“So… what are you going to do with that major?”

It’s the question that that you may not have an answer to, because you may not have totally clear plans for your future yet. Even though talking about your potential career should be exciting, it can also be a source of anxiety when you really have no clue what you want to do.

Every collegiette has questioned her future career plans at least once throughout college. But fret not, undecided collegiettes! Her Campus asked the experts why it’s okay to question your post-college plans and how to find a career path that you love so you can confidently answer when someone asks, “What are you going to do with that?”

Why it’s okay to be undecided

Let’s face it: You may not even know what you’re having for breakfast tomorrow, so how can you expect to know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life? College is a time to discover your passions, so don’t be freaked out if you don’t have all the answers just yet. First and foremost, here are some reasons why it’s totally okay to be undecided.

You may have an ambiguous major

In most cases, if you study engineering, you’re likely to become an engineer. If you’re in the nursing school, odds are you’ll end up as a nurse someday. But what if your major doesn’t have an “obvious” career path? What should you do if you love what you’re studying, but you’re not quite sure how it translates into a job?

The collegiettes who most often get the, “What are you going to do with that?” question are the ones studying subjects with more ambiguous career paths, like humanities, English or communications. “Many liberal arts majors, like psychology or sociology, could lead to many different careers,” says Nayelli Perez, career counselor and assistant director of Hofstra University’s Career Center. “That could be a blessing and a curse, because it gives students options but also makes it hard for students to see how their major connects to their future career.”

Just because you might not have a definite career path based on your major doesn’t mean you should switch majors! Oftentimes, these “ambiguous” majors can give you invaluable skills that will help you in any career.

“A liberal arts education can prepare you for a broad range of careers — consulting, marketing, banking, publishing, public relations, etc.,” says Lesley Mitler, president of Priority Candidates, Inc., an organization that provides career coaching to college students and recent grads. “These majors bring certain skills that are desirable in [students’] long-term career advancement — research, critical thinking, analytical reasoning and communication.”

Your major might not have a clear career path, so it’s okay that you’re undecided. Consider your major versatile instead of ambiguous. You may not have a set career path like other fields of study, but you can pursue a ton of different opportunities someday!

You’ll probably change your mind

When you were little, all you wanted to do was become a doctor, a writer or maybe a lawyer. As soon as you got to college, you declared a major that would help you achieve those dreams, only to find out that you absolutely hated the subject after the first few weeks. Now what?

Whether you find yourself not liking your current major or you stumble upon a completely new passion that you may want to pursue, don’t freak out! It’s completely normal to change your mind as you’re exposed to new topics and fields.

Megan Shuffleton, a junior at Emerson College, entered school as a media studies major, which she considers her version of undeclared.  “I chose media studies because it seemed vague and I thought it might be a way to explore a few areas before deciding on anything,” she says. “I changed my major after one week of classes. I didn’t like the department I was in and [switched to marketing]. Don’t worry, so many students switch their majors and change their minds and end up where they want to be!”

Similarly, Elodie Jean-Philippe, a junior at Duke University, changed her mind a couple times about her major and future career plans. “I was never truly undecided, but there was a period of time when I dropped my pre-med and biology and was figuring out what to do,” she says. “It was scary, but I knew it was going to be okay.”

After visiting the career center, Elodie decided on a political science major. “At the time, I was addicted to anything political, but I realized I knew nothing about it, so I went ahead with the major,” she says. “I added two certificates to learn more about markets and economics, and [now I’m interested in] consulting for politics!”

You might even pull a 180, like Rachel Cisto, a senior at the University of Hartford. “My coworkers at the Student Television Network like to laugh about how I got to where I am now,” Rachel says. “I came in as a physics major and joined the TV station because it looked like fun, and I ended up switching my major to journalism because of it!”

College is a time to take a variety of classes and learn a bunch of different things. So instead of being freaked out by being undecided or changing your mind, use it as an opportunity to explore your interests — and have confidence that you’ll find what you love eventually!

Ways to find a career path

So you have an idea of the possible careers you can pursue with your major — now it’s time to narrow it down. There are countless opportunities to discover a possible career path and tons of available resources to guide you. Keep these tips in mind and you should gain a better understanding of what you want to do someday.

Do some research

Something you can do on your own as a first step is researching what possible careers your major could lead to. “An easy way to do this on your own is to go to linkedin.com/alumni,” Perez suggests. “Search for [your school’s] alumni by major to get an idea of what, for example, psychology majors have gone on to do.”

The LinkedIn alumni tool allows you to search alumni by what they studied and find out their current jobs as well as where they currently live. There’s also a feature that allows you to determine the requirements for certain jobs. So, if you find a job you’re interested in, you can add a minor or another major if you need to in order to pursue that field after college.

Another way to do research is to talk to someone with a job! The best way to find out if you’ll like a career is to ask people who are actually working in your desired field. “Speak to people who are doing jobs that you think you might be interested in,” Mitler says. “Attend career fairs and information sessions, and talk to a company representative to find out what certain jobs entail.”

You can also use the LinkedIn alumni tool to connect with professionals for this purpose. By doing some basic research, you may find that you can narrow down your career path by just knowing some of the options out there!

Visit your school’s career center

After you do some research, you should consider visiting your career center. Besides editing your resume or helping you write a cover letter, the counselors there can guide you through the career decision process.

“The people I talked to [in the career center] really helped,” Elodie says. “They asked me a lot of random questions, like what TV shows I watch, to help narrow it down. That’s how I got interested in political science!”

Perez suggests asking if you can take a career assessment test at the career center. “When it comes to students I see for career assessments, some of them are students that are undeclared and some are students that have a major but don't know what to do with it,” she says. “I would recommend that students that fall in the latter category definitely meet with a career counselor on campus to go over resources they can use to explore some career options based on their interests.”

Your career center is a great resource to narrow down your career path options; it’s literally what it’s there for! By talking to a career counselor, you may discover a possible career path you never even considered before.

Apply for an internship

Once you decide you’re interested in specific careers, try to get an internship in those fields. Real-world experience will help you decide if you can actually see yourself in that career someday.

“I explored my publishing interests by acquiring an editorial internship, which allowed me to explore the magazine industry,” Megan says. “And at the beginning of this semester, I acquired a public relations internship. These internships have really secured my interests and helped me gather an even better idea of what I might want to do in the future.”

Websites like Internships.com and CollegeRecruiter.com can be good places to start finding internships in your desired field. You can also ask a counselor at your career center if they have any databases for internships.

Beyond that, reach out to alumni again or use your LinkedIn connections to see if there are any opportunities you’re interested in. Beyond using the LinkedIn alumni tool, your career center probably keeps a record of alumni, which could be a good resource for finding connections for internships.

Internships are great because they give you hands-on experience in the working world, and you can determine what you like (and don’t like) pretty quickly. Whether you do an internship over the summer or during the school year, try out different types of internships to narrow down your career search.

