“Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” - Ibn Battuta.

Oh, the stories I can tell.

Many people travel and come back with souvenirs and pictures, but not many people come back with a boyfriend…from Australia.

It was the summer of 2013. My sister was still in high school and was given a choice by our parents: go on her high school’s trip to Spain or travel around Europe with her sister. She went with option two, giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. We tried looking for tours, as a way to see all of Europe, but the only tour that accepted a 17-year-old was an Australian tour group called Contiki.

Fast-forward a few months: June 25, 2013—we meet with our primarily Aussie Contiki group in London. After the meeting, we called our parents to check-in. My mom being a mom asks, “So are there any cute boys?” We both giggled and said, “Yeah but we think a lot of them are gay, but at least we will make some really good friends.”

Our European adventure began the next day traveling from London to Brussels, Belgium.  As we arrived at the hotel lobby in Brussels, I saw a guy wearing a familiar hat– Miami Dolphins.  I scurried up to him and said, “I love your hat. I’m from Miami!” He gives me nothing but a smirk, so I walk away in disappointment. Maybe making friends wasn’t going to be so easy.

Somehow, that same strange guy, Ryan Brazier, (a Melbourne, Australia native) became good friends with my little sister. A couple of days later in St. Goar, Germany, Ryan and I began hanging out, but not by choice.  According to my sister he was cool, but I still thought he was rude and annoying. In my head, he was just another immature boy. I got along better with his “best mate,” James, so the four of us started sitting next to each other on the bus.

Swiss Alps (my favorite sight of the entire trip) was where everything changed. Maybe it was the beautiful scenery, or the romantic vibe while stargazing. As our whole group was hanging out in the lobby, I decided to give Ryan a chance. I sat down next to him, grabbed his hand and asked, “Truce?” He agreed, so we sat down together and talked for hours. We talked about our friends and family from back home, and how we both love sports. We even talked about our favorite shows, which both consisted of One Tree Hill (sorry, Ryan) and Friends. I remember having this weird feeling after that it would be one of the most important conversations of my life. To my disbelief, I felt an instant connection.

Even though I knew I felt something for him, I decided to play hard to get. I loved watching him chase me. Day two in the Swiss Alps, he followed my sister and I around like a puppy. He came with us up the mountain, stayed with us as we played in the snow and even asked me to take a picture with him; then the random man who he asked to take the picture accidentally broke my camera. James kept hinting that Ryan had a thing for me but a girl always knows. In Ryan’s head everything was going terribly: He broke my camera, I paid him no attention and I laughed in his face when he knocked on my door asking for moisturizer for his burnt nose. 

That night, he took me on a walk to stare at the beautiful scenery. He got all of Contiki talking, because when you share a hotel with 40 other people, nothing is private.  As we sat down and stared up at the stars, he finally shared his true feelings with me. I remember his exact words, too. He said, “People keep telling me I have a crush on you, and I think it’s T-R-U-E.” I could tell he knew that was dumb, but little did he know, I was falling for all of it. I knew that I had to keep him chasing, so I lied. I told him I was not sure if I liked him, and he had to give me a few days. Yes, I am aware that I am stupid and I should have kissed him under the stars.

The next day, we continued our travels to Munich, Germany. No one in our group knew what was going on except for my sister and his mate, James. Poor Ryan was in for a treat. We were going on a bike tour around Europe, but he did not know how to ride a bike. You could sense the fear in his eyes. Not only was he going to embarrass himself in front of 40 people, he was also going to embarrass himself in front of me. To be honest, I thought it was one of the cutest things I have ever seen. He rode his bike as best he could, but was so happy when that day finally ended. 

That night he told me something I would never forget. I showed him a picture of me standing by my bike earlier that day, just so I could hear a compliment. Instead he looked at me and said, “A picture doesn’t tell the whole story.” I remember wanting to kiss him so badly that night, but instead we just talked in the lobby. He dropped me off at my door, said goodnight and went back to his room. I messaged him on Facebook and told him he should have kissed me. Talk about throwing someone mixed messages.

We were in luck because the next day was Venice. My sister and I decided to venture away from the group for a day, and get lost in the beautiful city. Being that he was away from me that day, Ryan tried planning something romantic. He decided to buy me a rose. Trying to hide the rose from the group, he kept it in its plastic bag and threw it behind his back into my hands. WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?

Back in the hotel, I knew our first kiss was coming. I was so nervous I couldn’t even eat. At dinner, I threw back a couple glasses of wine just to scare the jitters away. We snuck out of the hotel, while James and my sister, Adriana, covered for us. To this day, I do not regret making him wait, because we got to share our first kiss in Venice, Italy. A storyteller’s dream. What people don’t need to know is that it was on a park bench next to a gas station outside the city and also, surprisingly next to a circus with Tigers and Elephants out in the open.

From there, as the quote from The Fault in Our Stars goes, “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”

It got harder and harder to keep it a secret from the group, so in Florence, we finally let everyone know. We were all out at a bar called the Red Garter. Ryan came up to me and sat on my lap, as everyone began chanting “KISS, KISS, KISS!”. So, we did and everyone cheered as we became Contiki’s favorite couple.

When it came time to say goodbye, I was not ready to let go. We shared some incredible moments together. We kissed on top of the Eiffel Tower, walked hand in hand on the beach in Barcelona and even partied with the rich people in Monte Carlo. 

That’s when we decided it wasn’t goodbye, it was “see you later.” And that has been our motto for the past two years. Ryan is the love of my life and I know I am going to marry him one day. Of course, we struggle with the long distance, but none of that matters when you really find the one. We get to travel to places we have never been to. I even got to go to travel around Australia for a month, which is an opportunity I never thought I would get. People always wonder how we do it, but in my opinion, it’s easy. When you know, you know and you will always fight for love.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, feminism is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” We live in a world where the genders are far from equal, which serves to harm both men and women alike. While we believe that feminism is a positive movement that continues to bring beneficial social change to society, some people still aren’t convinced. Here are 39 reasons that explain why we should all be feminists. 

1. Because the U.S. has never had a female president.

That is, the U.S. hasn't had a female president YET. 

2. Because the wage gap is a real thing.

Women shouldn’t be paid less for the same work as their male counterparts.

3. Because we think only girls can be feminine and only boys can be masculine.

Feminine and masculine are only social constructions. 

4. Because we had to have an #AskHerMore campaign to start asking women meaningful questions.  

5. Because men are criticized for showing too much emotion.

Men should be able to express their feelings freely without feeling judged. Period.

6. Because the sexualization, objectification and constant critiques of women’s bodies are a normal recurrence in society.

And that’s simply disgusting.

7. Because women should have the right to decide what happens to their bodies.

You don’t get a say if you don’t have to live in this body. 

8. Because we think a woman is a bad wife or mom if she has a demanding career.

But when do we ever think the same thing about men?

9. Because it’s "weird" for a man to be a stay-at-home dad.

Even though men make amazing parents, too. 

10. Because victim blaming is still a massive problem.

It should NEVER be okay to blame the victim.

11. Because so many girls are denied an education because of their gender.

Everyone is entitled to an education, regardless of gender.  

12. Because sexism in the workplace is still a very real thing. 

No, we don’t like being referred to as "sweetie" or "love" instead of our professional titles.

13. Because most movies still don't pass the Bechdel test.

Ask yourself whether the last movie you watched did or did not feature at least two named women talking about something other than a man.

14. Because women are supposed to be flattered when they’re catcalled.

Harassing someone is not the way to flatter her.

15. Because rape is too often said to be the woman’s fault.

No, dressing a certain way does not mean she's asking for it. Ever.

15. Because men are still generally thought of as the breadwinner in the family. 

Why do we even care who’s bringing home the money as long as the family is being supported?

16. Because most women feel unsafe walking home at night.

You shouldn’t have to carry pepper spray in your bag to feel safe.

17. Because most dress codes primarily target the appearance of women.

This just adds to the sexualization of women.

18. Because a lot of modern music still has misogynistic lyrics or themes.

This should not be the criteria for a top-selling hit.

19. Because "taking care of the home" is still seen primarily as a female responsibility.

Who even came up with this idea anyway?

20. Because women’s sports teams don’t get nearly as much coverage or funding.

Even though women are just as awesome at sports.

21. Because women are blamed as a distraction if they dress in a revealing way.

Yet no one ever blames the people who are allowing themselves to be distracted.

22. Because career experts advise women not to report sexual harassment.

Not. Cool.

23. Because birth control is still a contentious issue, but Viagra isn’t.

Viagra has been covered by health insurance for a while, but some companies won’t cover the cost of birth control.  SERIOUSLY?

24. Because “stop acting like a girl” is still an acceptable thing to say.

Acting like a girl should not be an insult.

Related: 13 Things Not to Say to a Feminist

25. Because women aren’t allowed to be on the front lines of the military.

What, are women better off serving their country by baking apple pie?

26. Because women, but not men, are expected to change their last name upon getting married.

Shout out to Zoe Saldana’s husband for challenging this norm!

27. Because, in domestic abuse situations, we ask why she stayed so long but not why he abused her.

Evidently it’s her own fault for putting up with the abuse for so long.

28. Because women who don’t want kids are seen as strange.

Sometimes people just don’t want kids. Yes, it really is that simple.

29. Because we think men cannot be victims of domestic abuse as well.

That’s ignorance at its finest.

30. Because women are expected to wear makeup, but it’s odd if men do.

If makeup makes you feel good, then you should wear it, regardless of your gender.

31. Because girls are told that when a boy picks on you it means he likes you.

So, does that make it okay for someone to be mean to you?

32. Because skirts and dresses are seen as clothing items for women only.

Who even decided that certain clothes were only for certain genders?

33. Because women who are promiscuous are called sluts. 

But men who are promiscuous are (generally) deemed legends.  

34. Because jobs are still categorized as "women’s work" or "men’s work." 

Women should be able to be construction workers, and men should be able to be nurses—without all the negative comments.

35. Because women with kids are less likely to be hired then men with kids.

You can argue that this isn’t discrimination. But you'd definitely be wrong.

36. Because we still say a woman "must be on her period" if she expresses passionate emotions.

Nope, we can still be angry without all the other symptoms.

37. Because women’s prefixes (like Miss, Ms. and Mrs.) define women by their marital status, yet men only use Mr.

Why do we need to point out whether a woman is married or not?

38. Because the word "feminism" still has a negative connotation.

It’s kind of controversial when someone announces they’re a feminist. Huh?

39. Because who doesn’t want equality for all genders?

Seriously, why wouldn’t we want everyone to be equal? 

Like Emma Watson said, if you believe in equality of the sexes, then you are, in fact, a feminist. This list is in no way exhaustive; there are still countless other reasons why our society needs feminism. Even though the feminist movement has already yielded many positive results, we've still got a long way to go. That’s why it’s crucial that we all assert ourselves as feminists and fight for equality of the sexes.  

