It’s that time of the year again when you see couples everywhere you go: holding hands on the subway, taking kissing selfies, cuddling in your airplane row, skating hand-in-hand in the park. Whether you like it or not, PDA is at an all time high in the winter, or at least it always seems to be. If you’re a single girl, seeing couples showing off their love for each other makes you want to curl up in bed with a good Netflix show and never venture out into the real world again. We don’t blame you, but it doesn’t have to be that way! And no, you don’t have to resort to Tinder, either. If you aren’t in a relationship, here are five ways to get a date in time for V-Day.

1. Join a club

In college, there were endless opportunities to join extracurricular activities. Not only were they easily available, but you also had friends who were interested in joining the same activities. In the real world, there are no more club fairs or email reminders about this week’s rugby practice. You have to pursue your interests; no one is going to ask you to.

Fortunately, these clubs do exist in the post-college world, but you have to do some of your own research to find them. Check out posters at your local gym or flyers at the independent coffee shop on your block. Whether you’re looking for a book club or an intramural sports team, you’ll be instantly broadening your network and meeting new people, especially those who already have similar interests. If you hit it off with that cute guy in your salsa class, you might just have a chance at a Valentine’s Day date. 

“I got discouraged when I would go out to bars and meet guys, but never go out on dates,” says Kate Bennett, a graduate of Duke University who now lives in New York City. “One night I realized that I probably would not meet someone I would want to date at a bar anyway and would need to find someone elsewhere. When I followed my interests, which was volunteering at a nonprofit once a week, I met a great guy that I’m still dating.”

2. Go to the gym

You may think that you’re never going to get a date at the gym, of all places. You’re sweaty, listening to music and trying to focus on nothing but your workout. In actuality, the gym is a great place to find a date… you just have to step a little out of your comfort zone!

If you see someone at the water fountain or in your spin class, why not smile and say hello? Or if you want to try a new weight machine but aren’t sure how to use it, try asking the guy you’ve been eyeing to give you a hand. Striking up a conversation with a stranger can be difficult, especially when he’s in the middle of a workout, but you have nothing to lose: The guy is most likely going to help you out, and if he doesn’t continue to talk to you, so what? It’s better to put yourself out there than wait around for someone to approach you.

“I always thought guys wouldn’t approach me if I was sweating at the gym, but I was wrong,” says Kelsey, a recent grad living in Boston. “One day, when I finished running on the treadmill, this cute guy next to me said he was impressed with my running and he was just trying to keep up with me. He asked if I was training for anything, and we started talking. He happened to be training for the same half marathon. We hit it off and started to chat every time we saw each other at the gym. He got my number, we went on a date and started dating soon after.”

3. Become a regular

During the winter, it’s tempting to stay in with reality TV reruns and mouthwatering takeout, but this isn’t any way to find a date. Exploring different places is your best chance at finding new favorite spots that you can frequent. If you start going to the same coffee shop, bookstore or even bar, for example, you’ll begin to recognize other people who are also there often. Becoming a regular allows you to become comfortable in a place, which also opens you up to casually meeting new people.

If you keep seeing someone you’re interested in, say hello (eventually one of you will have to)! Luckily, you already have something in common. So despite your desire to stay in on a cold night, sometimes you just have to force yourself to bundle up and explore—you never know whom you might meet.

“I have a hard time talking to strangers, especially guys, when I’m out,” says Dana Stein, a Boston College graduate living in New York City. “Every bar I would go to I would have my friends with me, but it wasn’t fun meeting anyone new. Once I started going to this bar where I really liked to watch football every Sunday, a cute guy approached me that I had seen two times before. He commented on my T-shirt that said, ‘Go Broncos!’ because he was actually from Denver as well. We started talking and we ended up going on a few dates.”

4. Have your friends set you up

You may not have any friends that you could see yourself dating, but your friends probably have friends who could be potential matches for you. According to Match.com, 63 percent of married couples meet through a network of friends. While the goal is to get a date for Valentine’s Day and not necessarily plan a wedding (yet!), meeting someone through a friend is an easy place to start. Your friend knows your personality as well as the person he or she is matching you with, so he or she probably has some idea of whether or not you two would like each other. If you don’t want to go on a blind date with the person, ask your friend to invite a group of people over one night before committing to a date. That way there’s no pressure to match up with the guy or girl, but you’ll be in a comfortable setting to get to know him or her if you’re interested.

“I always wondered whether couples who met through friends were good matches or were together because of convenience—until my friend had a potluck dinner at her apartment,” says Cat Hagen, a Wake Forest University grad living in Boston. “My friend’s friend had brought his roommate, and I ended up talking to him the whole night. We’re still dating after six months. So it does happen!”

5. Give online dating a try

Okay, so online dating doesn’t have to be eliminated entirely if you’re looking for a V-Day date. While Tinder is infamous for hook-ups (though finding a date isn’t impossible), dating apps such as Hinge and Coffee Meets Bagel are better ways to find a date who actually wants to get to know you. On Hinge, you match through mutual Facebook friends, the virtual way of meeting through a friend of a friend. On Coffee Meets Bagel, you list your interests, and each day at noon a new match is delivered to you, whom you can “Like” or “Pass.” If you’re meeting up with someone for the first time, try to avoid setting your first date for the 14th—it’s better to establish some sort of connection before you celebrate Valentine’s Day together!