Whether you have no idea what careers your major may lead to or you’ve changed your mind about your dream job, it’s okay to be unsure of what you want to do with your life after college. Don’t freak out; use your college’s career resources and explore your interests inside and outside of the classroom. In no time, you’ll be able to confidently answer, “What are you going to do with that?”

Usually when we imagine the beauty routines of models, it revolves around high-maintenance glamour and luxurious beauty products. The opposite is true for model Gigi Hadid, who keeps her routine simple and low-maintenance when she’s not at work.

In a recent video interview with W magazine, Gigi dished on her minimalist approach to makeup and her love for nude lipstick. “I wish I had the energy to do full makeup, honestly,” she said. “Like, there are people that I'm even friends with that are in full beauty, outfit, everything looks every single day, and I wish I had that energy. I just don't.”

She went on to say that if she does get some extra sleep or wants to look extra cute, she’ll reach for tinted moisturizer. Sounds like a familiar practice for many collegiettes!

Although Gigi has the chance to experience the best in beauty as part of her job, she admits that there’s one beauty treatment she prefers to live without: facials.

“I hate facials—like, I'm so scared of them. I just don't want someone touching my face. I get claustrophobic,” she said in the video. Totally understandable, Gigi! So how does she keep her complexion glowing? “I put toothpaste on pimples to dry them out,” she said. “It works!”

To experience the benefits of a facial DIY-style, start by treating your skin to a scrub with gentle, exfoliating beads. We recommend the Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub ($7.99, ULTA). This will help to cleanse your skin and prepare it for a mask, such as the Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mask ($5.99, ULTA). Finish off your look with a tinted moisturizer like this one from NYX Cosmetics ($9.99, ULTA), and you’ll be ready to conquer campus in style!

Is your beauty routine low-maintenance like Gigi’s, or are you all about the products?

We’ve all read these kinds of lists before. They’re usually made up of extremely cheesy things you simply must do while you’re still considerably young. But this list is different. Why? Because we’ve compiled things you actually need to do while you’re still in your 20s. Don’t thank us; it was really no bother at all.

1. Find your Central Perk.

Take this literally or in the metaphorical way it was intended. You need a group of friends that will surround you in good times and bad. Think Dawson’s Creek when the unbearable youth drama would occasionally give way to touching moments of pure friendship. Or for a less complicated example, Friends ALWAYS.

2.  Be funny. Even if you’re not.

Sadly, some people just don’t have a funny bone in their body. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try. Surely someone will pity you and laugh at your miserable excuse for comedy.

3. Put down your electronics.

Your phone, your laptop, your TV—if you can lift it! Put those things down and pay attention to what’s in front of you. We’re betting you can’t even remember what a bird’s sweet melodies sound like anymore. Although we’re having trouble recalling this ourselves, we happen to think it’s nothing like the chirp of an incoming text.

4. Learn how to be alone.

Whether that means you’re comfortable with the single life or you don’t envision Psycho ever time you take a shower, aloneness doesn’t dictate loneliness. Tip: have a harpoon and an online dating profile at the ready just in case.

5. Save some money. Spend some, too.

It’s okay to #treatyoself, but with great power a real job comes great responsibility. Become acquainted with a savings account, and know that sometimes keeping your InStyle subscription is an emergency purchase.

6. Do a lot of things for the first time.

This is one of the best parts of being young. If you’ve never put sour cream on your Chipotle before, go for it! The sky is the limit.

7. Tell people how you feel.

When did it become awkward for people to share their true feelings with others? We want to be able to tell our best friends we love them without getting pesky side-glares from our fellow humans. Maybe we’ll send a card instead.

8. Acquire mentors beyond those in your Netflix queue.

Sure, there’s a bounty of career and life goals we acquired from worshiping Blair Waldorf. But it would be a heck of a lot cooler if you tracked down Leighton Meester and forced her to be your mentor IRL.

9. Travel. Now.

Or you could also travel later. There’s not a cutoff age for travelling—that we know of. So go now, go in a few years. It’s really up to you.

10. Kick butt at the job that makes you happy…

… even if it doesn’t allow for frequent trips to Kate Spade. Happiness > money, EVERY TIME. Basically, you should be like a post-Destiny’s Child Beyoncé if you catch our drift.

11. Enjoy your twenty-something bod.

You won’t always feel or look like that, you know? Partake in a faddish exercise program, get the cotton candy at concerts and wear that shirt that exposes a risqué yet tasteful sliver of skin. 

12. Listen to the world outside of yourself.

You can be somewhat selfish in your 20s, but don’t ignore that great big world out there. Jon Stewart may have left The Daily Show, but that’s no excuse for you to tune out what really matters. And Saturday Night Live lives on, so you’re totally covered on that whole current events thing.

13. Don’t pull a Britney.

If you find yourself with an umbrella and a razor in your hand, call a friend. Because being a hot mess is so 2007.

14. Realize how resilient you are.

Dark times are a part of life. But you’ll find th-th-th-that that that don’t kill you can only make you stronger. Yes, that was an explicit Kanye reference, and we won’t apologize for it.

15. Talk to a stranger.

Not the kind that offers you candy as he creeps by in a beat-up white van. We’re talking little old ladies behind you in the checkout line and friends of friends who may one day be your friends too.

16. Annihilate your comfort zone.

Take risks. Be brave. Other stereotypical high school classroom poster sayings that totally apply here.

17. Be kind and expect nothing in return.

Do nice stuff for the sake of making someone else smile. Even if it’s your roommate and she already promised you could borrow her LBD Saturday night.

18. Fall in love. Fall out of love. Repeat.

Try it. And then try it again. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from The Bachelorette, sometimes your future husband is not in this particular room.

19. Live the clichéd quotes that are littering your Pinterest page.

You’ve been repinning your little heart out. Now, take that inspiration and roll with it.

20. Do something that’s so millennial it hurts.

Audition for a reality show. Take a selfie. Also, see #10.

We get it: being a girl can be hard sometimes. Whether your apartment feels totally disorganized or you need help removing a deodorant stain, these life hacks have got you covered! Every collegiette needs these simple yet extremely helpful tips and tricks to make things easier.

1. Remove wine stains using more wine.

You read that right—you can remove red wine stains by using white wine! The white wine neutralizes the color of the red wine on your shirt, which allows the stain to be removed much more easily using traditional methods. 

2. Organize your makeup stash on a magnetic board.

This super easy idea allows you to easily organize and stick your makeup all to a magnetic board on your wall either in your dorm room or bathroom. Just hot glue magnets to the back of your products, then attach them to the magnetic board for easy storage. You'll never be stuck searching for your mascara again! 