Remember all the inspiring info First Lady Michelle Obama gave us about Let Girls Learn in her exclusive interview with Her Campus a few weeks ago?  Today, the First Lady works to put her words into action with a weeklong trip to Doha, Qatar and then Amman, Jordan.

She’ll start out in Doha, speaking at the 2015 World Innovation Summit for Education about the importance of educating girls—stressing the fact that educated girls can lift up themselves and their communities. Then she’ll visit U.S. service members stationed in Qatar.

Next she’ll head to Jordan, where the First Lady will visit a school built by the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. In Jordan, USAID invested hundreds of millions of dollars in education between 2002 and 2014. They’ve also built 27 schools and rehabbed or renovated 97 existing schools.

In Amman, the First Lady will highlight the work the country has done to educate Syrian children alongside their own children. She will “commend Jordan for its generosity and commitment to educating all children within its borders,” according to a White House press release. Girls in conflict zones such as Syria are much more at risk of dropping out of school, so it’s especially important that other countries step up to educate these children (if you’re not up to date on what’s going on in Syria, here’s a helpful guide to the conflict).

Keep checking here to see more updates about the First lady’s trip!

Nobody does Halloween costumes better than celebs do. From fabulous makeup to identical impersonations, celebrities rule the Halloween costume game. Check out the best and most creative celebrity Halloween costumes of 2015:

1. Lauren Conrad

LC and her squad gave party animals new meaning with cocktails, dresses and animal ears.

2. Gigi Hadid

Gigi's spot-on Sandy costume would make Olivia Newton-John proud!

3. Neil Patrick Harris

NPH and his family look hilariously identical to the Star Wars cast.

4. Anne Hathway

Posing with Nina Dobrev, Anne's unicorn costume and makeup are on point.

5. Chrissy Teigen

John Legend's wife, supermodel Chrissy Teigen, is notorious for her hilarious social media posts, so it's no surprise her Halloween costume is equally humorous. And completely spot-on.

6. Miley Cyrus

Miley brings out her sweet tooth this Halloween with a friend dressed as her tooth fairy.

7. Justin Bieber

J. Biebs channels his inner Will Ferrell as Jackie Moon from Semi-Pro. 

8. Amanda Seyfried (and her dog)

She's the Wicked Witch of the West, duh!

9. Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen's costume, "Karla Kardashian," is her own spoof on the Kardashian family. It's no surprise that your favorite television comedian came up with such a one-of-a-kind costume idea!

10. Heidi Klum

Who would have ever guessed this is Heidi Klum!? She underwent extensive makeup and prosthetics to achieve this Jessica Rabbit costume.

11. Kelly Ripa

Even Kim K. herself loved Kelly Ripa's take on her iconic Paper magazine photo. 

So you decided to apply early decision—great! The good news is that while your fellow seniors are still laboring over college applications, you will hear whether or not you were accepted to your dream university much earlier. The wait to hear back from admissions, however, is agonizing...

You feel accomplished for finally submitting your application.

You're feeling on top of the world!

Then the nerves creep in.

Time to binge-watch Once Upon a Time, New Girl, House of Cards, PLL...

...but then you remember you still have to study.

You might be saying to  yourself, “Midterms? But I already submitted my application to college! I don’t need to worry about them.” But keep in mind that...

Colleges can rescind acceptances if a student’s grades drop before graduation, after all.

Keep up that GPA, get accepted to college and find time for sleep? 

So while you wait, you continue to hit the books.

And sometimes, they hit you back.

Right after you apply, your family starts to ask if you were accepted.

You say you won't know for a little while, and that you have to wait it out and see.

You tell them you won’t hear back for another month or so, but they keep asking anyway.

Family asking again and again can start to stress a girl out. Sometimes, you just need to divert the question.

You’re all alone when your friends start to apply regular decision.

They've just begun the Common App, but little do they know the agony of wait that they're in for when they complete it.

And they’re trying to be supportive.

Which is nice of them because your dream school is on the line!

But you’re not ready to hear it.

"Shhhh! Let me stress!"

Just when you think you can’t handle the pressure anymore...

And you’re getting closer and closer to your college’s decision day...

You channel your inner Taylor Swift and realize that no matter what happens, it’ll work out in the end.

"Please welcome to the stage...all of my emotions while I wait for this early decision letter!"

But the big day is almost here.

So you wait up, hoping that your letter will be posted a few hours early.

Doesn't admissions know how READY you are to find out their decision?!

As the day goes on, you check your email and see one from the college.

You debate waiting to open it until you're home, or having your friends read it first.

You open it…ACCEPTED!

You tell the whole world the good news.

You're going to college!

And you don’t know why you were ever worried in the first place.

No big deal right?

You’re ready for anything, collegiette!

From the initial agony to finally receiving your long-awaited answer, applying early decision seems like a struggle, but the end result is extremely rewarding!

When it's gross, rainy day or you're just feeling a bit down, it's easy to want to grab the nearest comfort food, like greasy French fries, pasta and corn bread. But eating these often carb- and fat-heavy foods comes at a price, especially in a season when it's harder to stay fit.

These recipes help you get the best of both worlds! With health-conscious substitutions and twists on old classics, stay cozy in the winter without forgoing comfort food.

1. Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Mac and Cheese

This vegan recipe is a great, meat-free way to stay healthy with a favorite cheesy treat. Chickpeas are a great source of amino acids, and along with yogurt, non-dairy milk and nuts, are a powerful source of protein. To make this recipe even better for your body, use vegetable or whole-wheat pasta!

Recipe fromVegan Yack Attack

Ingredients

Roasted chickpeas

• 15-ounce can of cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup of buffalo sauce plus a few tablespoons

Ranch sauce

• 3 tablespoons vegan mayo
• 2 tablespoons plain vegan yogurt
• 2 tablespoons raw cashews, soaked for more than 30 minutes
• 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic salt
• 1/4 tablespoon dried parsley
• Pinch dried dill
• Pinch black pepper

Pasta

• 2 and 1/2 cups dry pasta and boiling water
• 1 tube cheddar vegan cheese
• 3/4 cup non-dairy milk

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to about 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix the chickpeas with the buffalo sauce so that it is evenly spread.
3. Take parchment paper to line your pan and pour your chickpeas in it.
4. Bake the chickpeas for 12 minutes.
5. Turn them over occasionally until they’re all crispy, and then bake for another 12-15 minutes.

For the ranch sauce

1. Blend all your ingredients until they're smooth.
2. Add more non-dairy milk until you've reached your desired texture.
3. Pour your sauce into a cup and set aside.

For the pasta

1. Cook the pasta until done.
2. Set your noodles back into the pot, setting the stove to a low-medium heat.
3. Add the cheddar cheese, non-dairy milk and salt into your pot; stir until it has an even consistency.
4. Pour everything into a bowl and enjoy!

2. Super Simple Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Greek Yogurt

Sweet potatoes have high amounts of vitamins A, C and D, and they help maintain healthy skin.

Recipe fromFood & Wine

Ingredients

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

Instructions

1. Put the sweet potatoes in a pot filled with water, completely covering the potatoes.
2. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat, allowing the potatoes to simmer for a little more than 10 minutes.  
3. Use a colander to drain the sweet potatoes, and then place them in a large bowl.
4. Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon and Greek yogurt.
5. Mash until the potatoes are the desired consistency and serve warm.

3. Super Easy Fry-Free French Fries

The recipe allows you to enjoy French fries without all the fryer oil! Baking the potatoes as opposed to frying them allows you to get more of the nutrients within the potatoes themselves, as well as avoid damage to your arteries.

Recipe from Food Network

Ingredients

• 2 large baking potatoes cut into ¼-inch pieces (think matchsticks)
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Salt
• Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a bowl, turn the potatoes in the oil and add salt.
3. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray, then spread the potatoes so they form a single layer.
4. Bake your potatoes until crisp, about 35 minutes.
5. Remove the fries and season with salt.

4. Healthy Garden Lasagna

If you're craving pasta and cheese but you don't want excessive carbs and fat, try out this garden lasagna. By using low-fat dairy products, you can help reduce risk your of heart disease.

Recipe from Health.com

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat oil in a nonstick pan on high heat. Sauté the zucchini, onion and carrot until they're lightly cooked. Once you're done, mix in the corn, basil, salt and pepper.
2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup. Even out the flour with a knife. Add in milk and stir it with a whisk. Cook the flour and milk until they come to a boil and continue to stir.  Once they're hot, stir in the salt, Parmesan, nutmeg, pepper and cottage cheese.
3. Spread 1/2 cup of the white sauce in bottom of a baking dish. Place three noodles over the sauce, top them with half of your vegetable mixture and layer some of your white sauce on top. Then, place another three noodles over the white sauce and cover them with your remaining vegetable mixture. Add more white sauce and lay three more noodles on top. Drizzle your remaining white sauce over the noodles.
4. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
5. Uncover, sprinkle with mozzarella and bake until your lasagna is golden brown.

5. Healthy Cornbread

Using whole-wheat flour and whole-grain cornmeal allows you to keep this classic treat healthy.

Recipe from Eating Well

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal, preferably whole grain
• 3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen, thawed
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup low-fat milk
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 3 tablespoons honey or sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
2. Mix your cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
3. Blend the corn and egg in a food processor until you have a smooth mixture.
4. Add milk, oil and honey, mixing them they're until combined.
5. Stir the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and pour the batter into the pan.
6. Bake the cornbread for 25-30 minutes. After letting the cornbread cool for 10 minutes, it's ready to be enjoyed!

 6. Vanilla-Lemon Berry Parfait

This dessert has only 176 calories and one gram of saturated fat per serving. Low-fat yogurt and fat-free vanilla pudding are low in harmful fats, so you can eat this dessert guilt-free!

Recipe from Health.com

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 2 3.5-ounce containers fat-free vanilla pudding
• 2 tablespoons bottled lemon curd (such as Dickinson's)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups mixed berries (such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries)
• Fresh mint leaf

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix your yogurt, lemon curd and vanilla extract; set aside.
2. In another bowl, mix the honey, lemon zest and lemon juice until they're thoroughly mixed. Use a spatula to stir in your mixed berries.
3. Layer your berries and yogurt how you’d like and top with the mint leaf.

7. Easy and Healthy Chocolate Cake

This chocolate cake is low-calorie and easy to make, and it uses whole-wheat pastry flour.

Recipe from Eating Well

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup nonfat buttermilk
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup hot strong black coffee
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Instruction

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line your pan with wax paper.
2. Mix flour, granulated sugar, cocoa and salt with whisk.
3. Add buttermilk, brown sugar, egg, oil and vanilla.
4. Use an electric mixer for 2 minutes and add hot coffee.
5. Bake the cake for 30 to 35 minutes and let cool for 10 minutes. Before serving, dust your cake with confectioner's sugar.

Staying health-conscious in the winter doesn't have to be miserable. Enjoy these delicious comfort foods with a healthy twist!

