kleiman and Cooper say to “stash some beauty necessities in your desk or your bag – so you have them at the ready, if needed. Some of the key things to have on hand include a toothbrush and toothpaste, Band-Aids, a tinted lip gloss, a hair band and anti-frizz serum, nail polish remover pads and face powder.” With this bag on hand, you’re ready to face any beauty challenge that might come your way during the workday!

The final step to having a professional beauty look? Don’t forget to smile! A smile makes you seem warm, approachable and enthusiastic about what you’re doing. It also makes you look comfortable and confident, and that’s part of what makes a standout intern!

If you dislike the elliptical and hate working out alone, then you have something in common with Elisabeth Tavierne, an Ohio State University graduate and founder of the fitness sorority, CHAARG. 

Tavierne started CHAARG, which stands for Changing Health, Attitudes and Actions to Recreate Girls, when she quit competitive swimming as a college sophomore but still wanted to stay in shape. She quickly realized that women rarely—if ever—left the cardio area of the gym, so she founded CHAARG to “liberate girls from the elliptical and find their passion for fitness.”

In her interview with Cosmopolitan, Tavierne states that CHAARG is more than just a fitness club. “It is a lifestyle and a family,” she says. “You can be the girl who lifts weights, trains for a race, does Pure Barre and takes yoga, but still takes time to let her hair down and put on a pair of heels.”

Similar to traditional Greek life organizations, CHAARG members are required to pay dues ($45 per semester) and attend weekly meetings (which involve working out together). Currently, there are CHAARG chapters at 18 universities in the United States, but Tavierne wants to expand to all American universities within the year and go global in five years.

“We know that it’s how our body feels that matters,” she tells Cosmo. “Not the size of our legs or the number on the scale.”

If you want to learn more about CHAARG or start a chapter on your campus, check out the website or follow CHAARG on Twitter @CHAARG! 

Americans all over the country and members of the LGBTQ+ community around the world are anxiously awaiting the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Obergefell v. Hodges, which will determine whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex, as well as whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state. With previous SCOTUS decisions indicating that this particular Supreme Court roster tends to lean to the left on social issues, many experts are confident that this ruling will favor the LGBTQ community, and therefore herald a historic landmark for the country (the impact of which hasn't been seen in a Supreme Court case since Roe v. Wade). But if same-sex marriage should be legalized, many are wondering: what's next?

This Human Rights Campaign infographic shows the distribution of states which recognize and provide other anti-discrimination resources for the LGBTQ community. For example, while all but five states have laws against hate crimes, only a certain fraction of those states specifically protect against crimes based on sexual orientation, and an even smaller fraction protect against crimes based on gender identity as well. What about joint adoption by a same sex couple, or employment discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity? The maps show that these issues have far fewer states on board than marriage equality. Just take a look at the status of protection against anti-gay bullying in America: 

This means that while LGBTQ citizens will hopefully be able to enjoy the benefits of marriage in this country with a positive ruling this week, they are still at risk of persecution in other facets of their lives based on who they choose to love. So while this one legal battle comes to an end, this should be a stark reminder that the fight for equality is still far from over.

You said it, Hills!