3. Use straws to keep necklaces from getting tangled.

There is nothing worse than picking out an outfit and realizing that the necklace you wanted to wear with it is all knotted up. Save yourself some time and frustration by pulling a straw through the chain of your necklace when you store it, so you'll never have to untangle your jewelry again.

4. Remove deodorant stains with dryer sheets.

It's so frustrating to pull on a black top, then realize you got deodorant stains on your shirt! Thankfully, there's a solution: you can rub a dryer sheet in circular motions to absorb the deodorant stain. Bonus: your shirt will smell extra good! 

5. Use pool noodles or rolled up magazines to stand boots upright in your closet.

It can be difficult to make use of your small closet space when your tall boots are falling all over each other! Solution: cut pool noodles and put them in your boots for support. This way, your boots can stand upright and take up less space!

6. Put baking soda in your shoes to disinfect and remove odor.

We all know that awful smell that comes with wearing your super cute ballet flats without any socks! The challenging of removing that smell may seem almost impossible—but trust us, it's not. Putting just a little bit of baking soda into a little breathable baggie, then placing that baggie inside of your shoes after wearing will help remove that smell and disinfect them. You're welcome. 

7. Clean up your mascara wand under hot water.

Clumpy mascara just isn't cute, and that's what tends to happen when the bristles of your wand get tangled and squished together. Most people would just throw away their mascara at this point and buy a new one—but you don't have to! You can put an end to clumpy mascara but running your wand under hot water, and then drying it off with a paper towel before the next use.

8. Hang purses in your closet with shower curtain hooks.

This allows for easy storage and maximizing what little space you do have, especially in a college dorm room. The shower hooks are small and take up so little space—and bonus, you can see all of your purses at once instead of sifting through a pile of them on the floor! 

9. Instead of bandages, use duct tape to cover a blister.

After a night out in heels, blisters can be so painful. Bandages tend to slip off eaisly, but duct tape doesn't; it will keep the blister closed off and secure. Duct tape is also thicker than a bandage and provides more coverage.

10. Use arm weights while you blow dry or style your hair for a quick workout.

You spend so much time lifting your arms up and down while styling your hair, so adding a little extra weight only increases the significance of your workout. Who knew doing your hair could count as exercise?

11. Mark up a water bottle to help you stay hydrated every day.

A clear reusable water bottle can be marked up with measurements to make sure you are staying hydrated every day! You can use the bottle to set goals for how much water you should be drinking by what time of the day. See the example above for inspiration!

12. Whiten your teeth with a banana peel.

Banana peels have been proven to significantly lighten teeth within a few weeks. Just rub a banana peel in circular motions on your teeth for a few minutes every day! Although this may seem unorthodox, using this method, you avoid extra chemicals like the ones you would find in typical teeth whiteners.

13. Keep your bobby pins in one place using an empty Tic Tac container. 

Okay, so you've gone through the stages of dealing with your breakup. You’ve watched your favorite romantic comedies in your pajamas and tried to cheer up with wise words of women who have made it through the breakup black hole. You’ve taken up hobbies to take your mind off of things, and you feel like you’re getting close to getting over her. Now it’s time to figure out if you’re ready to be friends with your ex, which can be difficult to navigate. There’s the confusion of figuring out if you feel ready, figuring out if she feels ready and trying to avoid the inevitable post-breakup awkwardness.

But don’t stress! We, along with the creators of The Gay Women Channel, Adrianna DiLonardo and Sarah Rotella, are here to help. Their channel is filled with both hilarious and informative videos with dating advice, personal experiences and oh-so-relatable content on being a modern queer woman. So, before you hit send on the text that starts with, “I think we should try to be friends” and ends with a brunch invite, Sarah and Adrianna want you to ask yourself the following questions.

1. Are you both genuinely interested in being friends?

It’s natural to want to be around your ex after a breakup. After all, she was your person. But just because you enjoyed spending time together while you were a couple doesn’t mean you’re both interested in hanging out now that you’re not. Sarah and Adrianna point out that if either one of you is faking your platonic interest, the truth will come out—and it will only lead to someone getting hurt.

2. Are you reaching out because you’re bored, lonely or sexually frustrated?

These reasons are no-go’s when it comes to initiating contact with the ex. One of you will inevitably get upset if you reconnect for a reason that is fleeting. Plus, one of two things will happen. Likely, you’ll reach out expecting the support and intimacy you had before, only to be rejected and feel awful. Or, you’ll realize your mistake and increase the awkwardness by a factor of 10.

3. Did you have a messy breakup?

All breakups are hard and complicated, and they don’t always happen for a clear reason. Be cautious, though, if your relationship ended in a particularly turbulent fashion. If either of you cheated, for example, it’s probably best not to pursue a friendship. Likewise, if there was a major lie or betrayal contributing to the breakup, that’s a clear sign that post-breakup friendship could be tricky.

As far as messy breakups go, Sarah and Adrianna agree that “being friends is probably not gonna happen.” You may say you’re over it and she may say she’s over it, but chances are, one or both of you isn't being entirely honest with yourselves. It’s a mistake to push those feelings away, because in all likelihood they will resurface. You’re better off letting her go.

4. Does any part of you want to get back together?

This one is pretty key, so be honest with yourself. If you’re still holding a torch for your ex, you’re not ready to be friends—especially if your relationship was serious. Sarah and Adrianna agree that if either of you is still interested romantically in the other, a friendship probably isn’t possible. "One of you will always want more,” they say.

Why put yourself through that? It’s like having a crush on your straight best friend and wishing she would notice you—except this is way worse because this best friend was in love with you at one point. This goes both ways, so make sure your ex isn’t harboring feelings for you. It’s not fair to her, and it won’t end well for you either.

5. Are you emotionally prepared to see her with someone else?

There’s a big difference between seeing pictures of your ex looking happy with her new girlfriend on Facebook and having to see them together and talk to them at parties. This one is probably the toughest to deal with. If you’re struggling to figure out the answer, you’re probably not ready.

If you feel good about your answers to these questions and are aware of the warning signs, it’s definitely possible to become friends. However, one of the biggest signs of whether a friendship is possible is whether the breakup was mutual. If both of you felt like the relationship just wasn’t working and you’re interested in being friends, do it. The best strategy is just to be honest about your feelings and respect her feelings if she’s not interested in a friendship. 

In previous years, Starbucks has released holiday cups with decorations such as snowflakes, ornaments and reindeer. This year, their holiday cup is solid red with no other images.

To some people, this change wasn't anything out of the ordinary. To others, however, it was a bigger deal.

The New York Times reports that Joshua Feuerstein, a self-described evengelist, Internet and social media personality, wrote on his Facebook, “Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus.”

He uploaded a video explaining that he went into Starbucks with a Jesus shirt and with a gun and told them that his name was "Merry Christmas" so they would write that on his cup. He wants people to do the same and start a movement with the hashtag #MerryChristmasStarbucks.