FINALLY, women in the spotlight are taking a stand against the term “plus-sized.” Tyra Banks won all the ANTM watchers over with “Fiercely Real;” social media campaigns like #PlusIsEqual and #DropThePlus have gained traction, and Ashley Graham silenced all her haters by strutting on the runway in her chic lingerie line. The fact is, the term is exclusive and limiting. Which is why we shouldn’t put people of different shapes and sizes in boxes. Body positivity is all about embracing our different curves and edges and loving the skin we're in. So we turned to some of our favorite celebs to say “ta-ta!” to fashion restrictions once and for all. Here are some of the fashion “don’t”s that we’re turning into “do”s.

1. Do rock bold prints

While it is true that solid colors (especially dark hues), tend to have a “flattering” effect, prints are a fun way to express yourself that no one should shy from. Jackie Goldhar of Something About That says, “I think that rule is completely ridiculous!” She adds that “curvy girls look just as fabulous in brights as slim girls do. They should also rock fun patterns.” Kasia rocked this leopard leotard on ANTM and so can you. We love this one piece from American Apparel ($48) with a high-waisted skirt and booties.

2. Do wear crop tops

Showing skin is totally in! Mindy Kaling inspires us to take risks with color, print and silhouettes, and this photo is definitive proof that crop tops can work for all body types. The key is to find one that works for your bust, waist and midriff. You can show as much skin as you want! “I'm still not entirely confident about wearing crop tops, but I do wear them when I have a cardigan or cute jacket to wear with it,” Jackie says. Try this fun, printed two-piece dress from LuLu's ($84) for your next beach vacay, or warm it up for fall with a cardigan and boots!

3. Do wear (bright!) colors

Rebel Wilson is true to her name. She breaks rules left and right and makes some killer fashion choices. The structured shapes of this hot pink dress give it an edgy twist, and the color makes her stand out instead of blending her in with the crowd. Take a page from Rebel's book and rock a bright, structured dress like this one from REVOLVE ($162).

4. Do wear leggings... whenever and wherever you please

No one should be deprived of the cozy, flexible comfort of a good pair of leggings. Melissa McCarthy even dressed hers up with girly heels and a fun top. Her fashion line is to die for and we can’t wait to see what she wears on the red carpet next. Try these faux leather leggings ($89) from Melissa's line at HSN for a cool, trendy look.

5. Do rock horizontal stripes

Who can resist a preppy, yacht-chic horizontal striped dress or top? Lena Dunham is not shy about taking fashion risks and making her opinions known. Her cute, tailored sailor-striped dress shows the flirty side of the girl we know and love. Go for a similar but more casual look in this knit dress from Bloomingdales ($138).

6. Do show off your curves in a form-fitting number

If you got it, flaunt it. Queen Latifah is fierce AF in everything she does. This deliciously sparkly dress shows off her awesome body and commands attention. A glittery body con dress is perfect for your next date function! Try this one from Nordstrom ($198). It comes in four fun shades of sequins!

7. Do stun in a show-stopping dress

Will Oprah ever stop inspiring us? Her words of wisdom fill us with confidence and warmth, so why not steal some of her style choices too? We can see ourselves power posing in this purple dress for days. Take a hint from Oprah and strut your stuff into your next formal event in this purple gown from Macy's ($119).

Fashion is about self-expression and confidence. These celebs show their personal styles and unique personalities through their fun fashion choices, and so can we! Step out of your comfort zone to wear a color, print or sillouette you've never tried before. Chances are, your style will morph into something unique and exciting, just like your personality! 

It may be cold outside, but Bedroom Athletics can help keep your feet warm this winter with their cozy slipper line! Available in its entirety for the first time in the U.S., these luxury faux fur slipper boots are to die for. The most loved style, the Marilyn, features the softest ever faux-fur and is sure to make your feet feel like they're on cloud nine. So, when you’re cozying up on the couch next to the fire, hot chocolate in hand, don’t forget to adorn your feet with a little luxury!

We’ve partnered with Bedroom Athletics to give five lucky winners a $100 gift card to keep your indoor shoe game on point. Enter to win now!

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The real world can be intimidating. What the heck is a Roth IRA? Do my coworkers think I’m smart enough for this job? When will I find the one? Why don’t I know what I want to do with my life? With all this weighing upon us, it’s no wonder we’re a little stressed. The good news is that it’s okay to be uncertain. Keep reading to learn how to say goodbye to stress and start focusing on success.

What you should know about stress 

Let's start with some quick definitions of the types of stress you may see in your lifetime:

Acute Stress

Acute stress is the common stress we face every day. It can be triggered by specific events or situations. While stress is often viewed as negative, these short-term bursts may actually help us—or hurt us, depending on the activity. Basically, it's the small stuff you might complain about—traffic, long lines for your coffee, or an upcoming deadline.

Episodic Acute Stress

If you're constantly rushing around, missing deadlines, and feeling disorganized or chaotic, you may be suffering from episodic acute stress. If you're the type of person that takes on multiple responsibilities or tries to do too much (often a "Type A" personality), you may put yourself in situations that invite episodic acute stress. You're worrying about everything that could go wrong to the point that you can't relax. In short, if you've ever been called a "worry wort," it may be that you experience episodic acute stress.

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is much more serious. If you struggle to relax or feel stressed all the time, it can lead to chronic stress. It comes from long term, seemingly unending exposure to types of acute stress such as a mindless job, chronic illness, or relationship conflicts. Chronic stress grinds you down and wears you away year after year, potentially making you feel that life is miserable. Chronic stress is the most dangerous form because it becomes a way of life, and can often lead to depression.

Why we're stressed all the time

It’s uncomfortable to transition from a system with checkpoints, caring professors and free food (thanks, meal plan!) to no system at all. Most college classes don’t prepare you for bosses, deadlines or cubicles; not to mention apartment hunting, budgeting, cooking or dating. You may have had an internship or two, but the stakes are higher now. It’s not just about choosing your major anymore, but choosing your health insurance, your next job, your career path... and that’s scary.

Related: 20 Things You Need to Stop Worrying About After College 

To make matters even worse, it can be easy to feel alone. Our BFFs are no longer down the hall, or even in the same city. Snapchat isn’t the same as hanging out on the quad, and the 30-something friend we made at work can’t quite relate to what we’re going through. In short, we’ve lost our support system.

On top of all of that, expectations are higher than ever before. Tammy Bui, a 20-something professional from Worcester, MA, says, “It’s stressful to be a student and to have to meet deadlines, but it’s even crazier when you are working, because it makes an impact on the business so everything you do has to be on point.”

There’s scientific evidence to back up how stressed we’ve become. “It’s called the ‘great mismatch’ in evolutionary biology,” says psychologist and therapist Dr. Jim Manganiello. “Extreme worry triggers the ‘flight or fight’ response too frequently and for too long.” In other words, when we’re constantly worrying, we don’t get the chance to flush the response out of our system. We stay stressed.

One reason we're feeling this intense amount of stress, especially at this time in life, is that we’ve been conditioned since childhood to build our self-worth around what others think. “We lose our own experience and sense of self because we imagine, wrongly, that others are correct. We then think, feel, and act according to that image,” says Dr. Manganiello. The good news is that it’s absolutely normal to be grappling with issues of self-worth, status, and decision making as a graduette, and provides us the experience to learn and grow.

What to do about it

Repeat after us: “I am enough.” Dr. Manganiello recommends we all become better friends to ourselves and lend ourselves the generosity we lend others. Accept that you don't know all the answers just yet. Spoiler: no one else does either.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s ok to “fail.” It doesn’t mean you are a failure. Steve Jobs and Walt Disney are just a couple of success stories who started out struggling. It’s what gave them the drive, resilience and grit to succeed. As vulnerability research professor and author Brené Brown talks about in her new book, Rising Strong, these moments of falling down remind us why it’s worth getting back up. By pretending no challenges exist so we can appear more “normal,” we sacrifice what we can learn from those moments. Successful people accept failure, rather than internalize it. But to do that is uncomfortable and requires you to relax.

Exercising regularly, practicing yoga, listening to music or guided relaxations and meditating can all bring mindfulness back into your life and help flush the stress hormones out of your system. This is an essential part of becoming more relaxed and preventing panic and anxiety.

Taking quick breaks to focus on something you love can help too. “When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I like to walk away and do something that makes me happy, like blogging, before getting back to work,” says Tammy. “It helps me take a step back.”

Name: Katie Fritts

Age: 30

Job Title and Description: Founder and CEO, Underclub

College Name/Major: UVA/B.S. Finance & Marketing and UC Berkeley/MBA

Website: www.underclub.co

Twitter Handle: @UnderclubCo

Instagram Handle: @UnderclubCo

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

Katie Fritts: There’s no typical day; I can go from writing front-end code one afternoon to meeting underwear designers the next! As a sole founder, I’m involved in nearly everything. We’re a very lean team, so planning and prioritization is key. Our first year was definitely flying by the seat of our pants where everything felt like an urgent priority. I’ll never forget the day we were stressing about how to get more web traffic, then the next day finding out we got into Cosmopolitan’s holiday gift guide, which meant an entirely new list of other (good) priorities to figure out! Now that we’re a year in, I try to apply more organization around our top initiatives to increase our focus and decrease distractions, but it’s still a wild ride!

What is the best part of your job?

KF: Building something that people love and use, and share with their friends. Some of my most exciting moments are when I see my members gift Underclub to their friends and family; that feels like the utmost validation. I love that I built something fun, creative and practical (can anyone really say they don’t have old undies they should throw out?!).

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

​KF: I started interning at an investment bank after my first year in college by applying to work in whatever role was open. I ended up mostly in the mailroom that summer, but a few summers later, I landed my full time job in Citi’s Mergers and Acquisitions group. The experience was incredibly valuable to learn meticulous attention to detail while also gaining insight into how to assess a business opportunity within the context of the broader market. While my current path with Underclub highly values creative, “out there” thinking, I’m also very grounded in the analytics of how to build a solid business model.

What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?

​KF: Everything is negotiable. My prior jobs were well outlined and the career path was clear, so knowing when and how to negotiate was fairly straightforward. Moving into a completely new industry, I didn’t know what prices, timelines and contracts were "standards" versus "suggestions." I’m still figuring this out, and learning to flex those negotiation muscles and ask for what you want in these situations can be super uncomfortable. But you should always ask, the worst you get is a "no," and that’s what you had if you never asked in the first place.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

​KF: “Chance only favors a prepared mind.” Lucky things can happen, but you have to be working really hard to stumble upon those opportunities.

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

​KF: I’m not sure if it’s a mistake or just a frugal startup beginning, but for the first year I worked out of my apartment and had zero separation between my personal and work life. My boxes of inventory literally sat at the foot of my bed. While my life is still heavily work-centric, having separate spaces where I go to work and where I go to sleep provides a much better environment for when I want to be in work mode or relax mode.

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

​KF: I don’t think anything will compare to our first few editorial features when I saw my company in magazines I regularly read. It’s like when you’re proud to be recognized on the Dean’s List for all your hard work at school…but way more cool!

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

​KF: Self-starters, people who can confidently go and “do” and who have a genuine interest in learning new things. We’re in a growth stage where we wear many hats and need to become experts in new things…fast.

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

​KF: Do it! Test it and see if it works. Everyone has great ideas and the biggest differentiator is that some people make moves on their idea. I’m a big fan of the “lean startup” model of creating, testing and iterating. I first started Underclub by asking my friends to PayPal me to shop for their underwear every month. It sounds a whole lot less sexy than designing a world-domination marketing plan, but testing the initial concept was critical and crucial first step to where we are today.

As finals wrap up this semester, we know how much you’re going to need some rest and relaxation. What better way to get in the holiday spirit than to win a four-night stay at Omni Amelia Island Plantation, Jacksonville Florida’s award-winning oceanfront resort? The trip is for two, so you can even bring your bestie with you!

Not only will one lucky collegiette win this amazing vacation, but the winner will also receive a 12-month subscription and deluxe gift set from Scentbird, a 6-month wine subscription matched to your taste from Glassful, a 6-month Love With Fooddeluxe subscription, a 12-month subscription to Kiwi Crate, and a SampleMeMore beauty box including a $100 visa gift card.

Only one lucky reader will get the chance to win this amazing getaway and prize package! All you have to do is follow this link and enter to win. 

There are few experiences more anxiety inducing than the dreaded interview, save final exams or your SO calling to say the two of you “need to talk.” Unfortunately, it’s impossible to get a job, an internship or even admittance into grad school until you can convince an interviewer that you’re qualified.

It’s a high-pressure situation, and no matter how much we prepare for it, something problematic could happen. Because we’re already on edge, we may slip up and flub a question or forget something important. Fortunately, it’s possible to get back on track. HC talked to expert interview coach Barry Drexler to find out how to recover from common interview mistakes.

1. You arrive late.

Maybe there was an accident on the expressway or you rolled out of bed much later than you had planned—either way, you finally make it to your interview. Fifteen minutes late.

“The best thing to do is to be as honest as possible and just own it,” Drexler says. Acknowledge your mistake and apologize for it. Explain your reasoning where applicable. If you were late due to circumstances out of your control (such as traffic or a major accident), then let the interviewer know.

If you’re running late and you know the interviewer’s phone number, it’s a good idea to give him or her a call ahead of time. If you don’t have his or her contact information, you’ll have to deal with the situation after you arrive.

You’re going to want to take a moment before entering the interview space to gather yourself. “You’re going to lose your composure, because you’ll be really uptight about being late,” Drexler says. “You have to, as much as possible, put it behind you.” Dip into the ladies’ room to fix yourself up, or take a few deep breaths just outside the door to get yourself under control.

What to do: Say, “I’m very sorry I was late; there was an accident on the expressway and it slowed me down. It’s not typical of me.” Then move on.

2. You forget the interviewer’s name or call him or her by the wrong one.

A slip of the tongue, a momentary lapse in memory — hey, it happens.

According to Drexler, this happens a lot, so it shouldn’t be that big of a deal. Be apologetic, but don’t keep saying you’re sorry over and over again. “In other words, don’t give it life,” he says. “You want to get the interviewer off that topic. If you keep talking about it, you’re giving it life when you don’t need to.”

What to do: Say, “Oops, sorry about that!” and steer the conversation away from the incident.

3. Your phone rings.

It’s your worst nightmare: You could have sworn you put your phone on silent, but for some reason Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” is now blaring from your purse.

While you may want to ignore it until it goes away, that’s not the best thing to do. “You want to be honest; you just made a mistake,” Drexler says. “You want to show respect.” Don’t let it continue to ring while the interviewer is talking.

If your phone goes off in the middle of the interview, apologize and turn it off. Don’t put it on silent, but power it down; it’s your safest bet against any more accidental interruptions.

What to do: Say, “I’m so sorry, I thought I put my phone on silent.” Then turn it off, put it in your bag and leave it there.

4. You say something negative.

Frazzled nerves can mess with our filters, and sometimes we say things we never would have voiced aloud otherwise.

Maybe you catch yourself telling a questionable joke, or a dig at your ex-boss slips out when talking about your previous work experiences. As always, you need to address your mistake and make amends.

If you catch yourself being less than positive, Drexler offers a way to turn it into a good thing. “If you look at their expression and you’re getting a sense that you just said something wrong, then it’s a good opportunity to demonstrate self-awareness,” he says. It’s always better to catch yourself than to have your interviewer tell you that you’re being rude. If you’re unsure, Drexler suggests reading the interviewer for signals (narrowed eyes, sudden body tension) that you may have said something off-color.

Once you’ve caught yourself, turn the negative into a positive. For example, if you find yourself speaking badly about your former employer, halt in your tracks and begin elaborating on some of the skills that you learned at that job.

What to do: Say, “I just realized I made a rude joke/spoke negatively about my prior employer. To be honest, I really learned a lot from him/her, such as...”

5. You miss a question because you weren’t paying attention.

Maybe you’re mortified about that rude joke you just made or you still can’t get over the fact that you were late. Whatever the case may be, you suddenly notice the interviewer is staring at you expectantly, and you have no idea what he or she just said.

While the situation may appear awkward in the worst way, Drexler offers a pretty simple fix. “This is where you would simply say, ‘Well, I was just thinking about the prior question.’ That’s a good reply to something like that,” he says. However, remember to stay in the moment from here forward. During your interview, you shouldn’t be thinking about anything else!

What to do: Say, “Oh, I was just thinking about something you said,” and ask him or her to repeat the question.

6. You forget to bring a list of references.                             

Like slipping up on someone’s name, forgetting to bring your reference list happens quite often as well. Don’t dwell on this one, either; admit that you forgot and take action to correct the mistake.

“Be very matter-of-fact,” Drexler says. “You have to demonstrate an attitude that shows you’re not beating yourself up in front of them.” Tell the interviewer that you will send your references by the end of the day.

What to do: Say, “Oh! My apologies. I will absolutely send them to you by the end of today.”

7. You’re asked to explain an unfamiliar part of your resume.

Drexler works with clients specifically to train them so they don’t make this mistake. “It happens because people do their resumes, and they don’t even bother to look at them,” he says.

This is why you should never have anyone else do your resume for you. Anything on your resume is fair game, so you need to know it like the back of your hand. Still, maybe the point in question was an internship from high school, or a section near the bottom you didn’t think to look over.

“Don’t dwell on what you don’t know,” Drexler suggests. Don’t say that you don’t know or aren’t sure. Do your best to remember what you can about the item and expand on it as much as possible.

What to do: Say, “Well, that was quite a while ago, but what I do know about that situation is…”

8. You’re asked a question you weren’t prepared for.

“What do you think about our company’s recent adoption of open office spaces?” You didn’t check the headlines; you were too busy practicing for this interview!

Unfortunately, you’re not going to be prepared for every question you get. Drexler says, “This is where you have to think on your feet. What is it the person wants to hear when they’re asking me this question?”

He continues, “If you don’t have any clue, you still need to say something.” You may be nervous, but don’t just blurt out any answer. It’s totally okay to take a second to consider the question before you respond. Think about the overall premise of the question, and try to figure out what’s behind it. Say something like, “that’s a great question” to give yourself a bit more time if you need to.

What to do: Say, “That’s a great question. I think open office spaces are a great way to cultivate teamwork and a friendly environment…”

9. You give a less-than-ideal answer.

In an effort to give the right answer, you may accidentally give the wrong one.

Rachael David, a junior at Penn State, had this happen when she was interviewing for her current internship. “She simply asked me on a scale of 1-10 how much I wanted the job, and in fear of appearing too eager, I responded with an eight,” she says.

If you’re still in the interview, don’t be afraid to amend points you think you didn’t answer as well as you could have. If the interview is over, you may still have the chance to fix this mistake. “If you think there were one or two questions you didn’t answer very well, then you want to address that in a thank-you note, briefly,” Drexler says. “You want your note to be constructive and positive.”

Rachael found this solution worked for her. “Immediately when I left the interview, I knew I had made a horrible mistake and was sure to email her as soon as I could, both thanking her for the interview and explaining my mistake,” she says. “I told her that my desire for the job was a solid 10 and apologized for any confusion. She responded back saying how glad she was that I had changed my mind, and I was notified that I got the job a few weeks later.”

It is possible to recover and still get the job. As stated, address the mistake (and correct it!) in a follow-up thank-you email. Keep it brief — no need to overly elaborate.

What to do: Say, “I know you asked me about X, and I want you to know these are my thoughts about that point…”

Interviews can be a stressful ordeal, but Drexler encourages us to remember what they’re for. An interview is all about selling yourself: showing the interviewer that you have the knowledge, skills and experience that he or she wants. In order to do this, Drexler insists that you stay focused. “You have to drop everything else from your mind and stay present, and that ‘everything’ includes the mistake you just made,” he says.

If you make a mistake, own up to it and then give it a positive spin! Giving a silver lining to your mistakes can help demonstrate your accountability, your self-awareness and your ability to not sweat the small stuff. Use those unfortunate mishaps to convince your interviewer you’re qualified for the position!

It's that time of year: it's starting to get cold outside, and the days are getting shorter and darker. Despite the potentially dreary weather, you can have a bright, cheerful living space—and there's nothing happier than fun, fruity dorm décor! If you're looking for a colorful way to spruce up your living space, then these simple DIY projects are just what you've been looking for. 

1. 3D Magnets

This tutorial shows you how to make apple magnets, but you could also try pumpkins, lemons, and oranges!

2. Mini Faux Piñatas

Hang these together as a garland, or put them around your dorm on their own as fun decorations! You can find the tutorial here.

3. Garland

This garland is so fun and simple! All you have to do is print and cut the pieces out and string them together. You can make it as long or as short as you want using the tutorial here.

4. Pom Poms

These pom poms are adorable! They would look so sweet in a bowl as a centerpiece, or sewed onto a sweater. Make your own using this tutorial.

5. Tiny Magnets

These tiny magnets are the cutest things ever. Make them using this tutorial to brighten up your fridge!

6. Bright Umbrellas

This DIY will cheer up any rainy day! Bonus: you won’t mix up your umbrella with all of those other black umbrellas out there ever again. Find out how to make yours here.

7. Perler Bead Key Chains

Remember perler beads, the little beads that required an iron and adult supervision back when you were a kid? Now that you’re a grownup, you don’t need the adult supervision—but you definitely need these adorable key chains! Learn how to make them here.

8. Purses and Pouches

Little pouches like these are perfect for organizing your backpack or purse. These fruity pouches make great gifts, and can be used as makeup bags, pencil cases, or even as a clutch purse—find out how here. 

9. Fruity Heels

Nothing is more fun than these watermelon-soled heels! Get some cheap heels at a thrift store, and have a blast dolling them up using this tutorial!

10. Citrus Coasters

These felt coasters will brighten up any boring IKEA coffee table or cold winter day. Make your own using this tutorial. 