As extreme this may sound, the video got nearly 200,000 likes and half a million shares. However, as the Atlantic has reported, most of the people using the #MerryChristmasStarbucks hashtag are using it to make fun of the campaign.

There is a lot of backlash surrounding the idea that Starbucks did not do this to offend Christians.

The New York Times reports that "Jeffrey Fields, the vice president for design and content at Starbucks, said in a statement that the company 'wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories.'"

Starbucks's new design is simply a quieter version of their old one.

What do you think of the new cups, collegiettes?

When we think of birth control methods, the pill or condoms is usually what first comes to mind. But according to a new report by the National Center for Health Statistics, the use of long-term methods such as intrauterine devices and implants has been rapidly increasing over the last few years.

Sixty-two percent of American women use some sort of birth control method, according to the NCHS. 26 percent of these women use the pill, which is the most common method, and 15 percent rely on condoms. The report reveals that in 2013, 11.6 percent of women were using long-acting methods such as IUDs, compared to only 6 percent in 2006. In 2002, only 2.4 percent of women used such methods.

Health professionals believe long-acting methods are more effective than other methods, and the increasing use could reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies in the US (of which there are about 3.4 million each year). Another positive is the convenience—after the device is inserted, women do not have to worry about forgetting to take the pill each day at a specified time, or about having a condom on hand.

The report found that demographically, Hispanic women are the most likely to use long-term methods (15.1 percent), while black women are least likely (8.6 percent). 11.4 percent of white women use long-term methods. While the use of most birth control methods were largely the same across educational backgrounds, the report did find that women who are less educated are more likely to use sterilization than women with a college degree or higher.

The use of a long-term device might seem a little scary compared to the familiarity of using the pill or condoms—Would you consider making the switch?

Two British women stood in front of parliament in London last Friday, bleeding freely (sans tampons) in white pants to protest parliament’s recent decision to continue charging a “tampon tax”.

Currently in the UK, tampons and pads are actually considered a luxury item and are being taxed as such, prompting these women to take to the streets.

Charlie Edge and Ruth Howarth, both of England, had simply had enough of the government proclaiming that sanitary products are an optional luxury. They decided to prove just how “optional” the products are and judging by the ruined state of their pants, they’re not optional at all.

According to some research, women can spend up to $28,000 over their lifetime on menstruation products, a ridiculous sum without taxes, which can amount to $2,000. The craziest part about this tampon tax is that when Britain joined the EU in 1973, the tax was 17.5%! It was lower to 5% in 2001, but many are calling any tax absurd.

Props to these girls for taking a stand and quite literally bleeding for a worthy cause. 

You know your favorite bra—the one you wear over and over again for much longer than you'd like to admit? When it does come time to wash that prized possession, you want to do it right. That’s why we’ve rounded up this helpful list of tips and tricks for washing your bras. We’re mapping out the best way to clean them and even letting you in on the secret of how often you should do it. Because us girls have got to stick together, right?

You CAN machine-wash them

Most laundry fanatics—yes, they exist—stand by the no machine wash rule. But who has time to hand-wash bras, especially when you’re in college? As long as you wash on the gentle or delicates cycle, use detergent intended for delicates (no bleach whatsoever!) and only mix like items into your load, you shouldn’t have a problem. Using a lingerie bag can protect your garments from getting beaten up during the wash. And make sure to clasp your bra before washing so it doesn’t get tangled or worse, rip a hole in that pretty lace.

You CAN’T put them in the dryer

One major don’t? No matter how desperate, do not resort to putting your bras in the dryer. Always hang—in the middle, never by the straps—or lay them flat to dry.

But you should still hand-wash when possible

It takes extra time, but it’s worth it if you want to extend your bra’s lifetime. Cool to lukewarm water is the key to keeping that color from bleeding. And hand-washing liquid, gentle soap flakes or neutral shampoo works well in this instance.

Don’t wash after every wear

Doing so will only make your bras stretch and lose their shape faster. You’re the best judge of when it’s time. Now, if you’ve just taken part in an extensive (and sweaty!) workout, you may want to bend the rules and wash immediately. But there’s no law to live by but your own with this one.

In the hustle and bustle of your college workday, it can be easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Studying for an important midterm or planning your sorority’s philanthropy event can seem like huge deals—but in the greater scope of your college career (and in your life in general), they’re just small blips on the radar. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest yourself in all that you do, but if you want to be the kind of girl that’s going places in the more meaningful sense, you’ll need to take a step back and make sure you’re going in the right direction—to ensure success and happiness way beyond the four years you spend in the college bubble.

We teamed up with FIAT, the ultimate embodiment of innovation and affordability,to bring two inspiring bloggers (women that are most certainly going places!) to College Fashion Week in Atlanta and Boston. They traveled in the All-New 2016 FIAT® 500X Crossover, a vehicle with innovation, functionality and Italian style. Talk about the cool-factor. Want to be the kind of girl that’s going to excel in all of her adventures? Read on for our favorite tips.

 Photograph by Christopher Huang

1. Have a mantra

If your current college mantra is “But first, coffee,” think again. Having an important quote or saying that you can turn to in times of stress (or even when you just need a boost of motivation) is important. Kristen, the blogger behind Boston Fashionista, loves this quote from Alice Paul, a famous suffragette: “When you put your hand to the plow, you don’t let go until you get to the end of the road.” Kristen says, “Basically, it’s kind of like finish what you’ve started.” Samantha, who started the blog The Samantha Show, prefers a mantra that is all about keeping calm: “Accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change things I can and the wisdom to tell the difference.”

2. Know what your dream job looks like

You don’t have to have a concrete five-year plan the moment you step on campus—but as you progress through college, you should start to figure out what your dream job may look like. We don’t mean you need to know exactly which company or even industry—but you should finalize the answers to questions like: Do you like working with people? What would you describe as “meaningful work?” What kind of difference do you want to make in the world? You’ll figure out the specifics as you go, but it will help to start outlining what you want out of a job.

Photograph by Christopher Huang

3. Get a role model

Having someone you look up to is a great way to keep yourself on track. It could be anyone you aspire to me—a relative, a professor or even a celebrity. Samantha’s role model is her mom: “She’s really confident, she’s smart, she’s resilient.” For Kristen, it’s Hillary Clinton! Read up on your role model’s history—how did she get to where she is now? Her path could provide major inspiration for yours.

4. Honor your bucket list

It’s never too late to make a college bucket list—but you should put things other than “streaking in the library” on it!  Whether you’re a first semester freshman or a seasoned senior, write down a list of goals you hope to accomplish in college and beyond—and yes, you can put fun stuff too. But you should also add important things, like “connect with a mentor in your industry” or “go to a networking event every month.” Whenever you’re feeling down, you can look back on your list to see all that you’ve accomplished so far, and motivate yourself to do even more! On Samantha’s bucket list? “Skydive, attend New York Fashion Week and go to Europe—I’ve never been to Europe,” she says. Kristen says, “I would love to see the pyramids in Egypt with my grandmother and then write a book about it.” We have no doubt that these girls will reach their dreams!