11. Honeycomb Toothpicks

Serving appetizers or a fruit tray? Add a simply sweet touch by making these fruity toothpicks using this tutorial!

12. Strawberry Planter

We love the way that plants make any living space feel: comfortable, homey and put together. This strawberry planter adds another adjective to that list: adorable! Find out how to make your own strawberry planter here.

13. Wrapping Paper

Instead of buying wrapping paper from a retail store, use these tutorials to wrap your gifts in a fun, unique style! If this seems like too much work for you, simply cut a lemon or orange in half, paint it, and use it to stamp plain white paper. Then wrap and voilà!

14. Watermelon Welcome Mat

Turn a boring doormat into a bright, welcoming watermelon! If you buy a circular mat, you can make two mats for the price of one. Find out how to make it here.

Which of these fun, fruity DIYs will you try, collegiettes? 

A shooting occurred Sunday on Winston-Salem State University's campus, killing one person and injuring another, according to the Charlotte Observer. Police say Anthony White Jr., 19, was fatally shot around 1:20 a.m. on South Martin Luther King Jr. drive. White was a student at Winston-Salem State, and was found unresponsive in a campus parking lot. A second student, whose identity is being withheld, also suffered non-life threatening injuries. 

The campus went on lockdown for over three hours after the incident. A vigil for White was held on Sunday, as police continue to search for the suspected shooter. 

Brandy Pittman, a 20-year-old junior who was at the vigil, told ABC News that White brightened up the days of his classmates.

"We could tell by his spirit, just him coming to class that he wanted to do better," Pittman told ABC. "He might not have had the best of things, and he might have been off on some days, but there were days that Anthony would come into class and he would be on top of things and he would make an impact on the other students."

In a statement, the university acknowledged that the community would be feeling "unsettled" after the tragedy.

"We want to assure our students, faculty, and staff that we are doing all we can to ensure their safety, and would not hesitate to suspend normal activity if we had any information or evidence that a current credible threat to campus persisted," the statement read.

As creepy and twisted as the plotlines can be, there’s no denying that Law & Order: SVU is one of the most addicting shows currently on the air. Whether you’ve been a fan since the Elliot Stabler days, or you began watching more recently, (we hope you started before Nick Amaro!) you’re probably hooked. Here are 12 signs you watch way too much Law and Order: SVU. How many can you relate to?

1. You can recite the show’s voice-over intro from memory

“…These are their stories.”

2. You routinely try to sing the instrumental theme song

“Dun DUN.”

3. You’ve played an SVU drinking game

Take a sip every time someone says, “We need a bus!”

4. Most of your friends think it’s a little weird how into crime shows you are

Except for your BFF, who totally gets it.

5. You’re always prepared for the worst…

Everyone is a suspect.

6. …But you’ve seen enough episodes to learn how to protect yourself

Always look behind you!

7. If you ever had to dispose of a body, you know how not to do it

Some criminals are such amateurs.

8. You want to be Olivia Benson when you grow up

Role model status.

9. You’ve watched episode after episode instead of going to bed at a decent hour

Just one more, you promise yourself as you hit 'play.'

10. You’ve canceled plans because a new episode is on

Guilty.

11. You know that many of your favorite stars got his or her start on SVU

And you love pointing out the more obscure guest stars.

12. It’s more than a show for you; it’s a way of life

SVU forever.

The world we live in is changing. Social media is turning our social culture into something that is almost entirely virtual. Face-to-face interaction is becoming more rare, unless it’s over Facetime or Snapchat. When’s the last time you didn’t check social media for more than 24 hours? If you would’ve asked me that question a week ago, I couldn’t have honestly told you the answer.

Then, it happened: I got so tired of social media drama and silly notifications I deleted it all. Okay, maybe I’m being dramatic; I just didn’t check any of it for a week. No apps, no social media websites, none of it. All I had left was texting, email, and human interaction.

Related: The 9 Snapchats Girls Send

At the start, it seemed like this would be an easy task and that it would make me much more productive. Without constantly playing on my phone, I could get so much more work done! Except that didn’t happen. 

I found myself feeling very isolated and unaware of events going on around me. Almost every organization I’m involved in shares information in Facebook groups. What if I missed something important? Why didn’t I tell my friends I was doing this? Instead of being bugged with daily notifications, I was constantly surrounding with the fear that I was missing something.

At first, I didn’t notice much difference. The only noticeable difference was that I had more time in the morning, and that I slept better because I wasn’t scrolling through Facebook all night and into the wee hours of the morning. Other than that, everything seemed pretty much the same. My productivity didn’t suddenly increase, I wasn’t suddenly more energized, and I definitely wasn’t more aware of what was going on around me. I just felt sort of oblivious to the world and almost invisible. I interacted with people in class and at work, but other than that, I felt pretty isolated. 

Related: 3 Reasons to Detach From Social Media (& a Few Not To)

Around mid-week, things started changing. I started to care less about what I was missing on Facebook and Instagram. Wednesday evening, I went out and got a chance to talk to some great alumni, and it felt so great to be able to just have a real conversation about the world, and not just about something we saw online. Maybe this whole idea of no social media wouldn’t be so bad after all. It almost forced me to really think about things to talk about and what to say. I didn't feel the need to post anything about it either, because I knew that I would tell it to the people I wanted to the next day. The best part? Instead of a half-hearted "Congrats! That's exciting," response to a Facebook status, I was able to see people's reactions in person, which lead to an even better conversation.

My favorite part of ditching social media? No negativity. I did not experience anything negative from anyone during the week. My need for approval started to become nonexistent, and I was reminded that likes and shares and retweets don't define your worth as a person. I didn't feel like I needed to post what I was doing or wearing or feeling. I could just talk to people that I wanted to, and people that I knew would support me.

After Wednesday, the week seemed to fly by. Without feeling the need to be ‘checking’ something all the time, the conversations with people really started to flow. Real conversations about events and ideas and actual news seemed easier to talk about than whatever the latest thing posted on Facebook was. The quality and meaning of my conversations and interactions definitely improved. I was improving my social skills instead of my social media skills. I never realized how much social media controlled my conversations until I gave it up.

Related: FB PDA: TMI?

As the end of the week appeared, it was time to get back on social media and check everything. The plan was to check right at midnight. To be honest, when midnight rolled around, I really didn’t care at all to check. So I didn’t.

When I woke up, I stumbled out of bed and found my laptop. I pulled up Facebook first, because that had been my go-to social media platform. I found 47 notifications and two friend requests; that was all of the ‘important’ stuff I missed this week. In reality, none of it was really that important at all. It actually made me think, “Why did I get a notification about this?” So, I just closed it and continued. Instagram and Snapchat were next. I had about 15 new snaps from four different people. Nothing major.

After my week without social media, I definitely learned a few things:

•        Without seeing notifications pop-up all night, it’s definitely easier to sleep, which made me happier and healthier.
•        I really can live without constantly being "digitally" connected to my friends.
•        Social media isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I found that I prefer actual conversations and that they make better memories for me.

My week without social media is now officially over, sort of. I re-downloaded Snapchat and Instagram, but Facebook and Twitter? I think I can live without those two social media platforms for a little longer. I’m definitely reducing my Facebook usage to just answering messages and checking notifications on those days that I know I’ll need to see things, like the days of my club meetings. Other than that, I don’t feel the need to have a Facebook or Twitter app on my phone. They're just unneeded distractions on my phone. I’d rather experience real life and live in the moment.

With this year’s Republican primary debates drawing in record audiences and generating tons of public discussion, they’ve become a huge factor in determining who may be the frontrunner in next year’s general Presidential election. GOP Presidential candidates—frontrunners and underdogs alike—have expressed frustration with how these debates have been run, and are now asking for more influence over how they’re formatted.

Advisers and campaign managers for 11 different candidates met over the weekend to discuss changes that could be made for the next debate, which will take place on November 10 in Milwaukee. With such a crowded pool of candidates, many feel that with a two-hour cap on the televised debates, they do not have nearly enough time to express their views on issues and policies.

The campaigns of less popular candidates such as Senator Lindsay Graham, former Senator Rick Santorum, and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal are proposing “equal treatment” alongside the frontrunners, meaning two debates with seven candidates selected at random. Ben Carson’s campaign manager, Barry Bennett, is proposing one debate (still capped at two hours) with every candidate on stage at once—but other candidates feel this will only worsen the issue of giving each candidate enough stage time.

“One of the big goals is allowing for more substance and equal time,” said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Mike Huckabee’s campaign manager (and daughter), according to the Washington Post. “It does make that difficult if there are multiple candidates but the debate’s capped at two hours.”

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush was unhappy with the way CNBC, the network that broadcast the last debate, described him to the audience in his biography, which did not include his accomplishments as governor. His advisors are asking that candidates have input into their biographies before they are put on the air. The RNC has since suspended NBC News from further involvement in debates.

Candidates have also expressed dissatisfaction with the moderators of the debates.

“When you don’t have a single conservative moderator, when the moderation earns boos from the audience — I mean, I’ve never seen that before where an audience booed the moderation,” candidate Carly Fiorina said on This Week after the CNBC debate in Colorado. The moderators—CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla, Becky Quick and John Harwood—asked questions that many feel were pointed and biased.

“Questions from moderators about someone’s morality are uncalled for, and that’s the kind of approach we’d like to see changed,” Sanders said.

The Republican campaign executives are currently in the process of signing off on a letter with official requests for changes, and it is set to be released Tuesday. It’ll be interesting to see how these requests will be accommodated—Should conservative figures be moderating conservative debates, or someone neutral altogether? Would you rather every candidate have equal speaking time, or that candidates have a chance to really dive into their stances on issues?

Losing your virginity…it’s got to happen at some point right? Whether you are itching to lose it as a teen, or waiting until marriage (or somewhere in between) you are more than likely going to lose it eventually.

But losing it doesn’t always work out the way we planned. So 41 college women shared the story of when they lost their virginity to give a more accurate portrayal than say, The Notebook.

Honestly, I just wanted to get it over with and see what all the fuss was about. My first time was with my boyfriend of three months and it was average I would say. It wasn't really special, the lights were on, and we were in the basement, on his family’s guest bed. It was somewhat uncomfortable both physically and emotionally, and it wasn't the best feeling in the world, but it was a good experience in that he was kind and conscious of me the entire time, which wasn't very long luckily. I guess it was a positive experience, but I regret not waiting for someone I really loved and wanted to share that experience with. I wish I had waited, but its not something you can take back... to me it just happened, it wasn't remarkable in any way.

-Annie, Bentley University Class of 2018

My first time was the summer going into senior year of high school. My boyfriend and I sneaked into this golf course, and we were both really nervous. I was nervous because I heard such awful first-time stories from everyone I knew. I was bracing myself for the pain and blood, but it ended up feeling amazing! It was definitely awkward since it was both of our first times, but I enjoyed it a lot, and it definitely lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. When it was over and we were dressed, I looked at him and asked, "You're not going to become a douchebag right?" It's been four years, and we're still together, and no, he's not a douchebag!

-Nicole, University of Florida Class of 2017

Well, I remember it clearly because it happened hours before I graduated high school… This guy and I had been hooking up since August 2014 and finally decided to have sex. And I didn't expect too much so I wasn't too disappointed. It happened in his bed, he invited me over cause his mom wasn't home (surprise). I regretted it afterwards though because he was a dick to me but silly me, when back for a second time, a few months later, it was definitely 100% better, felt better, I knew what I was doing. But, a few months after that he tells me that the condom broke...both times. Thank god I was on the pill. Moral of the story, don't be that guy, and always check before you leave.

-Faye, York College of Pennsylvania Class of 2019

My first time having sex wasn't bad at all. I was with my first boyfriend at the time. We had talked things over and eventually I told him I was ready. We didn't plan a time and day to actually have sex. I would say it happened as naturally as it could have. It didn't hurt like I had been told it might. I am no longer with him but I don't regret that step I took with him.

-Mariah, Salem State University Class of 2019

It was prom night, junior year of high school. Felt like a success then, feels a success now to be honest.

-Emily, Hamilton Collage Class of 2019

It was romantic. It was with my boyfriend. It was the night of my high school graduation. It was a very positive first experience — he made me feel comfortable and loved. Afterwards, I was surprised that that was it! I thought I'd see fireworks, feel really emotional, or feel like a different person after, but I felt exactly the same.

-Shannon, Bryant University Class of 2017

The first time I had sex was when I was a sophomore in high school, and it "went down" on my bonus-room couch with my "serious" significant other of a few months. It wasn't really something either of us thought would happen that day, but it "just happened" in the moment. After, we high-fived and went to Wendy's for dinner... How romantic, right?

-Amy, Bucknell College Class of 2018

My first time was with my boyfriend in my junior year of high school. It was in his white pick-up truck, parked in a field, and I was wearing a baggy t-shirt and athletic shorts. So basically it wasn't picturesque or magical and I didn't hear wedding bells or anything, but I'm so happy I lost it to someone I really loved. What was special was that we lost our virginities together. There was no pressure for sex to be anything out of this world, but we did wait for both of us to be ready for it. (I'm also still with the guy).

-Alex, Case Western Reserve University Class of 2017

I was 18 and he was 21. I always thought I would be the girl who loses it with a guy she's been serious with for months. Instead I lost it after knowing this guy for three weeks. It's true I rushed losing my virginity and I didn't know much about him but in spite of the circumstances, he and I were together in some sense for about 8 months. While there were many times he didn't appreciate me as much as I deserved, he taught me a lot and I'm happy he didn't just toss me to the side right after I give him a precious gift. I fell hard for my first and so much happened while we were "together" but like I said he taught me a lot and I just try to look back on the good times we spent together.

-Rachel, Temple University Class of 2018

The first time I had sex, I was 16 and it was with my boyfriend who I would go on to date for three years. Honestly, I don't really remember much about it today other than it was really awkward. We didn't even really do any other sexual activities before we jumped straight into the sex because neither of us really knew what we were doing. I wish we had worked our way into it. I think it could have been a lot better...and maybe a little more memorable.

-Jamie, Oklahoma State University Class of 2016

RELATED: Am I Ready For Sex?: 7 Things To Think About

Horrible. I was 18 and I had been dating my boyfriend for almost 8 months. He was a virgin too but he had been dropping hints for a while that he wanted us to finally have sex. I really didn't want to (and I told him this many times) but I was under the notion that no one went to college a virgin, and I sure as hell didn't want to be that one girl. Let me clarify I was not in love with my boyfriend, but he was in love with me, and his constant nagging about sex made me feel guilty that I wasn't giving him what he wanted. So one day when I was dog sitting my best friend’s dog, I called him over and said OK. It hurt, and since neither of us knew what we were doing it was awkward and uncomfortable. I wish I hadn't done it, because then all he wanted to do was sex and I wanted no part in that so it started to drive us apart. I am happy I got it over with, but I am definitely waiting until I have strong feelings for someone before I have sex again.

-Margaret, Miami University Ohio Class of 2019

It was unplanned and not at all what I was expecting. It was with someone I had just met who didn't think I was a virgin, and he had a girlfriend at the time. One thing led to another and I kind of just let it happen. We were safe, but it wasn't anything fun like the way they make it seem on TV or anywhere else. I tried to date him after but never developed any romantic feelings for him and we never did it again. I kind of wish I had waited for someone special, but I know at the time I was insecure about just getting it over with because it seemed like "everyone was doing it."

-Erica, University of Connecticut Class of 2017

I was 18 and at my lake house for a long weekend my freshman year of college. It was just a few close friends and I watching videos and drinking. It was really fun. I found myself in my childhood lake house bedroom with my best friend, who I've been in love with for a few years. It was nice; he made sure I was comfortable because he knew I was new to the whole thing.

-Amanda, Georgia College & State University Class of 2017

It was with my first real boyfriend and we didn't wait very long. I was 16 (so in other words young and naive). He seemed so nice and I trusted him right away not to hurt me. We had sex a little after a month of dating, and it wasn't anything special. I was scared, we were on his couch, and it lasted probably 5 minutes. I wasn't ready. After we had sex, everything changed and he thought he could control me. He was a very horrible person who hurt me a lot and I thought I was in love with him, so I stayed for a while. From my experience, I now know that it's always better to wait no matter how curious you are. If you don't know the person well enough and you’re not in love with them, then wait before you jump into something you aren't ready for!

-Marissa, Siena College Class of 2018

I was really young, 16 years old, I think. It happened with my boyfriend at the time, but it wasn't his first time. He was very cautious with me and very comforting and supportive. He asked me several times if I actually wanted to go through with it. I remember, it was on a Sunday night before school and I had slept over at his parents house without them knowing! It was really risky and they weren't too pleased with us the next morning. It hurt a lot at first, but after a minute or so it was completely fine! I remember thinking, "That's it? That's what everyone is going crazy about?" I didn't think it felt bad or good – it just happened. Afterwards, I was excited to tell my best friend I'd finally done it. It wasn't a big deal to her because she, along with most of the other girls in my grade, had already experienced it. It was kind of my own little parade. I was so pleased with myself.

-Catherine, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Class of 2018

I thought I was ready to have sex. I was 15 and my boyfriend at the time was 17. He didn't pressure me and we had a mature (and kind of awkward!) conversation about having sex because we were both virgins. On our six-month anniversary, he treated me to dinner and we drove around town where he eventually parked in an elementary school parking lot near my house. Things started to get heated from there and I remember straddling him because that was pretty much the only position that was going to work in the car. It hurt, but he was super understanding during and after the whole ordeal. The next day at school I remember feeling like everyone just knew that I wasn't a virgin anymore. We are no longer together, but I did love him at the time. I just wish that he didn't have something of mine that I can never get back.

-Logan, Virginia Commonwealth University Class of 2019

My first time was horrible. I was on my period and neither of us knew what to do, as it was our first time. He saw the blood about 10 minutes in and, needless to say, that was the end of that session.

-Natalie, University of Texas at Austin Class of 2019

It was with my boyfriend two weeks into our relationship. We had gotten into a small car accident on the way to his place, a two-hour drive from my campus. We had to have his parents come pick us up and waited over an hour. He had to call out of work and it was just bad. He felt bad for ruining our first weekend together and we were planning on doing it anyway so I just kind of did it to make the night better for him. I don't really regret it, I am happy it was with him. It kind of made me more self-conscious because I wanted to be better for him. We ended up having sex about 7 times that weekend in total because we both fell in love with the idea of it. It made us more connected and the relationship just ended after 2 years. I am happy my first time was with him but I wish it were under better circumstances.

-Marissa, Framingham State University Class of 2017

I was 18 years old and had just started dating my best friend of 4 years who I’d always had feelings for. My first time was very memorable and perfect for me. We listened to Bon Iver and were both very, very careful about everything. Almost 2 1/2 years later, I'm still with him so I guess I wasn't too bad at it!

­-Stephanie, Christopher Newport University Class of 2017

I was 16 and I met a boy through a friend at a hockey rink. He got my number and the next week he came over when my parents weren't home. Although sex wasn't necessarily planned on my part, it definitely was on his. As soon as he walked in the door he brought me upstairs and it just kind of happened. It was awkward and he did all the work while I was just lying there. After it was over at first I felt happy because I was "more experienced" than my group of friends at the time. But within a few minutes I was calling my friend crying to her on the phone because I felt like I had made a big mistake with someone I barely knew, and because he didn't use a condom. Because he was older and because I hadn't had sex before, I felt very uncomfortable asking for him to use one. Overall I would say it was a pretty negative experience and I was very uninterested in spending time with boys for months after that. I never did spend time with him again after that night, but he did text me to hangout again, which I ignored.

-Brittany, Wilfrid Laurier University Class of 2017

My first time having sex was very uncomfortable and painful. I didn't expect it to hurt that bad and the whole time I was afraid my mom would walk in.

-Brihanna, Temple University Class of 2017

I made the mistake of having sex at the young age of 15, simply because I wanted to get it over with. Unlike most girls' ideas of having the "perfect first time," I thought that if I got it out of the way I could avoid the awkwardness and novelty of it by the time the right guy came around. The guy I did it with wasn't important to me and now I sort of wish I had given it a little more thought and picked someone special.

-Gloria, Virginia Commonwealth University Class of 2018

RELATED: 5 Conversations You Need to Have Before Sex

My first time was sort of impersonal. It was with my boyfriend. We were both 15, and it was Halloween. We didn't really know what to expect. But afterwards I felt strangely relieved that it was over and done with. Like almost everyone's first time, it wasn't exactly comfortable. Noises happened that we weren't expecting, but we learned to laugh it off and became much closer as a couple. I loved that boy so much, and I wouldn't have wanted to lose it to anyone else. Looking back, part of me wishes that we had waited until we were older. But yeah, that was my introduction to the wonderful world of sex.

-Chapin, Hofstra University Class of 2019

It was a few weeks before my 17th birthday, and I had been with my boyfriend for about a year and a half. He was a year older, but also a virgin. I was the second one in my friend group to have sex. We had been talking about it for a long time, and had decided to put it off for most of our relationship. A few weeks before, it came up again. My reasoning was that if I didn't lose my virginity to him, who knows who I would lose it to. I loved him, and we had been each other’s first everything. I don’t know if I thought we would be together forever, but I certainly couldn’t imagine a life without him. We talked about it and decided to do it, without setting a date. So January 4th, he took me on a romantic date to the Cheesecake Factory, and on the ride back to my house, I told him I wanted to do it. He stopped at a Rite Aid to buy condoms while I ran into a nearby restaurant to say hi to some friends eating there. We went home, went down to my basement, and started to have sex. It hurt so badly that I cried. He wasn’t able to enter me fully – in fact it wasn’t even close. I spent the next half hour crying, him holding me, saying we never had to try it again and that he was so sorry. I had already felt that I had let the adults in my life down by deciding to do it, and now I felt even worse because I had let him down. We didn’t try again for a long time, and it didn’t work then either. Not until five months later did we finally successfully have sex, and it was the most gentle and special thing I have ever experienced. I’m not disappointed that I lost my virginity as a process rather than in one act, and I’m not disappointed that it was with this boy.