Photograph by Christopher Huang

5. Hold on to wanderlust

You’re young and full of energy—stagnancy should be your worst nightmare. If you want to be the kind of girl that’s going places—you need to physically go places! Whether you’re backpacking around Asia or planning the ultimate road trip in your All-New 2016 FIAT 500X Crossover (in yellow please!), traveling is one of the best things you can do to broaden your horizon, reevaluate goals and become a more thoughtful person. Kristen loves Boston, but she’d also love to travel more. Her top pick? “Bocas Del Toro, Panama,” she says. “It’s amazing. It’s totally out there and kind of off the grid and it’s really sort of undiscovered.” As for Samantha, she would take her FIAT anywhere and everywhere: “I would go everywhere—I’d probably first maybe to the beach since I could use some beach paradise in my life,” she says.”

We know that you’ll definitely go places if you put in a little effort while still in school. There’s SO much you can accomplish in college—so get going and see what you can do! 

SeaWorld San Diego's CEO Joel Manby announced that their orca show with Shamu, "One Ocean," will be completely phased out by 2017, according to the BBC. In the meantime, the show is slated to shift from its current basis on tricks to a more educational focus. 

Manby said that the decision was due to reactions from parkgoers, but claimed that he only heard backlash from his San Diego Audience. 

"We start everything by listening to our guests and evolving our shows to what we’re hearing, and so far that’s what we’ve been hearing in California, they want experiences that are more natural and experiences that look more natural in the environment," Manby told the San Diego Tribune. "But it’s not universal across our properties."

That seems unlikely, because last year, likely due in part to anti-SeaWorld campaigns and the expose documentary Blackfish, company shares fell by 37 percent, according to NBC News. 

In October, a law passed in California stated that SeaWorld was no longer allowed to breed animals in capitivity. On Friday, California Representative Adam Schiff presented similar federal legislation, which could mean that more SeaWorld parks have to take similar steps. In California's three parks alone, there are 24 killer whales living in captivity.  

Because of this, the park will have to cancel their previous plan of doubling the size of their whale tanks, a project projected to cost them $100 million. 

While some have hope that the new laws will help reshape SeaWorld's ideology and ultimately get them to stop the alleged animal abuse that occurs there, marine scientist Naomi Rose at the Animal Welfare Institute is less than hopeful. 

"This is incremental," Rose told NBC. "It's never going to get them to the end goal of truly improving the situation for the orcas there."

It looks like the future of SeaWorld parks nationwide is unclear right now. Hopefully, the company chooses to move in a direction that supports the orcas and the rest of the sea life held there, but if not, upcoming legislation might make that decision for them. 

Now, we all know the highly-anticipated Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was last night and, if you didn't get one of those covetable invites, you probably already have your DVRs set for when the show airs on TV next month. But for those who don't want to wait, we've spent hours stalking Instagram, Snapchat stories and more to compile a list of the 20 best looks from this year's show.

1. Behati Prinsloo

This look WINS festival fashion, hands down.

2. Jacquelyn Jablonski

Holiday party outfit problems, solved.

 3. Ming Xi

This is the ULTIMATE birthday outfit!

4. Elsa Hosk

How fitting is this look for a model named Elsa?

5. Adriana Lima

Only Adriana Lima can pull off a dramatic feathered look like this one!

6. Flavia Lucini

This outfit is the stuff of every Disney princess-lovers' dreams.

7. Joan Smalls

#GIRLPOWER.

8. Taylor Hill

Patriotism game, strong.

9. Kendall Jenner

Kendall looks like a boho superwoman—we are SO down with this look.

10. Barbara Fialho

This stunning ice princess look is equal parts sexy and festive.

11. Alessandra Ambrosio

What's a runway roundup without Alessandra?

12. Maud Welzen

This outfit has the perfect amount of power woman to it.

13. Josephine Skriver

Josephine has us feeling some major Halloween costume regret. Maybe next year?

14. Megan Puleri

Mom, I think I'm changing my major to astronomy.

15. Candice Swanepoel

*Bows down*

16. Behati Prinsloo

Behati earned two spots on this list for obvious reasons.

17. Maria Borges

The only thing that outdoes this stunning look is Maria's beaming smile.

18. Constance Jablonski

So... we may or may not need to wear this to formal.

19. Gigi Hadid

Gigi is a total GODDESS.

20. Cindy Bruna

There you have it, collegiettes—the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2015.

Tune in to CBS December 8th at 10:00 P.M. to feel the magic all over again!

We all need a little guidance now and then, so whether you're stressed about a fling gone wrong, a wrecked relationship or how to handle a stage-five clinger, Real Live College Guy Jon is here to help you navigate the college dating scene!

Hey, there! I'm 19 and my boyfriend and I have been together for two and a half years. We started dating junior year of high school and are both now in our sophomore years of college at different schools about 45 minutes apart. He has really bad trust issues. On move-in day my freshman year, he told me in all seriousness, "no guy friends." Naturally, I make friends based on a person's personality and how much fun I have with them, so I have three guy friends now, two of which are taken. They are a lot of fun to be around and help ease my stress. Along with those three guy friends, I have two girl friends, so I think I have a good balance. However, my boyfriend hates these guy friends. Even though he has met two of them and even though two of them are taken, he gets so pissy when I hang out with them. I have reassured him time and time again that he is the only one I want to be with and been upfront about how unfair he is being. After two and a half years of being together, he hates every guy friend I get even though literally ALL of his friends are girls. I just need an unbiased opinion, I guess! What should I do? - Irritated in OC

Irritated in OC,

Your boyfriend is insecure. He is scared you are going to be taken away from him by another man. This fear arose when both of you started going to different schools. The distance, even just 45 minutes, led him to believe he lost some sort of control over the relationship. To him, not physically being at school with you is somehow a threat to your relationship.

That is where he is coming from… and he is dead wrong. You have not given him any reason to distrust you. Healthy, stable relationships involve trust, and he is not providing that. He doesn’t reciprocate your faith in him to remain loyal despite the fact that he himself has many friends of the opposite sex. That distrust and imbalance is causing unnecessary strain on your relationship. Now for the biggest red flag: he thinks it is okay to command you to do something you disagree with and then act “pissy” when you go against it. It’s more than fine for you to have platonic friends who are men. No boyfriend should think he can order you to do something, no matter what that something might be.

You need to tell him things have to change. He either needs to learn to trust you like you trust him so the relationship can continue and grow— or it’s over. Show him that he has no right to order you to do something. If you allow him to think that behavior is acceptable, you are going have a dysfunctional relationship and a negative effect on your friendships.

Best of luck,

Jon

Even though both the books and the movies concluded ages ago, our obsession with the entire Harry Potter franchise hasn't diminished one bit. In fact, it's stronger than ever—after all, we're beyond excited for the sequel to the series, and every time we binge-watch the movies, we experience a whole host of emotions. So whenever new information is revealed, we are on it.

A new theory has been floating around the Internet, unearthed by Tumblr user tomhiddles—and it's as good as sparked a revolution. As it turns out, the very first words Professor Snape speaks to Harry hold a very significant message; one we sort of can't believe we've been missing all these years. 

The world of dedicated readers went up in flames when tomhiddles posted: “The first thing Snape asks Harry is ‘Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?’ According to Victorian Flower Language, asphodel is a type of lily meaning ‘My regrets follow you to the grave’ and wormwood means ‘absence’ and also typically symbolized bitter sorrow. If you combined that, it meant ‘I bitterly regret Lily’s death.’”

So, this is further proof that Snape wasn’t as much of a jerk as we all thought he was. 

Although many Muggle-borns will go on to say that this is simply a coincidence and people are making something out of nothing, there are those of us who believe in the inexplicable genius of Mrs. Rowling.

Being single sures has its benefits, but sooner or later the whole "I’m independent. I’m happy. Single is better!” thing starts to wear off. You'll start asking yourself silly things like "What if I'm not attractive?" or you might even go as far as convincing yourself that you don't have what it takes to be in a relationship—which by the way is total BS. Here are 20 thoughts we've all after being single for way too long. 

1. When was the last time I kissed someone? I think I forgot how to kiss.

2. Netflix always makes my day better.

3. Should I get a vibrator?

4. I am more than positive I'll die alone. 

5. Wait, I can't tell if he's flirting or just being friendly.

6. Should I text my ex?

7. If need be, I’ll marry myself.

8. I don't need a man! I am an independent woman!

9. Being single is better!

10. What even are #RelationshipGoals?

11. Should I get a Tinder? Who knows—I might actually find the one!

12. How do those two have each other and I have no one?

13. I'm really dumb for watching all these sad movies.

14. SRSLY, what’s wrong with me?

15. What is flirting and how do I do it?

16. Do I talk to my singleness too much?

17. What is cuddling? 

18. I don't even know how to begin putting myself out there. 

19. I’m just waiting for Prince Charming.But…

20. Why does no one want to take me out on cute, Insta-worthy dates?

For many of us, our first introduction to the world of “study drugs” was Jessie Spano’s outburst on Saved By The Bell where she took too many caffeine pills so that she can study for midterms and get into Stanford. In an overly dramatic scene, Zack Morris tries to save the day and keep Jessie from taking more caffeine pills. In a moment that goes down in TV history she says “I’m so excited! I’m so excited! I’m so….scared.”

Well that was 25 years ago and now “study drugs” are thought of in a very different way. To get some insight into the world of college study drugs, we asked 11 college students about the prevalence of study drugs on their campuses and what they think about them.

“I refuse to use any drugs other than coffee/caffeine to stay awake or focus in order to perform better in school. I feel like if someone is not prescribed those drugs and they use them to get ahead academically, it's like an indirect form of cheating. I think using them without a prescription shows a lack of integrity, poor time management (since most of the time people are using them to do a project they procrastinated on), and a lack of serious motivation to do well.”

-Sierra, Colby College Class of 2018

RELATED: Using Study Drugs To Get Better Grades: Why You Should Think Twice

“I've never considered using them because my boyfriend has ADHD and used to take Adderall and I know the dangerous effects it can have. I have heard of some of my peers who use study drugs and I don't think it helps because I strongly believe most of the people that use them are unstable and unorganized. If they were disciplined and organized, at least at my university, they wouldn't need them.”

-Jenisse, SUNY New Paltz Class of 2016

“Since my sophomore year of high school, I have taken these ‘study drugs.’; so for about 5 years now. From Adderall to Ritalin to Vyvanse, I have tried them all. Why? Because there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. My demanding major makes me take almost 18 credits each semester that are filled with hard science classes. The only reason I have a 3.5 GPA in this demanding major is because of these drugs. I usually get the study drugs from friends (with a prescription) who are willing to sell them to me because they know how much I care about my academics. I would say I take at least 50 mg per week, depending on my workload. Are there negative effects? Yes, like not being able to eat, sleep, or act like a human basically, but it’s all worth it to me after I get that high grade.”

-Jessie, Appalachian State University Class of 2017

"I have a terrible sleep schedule, as most college students do—but caffeine causes me to crash and makes me even less productive than I would otherwise be, so I've turned to study drugs to help me stay awake, focused and efficient throughout the day. I don't think there's anything wrong with giving myself that extra boost; it's not like they make me miraculously smarter... they just allow me to fit as much as I do into my schedule. I've never experienced any negative effects, but I am careful with how I take them. I don't want to become dependent, nor do I want to have the effects wear off with overuse, so I limit myself to once every two weeks at most. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them!"

-Lynn, University of Georgia Class of 2017

“I took Adderall in high school. I got it from my friend so I didn’t pay for them. They helped me concentrate. I've never had a negative reaction and I don't use them regularly. I do find that a good amount of my peers use them. I think that this helps even the playing ground for kids who have too much work spread throughout their courses for them to possibly perform well on their exams.”

-Becky, University of Connecticut Class of 2019

RELATED: Why You Should Quit Caffeine (& How to Do It)

“I know a lot of people who have taken them. It works well for some of them, but others take so much, so often, that they can't even do simple click-thru homework assignments without taking some. My study habits aren't the greatest, but I still do pretty well in classes, so I don't think I'd ever consider trying study drugs. I honestly think it gives the people who take them a disadvantage: they can become so dependent on them that their grades actually end up suffering if they have to do an assignment on their own, and that's really sad.”

-Olivia, University of North Carolina Wilmington Class of 2018

“I've only ever taken legal caffeine pills. It was a pretty desperate attempt to stay up. My immunity to coffee has gotten pretty high, so it takes more and more to keep me up. I know a few kids who use Adderall during finals week, and it seems like it’s not that hard to convince a care provider you have ADD/ADHD or find someone who did that (or who actually has one of those conditions) to sell some pills to you.”

-Abby, University of Notre Dame Class of 2018

“I've never taken study drugs, because I have ADHD and actually need the medication to level the playing field. I just think it's a bad idea to alter my body any more than I already do with medication I need to take for my own health. I have had peers at other schools try to buy medication (not from me) because they just can't keep up with the workload. I guess I can understand why people take them, but I don't really support it. The habit may work at first and enable you to tackle more, but eventually you will have negative side effects.”