-Caitie, University of Notre Dame Class of 2018

It was sophomore year and with a friend I'd met freshman year. We knew when it was happening it'd be a one-time, in-the-moment kind of thing because it was after a party and we just kind of went back to his dorm room. I was just so nervous; I couldn't shut up! I must have told him a million and one times it was my first time and I didn't know what I was doing but that I still wanted to do it and I was glad it was him because he's such a nice guy and on and on. I am honestly surprised he wasn't like ‘yeah maybe let's not do this’. So pretty much, my poor friend will never be able to forget that he took my virginity. But also, double embarrassing for me was that I was rather loud and one of his suitemates, who I am also good friends with, was in his room next door and heard the whole thing. So that's cool! However through every dumb thing I said like "I'm glad it was you" or "Was I any good at it?" (Yes, I actually asked that because I am that lame) I'll still always think of that night as a good experience. I was just able to have fun with him and laugh, and tell him exactly what I wanted. It also helped a lot that he was very considerate and never did anything without asking first if I wanted to (because he'd obviously done it before and wasn't freaking the hell out for no reason like me). But anyway, I look back on it and I smile or I laugh because of how much of a moron I was and how understanding he was and that's what makes it a good first time, I think, rather than what it actually felt like.

-Molly, NYU Class of 2018

Honestly, it was kind of a wreck. It was in the woods outside a frat party on a rainy September night during my first semester in college. It was rushed because I felt left out that I was the one of the only girls in my friend group who was still a virgin. So when this really cute football player started talking to me and kissing me and asking me if I wanted to go into the woods with him, I said yes. I regretted it for a while because he turned out to be not a good person. But I don't regret it now because it shows how much I've grown into my sexuality and matured. Since then, I've learned so much about myself and what sex means to me.

-Shannon, Stony Brook University Class of 2018

Underwhelming. It lasted like maybe 10 seconds, and hurt a lot and was overall pretty weird. I had been dating my boyfriend for a month in my freshman year of college so I guess I felt obligated to have sex with him, so we did.

-Lauren, University of Wyoming Class of 2016

I had sex in a car because I was too impatient to wait for the opportunity to use a bed (or anywhere else in a house). It was with this guy I hardly knew; we had been “shipped” by our mutual friend. I just wanted to experience it before I started college. It was supposed to be a summer fling, but it was so awkward that we never talked again after that. I regret it, not because I miss my virginity or because I didn't experience a "special" first-time, I regret it because it just wasn't enjoyable: it was extremely hot in the car, we were both paranoid the whole time, the car was so small that we could barely move, and because we knew nothing about each other we were completely silent before and after. The only good thing that came out of it was that it made the next time I had sex that much better!

-Sarah, Bentley University Class of 2019

I actually got walked in on my first time having sex. My boyfriend at the time shared a room with his little brother (who was really only a year or two younger than me), and his brother came upstairs while we were in the middle of it. Instead of jumping up to block the door — as I assumed he would — my boyfriend rolled off of me and hid beside the bed. I pulled the sheet up over my head at the very last second. His brother walked in and quickly walked back out. On the plus side, he learned to knock after that.

-Rebecca, University of Maryland Class of 2017

It was definitely the right time. Everything felt great for both of us; it didn't hurt me at all! We went for so long, and then freaked out because the condom broke!! I cried as he assured me that there was no chance of me being pregnant because he hadn't finished. I was so scared and he felt so bad because he felt like he had ruined my first time, but in reality I really enjoyed it up until that point.

-Kali, Cleveland State University Class of 2019

My boyfriend and I had been together for six months. I was 19 and he was 21. We made this big deal; we got a hotel in a beautiful city, had a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant, and it was Valentine's Day. I wanted it to be this wonderful experience, but it was just.... eh. We had been used to doing other things for a while, so it didn't feel like a big deal.

-Laura, Clemson University Class of 2017

My ex thought using an extra lubed condom would make it easier but it actually made it worst, like it was so slippery it kept slipping out and by the time he finally got it in I told him I was over it and walked away.

-Kaitlyn, Bryant University Class of 2016

RELATED: Sex: What to Expect From Your First Time

I was 16 and it was on Valentine's Day. It was in my parents’ basement and we didn't do any foreplay. I didn't even take off my shirt. I thought I wanted it, but it hurt because I wasn't ready, I wasn't wet. It wasn't fun. For a long time, I thought that's just what sex was, because no one took the time to make sure I was comfortable or enjoying myself. It hurt every time, but I told myself I loved my boyfriend and it made him happy and that's what sex was all about. When we broke up, I convinced myself that I loved him for a really long time. When I had sex the next time with a guy I had a genuine connection with, and he actually wanted to go down on me, I was shocked. I've still never had an orgasm, but I learned that sex can be fun, that it shouldn't hurt, and that I'm more than just a body.

-Sarah, Hofstra University Class of 2019

We'd even had a huge argument the night before it happened. Basically, my first time was "make-up" sex. Emotionally, not the best decision I've ever made. It was horrible. I had said yes to him verbally, but my body was screaming no. I was in extreme pain and was crying because of it. I didn't know what to do. I wanted this boy to love me. I wanted everything to be okay between us. I wanted this to fix everything. Instead, it ruined everything. When I asked him to stop he did, and that was that. For the remainder of our relationship I was too scared to try again because of how much it hurt. But to me, I had lost my virginity. A little over a month later, some conversation came up about it between him and I where he told me "it didn't count" as sex. I was in shock. Didn't count? What does that even mean? Our whole relationship, I hadn't been one to verbalize my opinions or stand up for myself out of fear that I would lose him, but this was the breaking point. I had just given myself to this boy, and been told I wasn't good enough. I was an emotional wreck. I told him, "Just because you didn't finish, doesn't mean it didn't count." That was the first and last time I ever stood up to him. Things ended a week after that and we went without talking to each other that entire time. He made no effort to apologize and while I was willing to try and work it out (stupidly), he didn't even say "hi" to me while we were at a mutual friend's party and dumped me a day later.

-Nicole, University of Connecticut Class of 2017

Magical. Perfect. Chocolate-y. Romantic. Just kidding. It was a Friday afternoon in high school while his parents were both at work. It was how any first time should be - confusing, nerve-wracking and slightly uncomfortable...but cute and somehow unforgettable.

­-Jen, University of Illinois Class of 2017

It was in his room; very comfy sheets I might add, a glow of a TV fake fire... I know how romantic! With music in the background, I lost my virginity to the song 'Sex' by the 1975…how ironic!

-Saskia, University of Virginia Class of 2019

It was my 10-month anniversary with my high school boyfriend and I remember the whole thing being somewhat planned out. He made me go get him a glass of water and he locked me out of my room. After standing there for five minutes impatient, he opened the door and I found flowers on the floor, one lit candle, a banner that said "Happy Anniversary" (looked like it was drawn by a five year old) and the song “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5 played in the background. I wish I could say I am making this up but he gave me the romantic comedy scenario I always wanted. (Though the moment was totally not as romantic when you are two shy virgins who have no idea what you're doing.) The reason its so cliché is because I wanted a banner like Jackie and Kelso from That 70s Show had and Nathan and Haley from One Tree Hill lost it to “She Will Be Loved”. Who doesn't want to be like their favorite TV characters?

­-Sharon, Florida State University of 2016

Awkward because the guy didn't know I was a virgin. I bled all over his bed and blamed it on my period and he believed me. It didn't hurt like I had always heard and it was a lot of fun until we noticed all the blood. We actually ended up dating for a year after that.

-Sara, University of Kansas Class of 2018

I was 16 and he was 17. It was incredibly awkward and hilarious. We were high school sweethearts and decided to lose our virginities to each other at my house when my parents were out of town. We very obviously had no idea what the heck we were doing and every time our tummies smacked together they made a funny noise and I laughed like an idiot. It was the opposite of sexy but was the sweetest way I could imagine losing my virginity. Man, that was some awful sex... but we cared about each other and I am incredibly grateful he was my first sexual partner.

-Audrey, Christopher Newport University Class of 2017

I didn't want to lose my v-card to a man who would leave me eventually, so my best friend and I got naked in his dorm room, put on a Hot Chelle Rae CD and tried it out. It was awful! It was a mess and we kept on laughing in the middle of it on. Finally we gave up and went out for pizza. I think I'm going to marry that man.

-Cole, Savannah College of Art & Design Class of 2017

During it he asked if I was okay and I said yeah. It was a feeling I cannot explain but I was totally okay with giving him my virginity, I wouldn't of had it any other way. I didn't think of anything but him and how much he meant to me. It didn't last too long, as we both were virgins.

-Catherine, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Class of 2018

Beyond the scope of Big 10 bashes and ginormous lecture halls lies an elite class of colleges recognized by those (and only those) who are in the academic know. Defying big university norms with their open curricula, lack of RAs and unapologetic (albeit sometimes excessive) activism, these hidden gems define college on their own terms. Admitted into or attending one of America's small liberal arts colleges? You'll have no problem recognizing these (good and bad) symptoms of a classic "SLAC" experience.

1. When asked where you go to school, you nearly drop dead from joy when you aren't met with a blank stare.

"It's a highly acclaimed school, I promise!"

2. Your campus has tons of history and is probably haunted by some deceased author, actor or politician.

Old buildings? Breathtaking. Old pipes and creepy corridors? Terrifying.

3. Social justice and going green are on everybody's mind, all of the time.

The shame of not staying up-to-date on worldly news is more than enough incentive to be socially responsible.

4. The admissions office loves to brag about the scenic campus, faculty-to-student ratio and minimal course requirements.

Oh, and the word "progressive" is plastered on every brochure.

5. You've seen a naked body in public, more than once.

Or, at the very least, you've seen students going barefoot throughout the school day. #openminded

6. You gasp at the thought of your state school friends taking buses to class—nothing on your campus is more than five minutes away.

But do your walks still feel like miles, and do those same five buildings get old really fast? Probs.

7. Want to skip class? Better send your professor an excuse email because there's no way he or she won't notice your absence.

Twelve person classes, we hate you, but we love you.

8. That being said, you're on a first-name basis with faculty, administrators and staff, contributing to some campus policies that are incredibly lax.

Punitive action? Never heard of it.

9. You better make friends in your major because you'll be seeing the exact same faces all four years.

Ugh, why can't obnoxious Madison un-declare? 

10. And when people introduce themselves to you, you feign surprise as if you don't already know their whole life story.

You have to be trying to not somehow recognize everyone on campus. What are strangers, even?

11. Athletes are far from celebs, and games are almost never attended.

But cheering amongst a crowd made up of solely parents is a fully embraced duty as the loyal girlfriend of an athlete.