-Rhys, Barnard College Class of 2019

“I have taken study drugs – Adderall — and I am currently on them as I write this; they were prescribed to me by a doctor when I was 15. They help me control my ADHD in so many ways. I can focus on studying and schoolwork so much better and I have less conflicts with other people. There are negative side effects to these types of drugs and I have experienced weight loss, anxiety, depression and insomnia since I started taking the drugs. These side effects are annoying but the drug is so helpful that it is worth it. I take it about every other day. No one at Notre Dame has ever tried to buy or steal my medications from me. If I went to another school I know that I would have to guard them a lot more than I do. I do not feel like it gives me an unfair advantage because everybody else already has an unfair advantage over me because they do not have ADHD.”

-Sierra, University of Notre Dame Class of 2019

RELATED: How Girls Study for Finals

“I've taken Adderall once. I had a roommate that was prescribed it and she let me take one when I had a lot of work to get done and needed to stay awake and alert. I got through everything that I needed to do but later on I was very jittery and nervous. I never took anything that wasn't prescribed to me again.”

-Aspen, SCAD Atlanta Class of 2016

“I have only used energy drinks and caffeine pills. I use them maybe once a month. I can drink one Monster and stay up all night. I don't drink much caffeine so it works well on me. I usually have energy the next day as well and don't sleep until the following night.”

-Noelle, University of Alabama Class of 2020

Greek life is the perfect way to meet all kinds of new people, especially within your sorority. In fact, we guarantee you've come across these 16 types of sorority girls.

1. The Preppy Sorority Girl

She is the typical sorority stereotype, but you totally love her for that. She is always sporting Lilly Pulitzer, J. Crew, Vineyard Vines or a combo of all three, and she makes it look fab.

2. The Legacy

Her sister, mother or grandmother was in this sorority, and she could not be more proud of it. She is even more enthusiastic than the rest of her new member class, and it doesn't hurt that she is absolutely adorable.

3. The Party Animal

She spends every weekend at the poppin’ parties, and honestly, you don’t know how she keeps up with it all. If you need to know the best party to go to on any given night, she is definitely the sister to ask.

4. The Mama Bear

She takes responsibility for younger sisters or sisters who need guidance, and everybody turns to her for advice. She might only have two littles, but basically every girl is her little, you know?

Related: 19 Signs You're the Mom of Your Friend Group

5. The Little Collector

Whether she wanted a big family from the start or only planned on taking one little, she has earned the title of "the little collector." She has triplets, at least two g-littles, a gg-little. And—surprise!—she can’t wait to meet her ggg-little.

6. The Gym Junkie

She is always at the gym and makes you feel guilty about laying in bed, scarfing down a pepperoni hot pocket—which is the only physical activity you’ve done all day. Besides having a killer bod, she has an even better attitude; she is #goals all around.

7. The Grandma

She never goes to socials and can usually be found in her room crafting, eating and watching HGTV. Odds are if you can't find her at formal, she's hiding in her bed.

8. The Alternative Sorority Girl

She has at least three piercings, a wardrobe that is almost all black, the coolest hair color EVER and is unphased by others' opinions. She is fierce and fab, and that is just one of the reasons why you love her. Also, her Insta game is always on point, and her outfits are on fleek.

9. The Super Smart Cookie

She might as well move into the library because that's where she spends the majority of her time. She is probably your scholarship chairwoman…or at least on the committee. You can always count on this sister to monitor your study hours.

10. The Dude

She is always hanging out with her favorite fraternity and is already their sweetheart. When you're with this sister, you can let your inner dude out, and if you need somebody to eat wings and watch football with, you know she is always down.  

11. The Busy Bee

Of course your big is your role model, but this sister is a close second. She has an exec position, an exec position in another huge organization on campus and a part-time job. She's also super involved with philanthropies and is building up her resume. And somehow, she manages to stay sane.

12. The Sporty Sister

She participates in volleyball, flag football, softball and any other sport your sorority is involved in. Whether you're playing right alongside her or cheering from the sidelines, she appreciates the support.

13. The Freshman

Everything she owns has her letters on it, including her schoolbag, keychain, shirts, cups and pens. She always boasts about her sorority with a twinkle in her eye and gets involved with a leadership position as soon as possible.

14. The Senior

She has fully adapted to the senior uniform of an event tee and norts. This sister always has coffee in her hand and is just trying to graduate. She spends her nights crying because she realizes that this is her last year; she's not ready to adult yet or leave her sisters to do so.

Related: 25 Life Crises Only Seniors Will Understand

15. The Standards Keeper

She is loved and adored as a sister but sometimes disliked as the standards chairwoman. Nobody likes being the person required to tell a sister that her picture certainly was not appropriate for social media or that her Snapstreak is trashy and needs to be removed immediately. But somebody has to do it and she does it with love. Plus, without her PR skills the chapter would be in shambles.

16. The President

She is actually Superwoman and is always running around with a million things on her to-do list. You have no idea how she does it, all while maintaining a balance of friendliness and sternness. Let’s face it, the chapter would be nothing without Prez. 

Are you a smart and savvy pre-collegiette looking for answers to some of your most personal questions about college? You know, the ones about boys, classes, roommates and parties that your school’s guidance office can’t help you with? Jen is here to answer those questions! Whatever your concern, she’ll do her best to help you so you can make sure you don’t just survive college, but rock it!

How does your college workload compare to the workload you had in high school? Do you think your high-school work prepared you for college work? – Elena

Elena,

My college workload has definitely been a lot harder than my high-school workload, but it hasn’t been unbearable! Just like you, I was concerned about how different the work would be between high school and college, but thankfully it all seems to balance out because your education to this point has prepared you for what’s to come.

Before I started high school, I also remember being super nervous about the difference in the workload between middle school and high school. I remember thinking, “Oh my gosh, those big high school kids really seem to know what they’re doing; I don’t know how I’ll keep up with them.” Eventually, it worked out well because even though the high school work was much different, I was still prepared enough for it and was mature enough to be able to take it on.

I think the same will be true for you as you move on to college: Whether or not you think your high school has prepared you for a college education, you’re probably at a point academically and emotionally where you’ll do just fine in college. The workload will be harder because the subject material will be a bit more challenging. Since you’re paying a lot to be at college and receive a quality education, it’ll be good for you to be challenged. Even though things will be different, you will have a lot of extra time in between your classes to get caught up on work and get a handle on your schedule. No matter how much is on your plate, it always seems to work out in the end!

In terms of actual homework, my workload in high school was mostly worksheets, problems to solve from a textbook or other busywork assignments. In college, you’ll have to write a lot of longer papers and read more instead, which could average around 40 or more pages of reading per class. Your homework will also reflect whatever you major is: Art and music majors need to devote a lot of time in the studio to paint or in the practice rooms to practice, English majors might have to read a whole book in two days and math majors could have a lengthy set of problems to solve in a short amount of time. Keeping these differences in mind between the various subjects you might study will help you to be prepared for what’s to come.