12. If you go to a school without Greek life, you will probably never experience a ~real~ college party.

Themed or formal gatherings documented by endless Instagram snapshots? Not your life. *tears* 

13. And if you go to a Seven Sisters school? Some uneducated male probably assumes you're a man-hating coven member.

Meanwhile, your college is a feminist haven where you can be fierce and outspoken without being called a bossy b*tch. *praise hands*  

14. Old hookups are unavoidable, and you will probably date their friends…or roommate. 

You've quickly learned to embrace the weird and are probably on semi-civil terms due to a shared bond over the undeniable humor of the situation.

15. Your school is either incredibly preppy or incredibly hipster.

And if you're a natural born prep at a hipster school? The judgment stares burned so hard that you succumbed to buying Birkenstocks.

16. Course catalogs outdo themselves every semester.

You secretly love the look of shock on family members' faces when you list off the outrageous names of your classes.

17. You somehow have classmates and professors from around the world.

Oh, the accents. *insert heart eyes emoji*

18. Everyone is involved in a bajillion campus organizations.

Sleep is for the weak.

19. A cappella is everywhere.

Who doesn't love when they practice in the middle of the night? *raises hand* 

20. The college bubble is so, so real.

What even is the real world?

21. You know someone who is still bitter about that Ivy League rejection letter…

…and someone else who constantly brags that your school is a "baby Ivy."

22. Weather is a nightmare—but you've developed a special pride for your hardiness.

(On phone with state school friend) "Oh, you had class canceled because of snow? Overreacting much?" *Cries silent tears of envy*

23. When you come home for breaks, family and friends comment on how you've "changed." 

When in reality, you've probably just become more accepting, open and mature. *shrugs* 

24. And someone, somewhere, is criticizing your degree at this very moment.

Gosh, how dare we aspire towards a well-rounded education that fosters critical thinking and social consciousness? *eye roll* 

25. But when it comes down to it, the oddities (and annoyances) of everyday SLAC life make your higher education experience completely unmatchable.

Your college memories may not entail endless tailgates and frat parties, but the story-telling content they provide is truly one-of-a-kind.

As an upperclassman in high school (soon to be collegiette!), you are likely berated with the same question from your teachers, parents and friends on a daily basis: Where are you thinking of going to college? As you try to figure out which school is the best for you, how to apply and how to decipher the oh-so confusing college application lingo, ask yourself this: What if there was a way to go just a little bit above and beyond and really stand out to your dream college as a determined, smart and acceptance-worthy potential student?

Ever heard of the SAT Subject Tests? A great option if you want to show off your academic ability to a school, Subject Tests can influence everything that you’ve probably been freaking out about lately, like college acceptances, potential scholarships and even admittance into certain academic programs.

Not sure what they are? Don’t know if you should sign up? Don’t worry! Here is everything you need to know in order to rock your Subject Tests.

What are the SAT Subject Tests?

The SAT and the SAT Subject Tests are not the same thing. Sally Springer, author and associate chancellor emerita at the University of California, Davis, says that while the SAT measures your critical reading skills, your application of English grammar and your quantitative reasoning, the SAT Subject Tests are entirely different. These tests are used to showcase a student’s knowledge of a specific subject. They last only an hour and are broken down into five different categories: history, foreign languages, English, mathematics and science. The 20 different available tests vary in subject matter; they range in topic from math and world history to Modern Hebrew.

Subject Tests allow you to have (almost) complete control over what you’re going to be tested on. They can also be a key component to getting into college. The College Board implemented these tests not only as a way for students to give colleges a better look at their specific abilities, but also to help students stand out in terms of their academic readiness. With the Subject Tests, you get to choose which academic areas to highlight to the colleges you’ve applied to. You have the full potential to show your dream school that you are totally ready to be a star student.

Does everyone need to take the SAT Subject Tests?

Not everyone is required to take the SAT Subject Tests. “Only about 150 colleges require or recommend that students submit scores from one or more of these tests, and they are generally colleges that are pretty selective in their admissions process,” Springer says.

If your colleges don’t require them but you still think taking them is a good idea, then go for it! According to Springer, results obtained from Subject Tests are often still taken into consideration by schools that do not necessarily require or even recommend them.

Bottom line: Subject Tests are usually optional, but sometimes the colleges you’re applying to will request that you take one or more. Clive Paul, representative for the College Board Service Center, says, “Every college and university uses a different combination of criteria for admission. Some colleges require or recommend one or more SAT Subject Tests as part of the application, especially in specific majors or program[s] of study.”

Still unsure of whether you need to take one? If the deadline for registering for the SAT Subject Tests is fast approaching or you are just planning far in advance, the best thing to do would be to check the admissions websites of the colleges you are applying to or directly contact their admissions offices. Additionally, your high school’s guidance counselor and/or academic adviser are great resources who can provide answers to your questions.

Should I take them even if I don’t need to?

Okay, so the SAT Subject Tests aren’t an absolute must for you, but should you still take a couple?

“I took the history and English subject tests, even though all of the schools I applied to were SAT-score-optional (meaning you didn't necessarily have to send your scores to them),” says Sara Heath, a senior at Assumption College. “I'm glad I took them because they prepared me really well for the AP exams in both subjects.”

Overall, the SAT Subject Tests definitely aren’t a bad idea. Even if AP exam readiness isn’t enough for you to justify taking the test, colleges will think highly of you for putting in the effort in order to stand out to them. Plus, it can’t hurt to give your application the extra oomph that it may need.

How many should I take?

Take the SAT Subject Tests that are going to be beneficial to you; don’t convince yourself that you need to go sign up for 19 out of the 20 possible tests (seriously, don’t, because it’s not necessary and you probably won’t do well in all of them). If, as a junior in high school, you think you might be interested in a certain major or program while in college that you know (or think) requires an SAT Subject Test, then take it; this will likely really help you in the long run!

For example, if you think you might want to study veterinary medicine but you aren’t totally sure, then you might think about taking the Biology E/M SAT Subject Test. Likewise, if you are considering majoring in Chinese, taking the Chinese with Listening SAT Subject Test is probably a smart idea.

How and when do I sign up?

While there is a lot of information to keep track of, don’t be nervous about registering for the tests; the registration process is actually very simple. First, keep in mind that you have the option to take a SAT Subject Test six times per year on the dates that they are administered; these are in October through January, May and June. Also remember that you must take the SAT and any SAT Subject Test on different days.

In order to sign up for the date that bests suits you, think about the colleges you want to apply for.  Do the schools require the scores by a certain deadline? Are these dates somewhat flexible? These answers will not only depend on the schools themselves, but also on you if you’re applying regular or early decision. If you are planning to commit early to a college, you likely have to send in your scores ahead of time. Not making any commitments any time soon? Don’t stress!

“Many colleges advise that you take the SAT Subject Tests by October or November of your senior year,” Paul says. “For regular-decision applications, some colleges will accept SAT Subject Test scores through the January administration.”

If you feel like getting a head start on taking your SAT Subject Tests, then why not take them early? Springer adds that while it is typical for the majority of students to take the Subject Tests at the end of their junior year, taking them at the end of your sophomore year is also an option as long as you feel confident enough with the material. For more information on test dates and deadlines, check out the College Board.

Don’t feel like you need to have every single detail down when you register. “When you register for Subject Tests, you don’t have to specify in advance which test or tests you plan to take,” Springer says. “All of the tests will be there in the same booklet, so you can decide on test day (but, of course, once you open a given test you are committed to taking that one — no flipping through the booklet to preview the questions!).”

Additionally, if you decide during the test to take a second Subject Test, the College Board will just bill you for the second one without you having to go through any additional paperwork or logistics.

This brings up another aspect of the SAT Subject Tests that you should be prepared for: the cost. While the bills aren’t outrageous, you should be aware of the cost of each test and the registration fee. On average, the SAT Subject Test registration is going to cost you $26. All the SAT Subject Tests cost $16 on top of registration, except for language tests with listening, which are $26. However, the processing, sending and receiving of your scores (in addition to registering late!) are going to be extra. 

How should I study?

Everyone’s test-taking strategies are different, but there are definitely some methods that can help more than others. Carefully planning studying time long before you actually take the test, however, is key. Springer suggests concentrating on studying intensely in a certain subject area over the course of a year (or more) and then taking the test towards the end of your school year. This is the best long-term option because the material will still be fresh in your mind.

Beyond that, how do you decide what kind of studying is best for you?

First, figure out what kind of a learner you are. Do you respond better to visual aids? Or, do you retain more when you listen to someone talk? Do you work well in study groups, or do you focus better alone? From here, you can figure out what kind of studying will best suit you. Springer says you can also try test-prep books and private tutors. Additionally, the College Board also has useful tips and tricks on their website and has many practice questions that serve as great study guides. 

Subject Test dos and don’ts 

Do know the formatting of the test beforehand

Not all the SAT Subject Tests are the same. Know the format of your test before you walk into the room so you know how to pace yourself throughout the test. Are you going to need to write an essay? How many multiple-choice problems are there?

Don’t pull an all-nighter

One of the worst mistakes you can make is pulling an all-nighter the night before your test. While you may think staying up all night studying (or worrying) is going to help you the next morning, this will actually probably severely hurt your score. Start studying far in advance and try to get a good night’s sleep the night before.

Don’t try to cram the morning of the test

It may seem like a good idea to brush up on some last-minute details, but cramming for a test is not good for your focus.

Don’t skip breakfast

Eat a good breakfast before your test! As clichéd as it seems, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it will give you the energy boost you need to go kick some SAT Subject Test butt.

Do plan to be early

Plan on arriving to your test site at least 20 to 25 minutes early. This will give you adequate time to mentally prepare yourself for your test, de-stress from what was probably a hectic morning (getting up early to go take a test that can determine where you go to college? Yikes) and figure out where you’re supposed to be.

Do bring the necessary supplies

You absolutely must remember to bring multiple pre-sharpened number-two pencils. We repeat: multiple, pre-sharpened, number two. Don’t forget!

If necessary, bring a non-electric personal pencil sharpener, a bottle of water and a non-messy snack (if allowed). You’re also likely required to bring one or two forms of ID and your registration form or a validation ticket of sorts. If you’re taking a math-related SAT subject test, don’t forget your calculator! 

Do know which room you are in

There is nothing that will stress you out more than running around your SAT Subject Test site, not knowing where you’re supposed to be. Take the time to make note of what room you are taking the test in and where that room is in the building (not all SAT Subject Tests you take will be at your high school, after all).

Don’t psych yourself out

SAT Subject Tests are a big deal. However, don’t dwell on them! At the end of the day, one bad score on a test that you can retake multiple times is not going to ruin your life. Remember to stay calm, breathe and believe in yourself.

Most importantly, do the best you can do, and don’t push yourself to your breaking point. SAT Subject Tests can be helpful for your future and can make you stand out as a must-have student for your dream school. Study hard, stay focused and watch all that hard work pay off!