For the times when you’re struggling academically, your college will have plenty of academic resources available for assistance. Talking to academic advisers, who assist you with selecting your classes and can give you advice related to your major, is a good place to start. They can do more for you than just signing off on your courses; they are trained academic professionals who want to see you succeed and help you if you’re struggling.

You’ll also have your RA (resident adviser) on your hall to guide you in the right direction, and you’ll have peer tutors who can give you tips for surviving a tricky class that they’ve already had to deal with. Of course, you’ll have your professors as well, who have office hours designed for you to stop by and ask any questions you have about the course material. You don’t have to face anything on your own!

Even though all of this sounds so overwhelming and daunting, your college workload can be manageable. As long as you utilize the academic resources available to you, stay confident and hold on to your drive for success, you will do amazingly!

Sex education and health class may be a far cry from the iconic scene in Mean Girls, but that doesn’t mean that it’s perfect. It’s known for leaving out important topics—especially those relating to LGBTQ+ people. These are seven essential things we wish they had covered in sex ed.

1. The coming out process

Coming out is a huge part of any queer person’s life, and health or sex education would have been the perfect class to cover this subject.

Sarah Jo Enloe, a senior at Westfield State University, feels that a lack of comprehensive LGBTQ+-inclusive sex education is part of the reason she didn’t come out as bisexual until recently. “It would have been nice if they'd talked more about resources for those in the process of coming out and maybe reached out to those who were still struggling with their feelings,” Sarah Jo says.

Many people are as young as elementary or middle school when they’re introduced to sex ed. That makes it a great time to teach kids that they should feel comfortable about their identity, and provide them with additional resources for the coming out process. Coming out is a destabilizing process for many people, and having resources can help them feel more supported.

Related: Safe Sex for Queer Girls: What You Didn't Learn in Health Class

Christina Spaccavento, a sex therapist, relationship specialist and counselor, agrees with Russo. “Young LGBTQ people may find it more difficult to access help because of a limited understanding of the problem of LGBTQ intimate partner violence, stigma and inequalities in the health and social system,” she says.

If people are unaware that same-sex partner violence occurs, or that men can be the victims of abuse, they aren’t likely to recognize it when it’s happening to them, or to a friend. That can prevent them from speaking out and getting help as early as possible. If you or someone you know is experiencing partner violence, there are resources that can help, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline. 

5. Same-sex family planning

Although it may be years away for most people taking sex ed, family planning for same-sex couples is rarely discussed. Most of the emphasis is on avoiding accidental pregnancies for straight couples.

“I want young men and women to know that there is an option out there for them no matter what gender or sexual orientation they are,” says Emma Shaw, a senior at Bridgewater State University. “I think it's important to know that there are options out there for everyone.”

Straight couples are often introduced to the idea of family planning in health class, with topics such as how to decide when a pregnancy is right, infertility issues, ovulation cycles, and preparing for a child. The same subject should be extended to same-sex couples.

6. The definition of consent

Consent is sorely missing from a lot of sex education, not just for LGBTQ+ people. We’re often taught about sexual assault and rape, but mainly in terms of how to prevent it, not the basics of what it means to consent.

“I really don't think the current sex ed curriculum addresses sexual assault and rape much at all,” says Desiree Costa, a first year student at the University of Massachusetts Law School. “When you teach young teenagers what consent is, and that it is important, they will carry that with them as adults.”

When consent is discussed, it should be made clear that the issue applies to LGBTQ+ people, too. Same-sex partners run into the problem of consent during hookups, too, and need to be aware that only an enthusiastic “yes” means yes, and "no" always means no. Many people are misinformed and think that if a person's actions suggest they want sex, they don't need to confirm it verbally with the person. Sometimes, sexual partners also feel pressured to "go through with it," if they feel they've been giving off these kinds of signals. People are often unaware that partners also can't consent to sex if they are impaired by alcohol or drugs.

7. The asexuality spectrum

While many sex ed courses cover the topic of abstinence, not many talk about asexuality. It’s assumed that teens and young adults want to have sex, and that if they don’t, it’s because they’re purposely refraining.

This leaves asexual students struggling to figure out where they fit in. It doesn’t give people the option to realize that they may be asexual, and how to navigate that part of their life.

Russo suggests that sex education and health should cover consent, and that the subject of consent can bring up the broader topic that some people aren’t interested in sex. “It also opens up a conversation that can say some people may want to have sex, and some may not want to have sex,” she says.

Since asexuality isn’t often discussed in schools or in the media, it can be helpful to define what consent is in the classroom, and then connect that to the range of identities that fall under the asexual umbrella.

Many people are not taught about LGBTQ+ topics in sex ed whatsoever. That’s troublesome, because it means many queer youth have no access to formalized discussions about safe sex, identity, and navigating relationships. Jonathan Major, a first-year graduate student at Bay Path University, says that in his school system, “they never actually taught us anything about LGBTQ+ sex ed,” As a result, Jon thought he was the only gay person in his high school class.

It’s important that sex education classes cover these issues, because chances are, there are LGBTQ+ people in the class who need the information, and it's always important to educate those who don't identify as queer, too. Sex education needs to be inclusive in order to be truly effective—if it doesn’t cover issues relevant to everyone, some people won’t know where to turn for honest answers and support, and others won't completely understand the intricacies of sex, gender and sexuality. 

University of Missouri-Columbia student Hunter Park was taken into custody Wednesday at one of the university's residence halls. The charges against him were making a "terrorististic threat" using the app Yik Yak, according to Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Knight.  

Park was charged with making the alleged threat to "shoot every black person I see" on Wednesday, after tensions had risen surrounding violence toward black students on campus. Other students on campus reported via Twitter that they saw a group of men wearing bandannas, covering their faces, and yelling racial slurs at black students. 

Other anonymous posts on Yik Yak included: "We're waiting for you at the parking lots. We will kill you," and "Don't go to campus tomorrow." 

Park is a sophomore at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, which is within the MU system.

"Threats of violence of any kind are not tolerated," says Cheryl B. Schrader, Missouri S&T Chancellor . "As a campus, we are grateful that this situation did not escalate. As always, the safety of our students, faculty and staff is our utmost concern."

The suspect was not on or near the campus at the time the threat was posted, according to the university website. 

Park was held on a $4,500 bond at Columbia. His initial arraignment was scheduled for this Thursday. The university said that no weapons were found during the police investigation. 

A Northwest Missouri State University freshman, Connor Stottlemyre, was also arrested in connection with the threats, according to the Kansas City Star.

The racial tensions on campus followed the resignation of Tim Wolfe, who had served as president of the University of Missouri system, and the stepping down of R. Bowen Loftin as chancellor of the Columbia campus. Wolfe's resignation came after students protested racist incidents on campus that he failed to address, and this has left the MU system in a flurry of ongoing racial tensions.