“I was using Tinder for awhile, but had the most miserable dates,” says Cornell grad Madeline Kleinman, who now lives in Philadelphia. “My friend told me about OkCupid, and while I thought it was a serious dating site for older people looking to get married, I was surprised to see young, cute guys in their twenties. I was messaging with one guy for a few weeks until we finally went on a date.”

Dating in college is undoubtedly different thandating in the real world, but it doesn’t have to be more difficult. If you’re not spending Valentine’s Day with a SO this year, you can still have a great time by following these tips to find a potential date (or just have a good time in the process, totally pressure-free!). You have just a few weeks left before Valentine’s Day comes, so go get out there in the post-college world and snag yourself an eligible bachelor or bachelorette!

Glossybox

Celebrities have often admitted that one of the biggest disadvantages of fame is the lack of privacy and constant swarm of paparazzi following their every move. We've all seen the videos of stars being bothered during their daily lives, from grocery store visits to airports. Some will fight back, but others tend to do their best to ignore it, keeping their heads down and trying to get away as quickly as possible.

While Kylie Jenner may appear to enjoy living in the spotlight, videos show that Kylie's life is far from carefree. She may market herself to the public through KUWTK, sold-out lip kits, photo shoots and other profitable ventures, but she certainly doesn't deserve the treatment she gets from paparazzi. Constant flashing lights and orders about how to pose for photos only breach the surface of what Kylie deals with on a regular basis. For someone of her age and celebrity status, she seems to handle it quite well. These Snapchat and Instagram videos provide a mere glimpse into what it really feels like to live like Kylie—aside from the glamorous aspect we're used to seeing.  

Shiann Friesen is raising awareness after a Walmart employee told her not to try on a sweater because she would stretch it too much. 

Friesen, the 19-year-old Canadian vlogger was able to capture the incident on camera and post it to her YouTube channel, ShiCurves, where it has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. In the video, the female Walmart employee takes clothes out of Friesen's hands and urges her not to try on something that "obviously is not going to fit." Friesen pulls out her camera and asks the woman what she means. 

"Just don't try to push it," she tells her. 

Friesen then turned off the camera so she wouldn't be asked to delete any footage. 

"I was so shocked I had to ask her to repeat what she had said, because maybe I would hear it differently," Friesen said in an interview with People Magazine. "And of course, I didn't. But I quickly realized that I was being discriminated against, and I was hurt. I felt anger and vulnerability; something I never would have expected to happen to me."

Friesen has since reached out to Walmart and they were shocked to hear her story.

"One of our core beliefs is respect for the individual, that's certainly paramount," said Alex Robertson, Walmart's senior director of corporate affairs.

"Every single person from the Walmart team I talked to has been extremely sorry and extremely shocked that this even happened at one of their stores," Friesen says.

Cosmopolitan reports that Robertson told them in an email that "management at the store where it happened has 'discussed the matter' with the employee." Let's hope Friesen's publicizing of the incident has made the world a little more tolerant!

Feminist icon Gloria Steinem managed to piss a lot of people off with her latest comment about women supporting Bernie Sanders this weekend. During an appearance on the HBO late night show Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday, Steinem claimed that young women only support Bernie Sanders because they want attention from boys. 

"Women are more for [Clinton] than men are," she said. "First of all, women get more radical as we get older, because we experience. Not to over-generalize, but men tend to get more conservative because they gain power as they age, women get more radical because they lose power as they age. And, when you're young, you're thinking, where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie."

Steinem was discussing Clinton's struggle to gain the support of young women, despite being a candidate for the first-ever female president. Sanders received the vast majority of young female voters in Iowa, and the LA Times reports that the numbers look similar in New Hampshire, where the primary takes place Tuesday. But insulting Sanders' supporters' intelligence by saying they're only in it for the boys was probably not the best way to get them on Hillary's side. One group, People for Bernie, even launched a petition as an attempt to get Steinem to take back what she said. 

"This statement represents one of the worst pronouncements on gender we have seen from a notable person in this election season," they wrote. "It's particularly significant because you are a feminist icon whose leadership continues to inspire, and because the statement was such a sweeping condemnation of young women."

Steinem is famous for her feminist activism throughout her life. She was a journalist for many years, and founded Ms. magazine in 1972.

On Sunday, the 81-year-old wrote to fans on her Facebook page that her comment was misinterpreted. 

"I misspoke on the Bill Maher show recently, and apologize for what's been misinterpreted as implying young women aren't serious in their politics," she wrote. "What I had just said on the same show was the opposite: young women are active, mad as hell about what's happening to them, graduating in debt, but averaging a million dollars less over their lifetimes to pay it back. Whether they gravitate to Bernie or Hillary, young women are activists and feminists in greater numbers than ever before."

Gloria Steinem received backlash for her comments around the same time as Madeline Albright, the female secretary of state who shamed any women who didn't support Clinton at a rally in New Hampshire on Saturday.

"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help each other," she said.

When Clinton appeared on Meet the Press on Sunday, she addressed Albright's comment.

"Madeline has been saying this for many, many years," she said. "She believes it firmly, in part because she knows what a struggle it has been and she understands the struggle is not over."

If you don't have a bae to look forward to spending Valentine's Day with, no worries—Starbucks has you covered.

Today through Valentine's Day, the coffee empire is offering these three delicious, molten beverages to turn your previously Starbucks-less (and therefore obviously worse) Valentine's Day into a tasty one. Which drink will you be trying first?

1. Molten Hot Chocolate

If the name didn't already draw you in, read on: Chocolate chips and mocha sauce are melted into steamed milk, and you can top it off with whipped cream and a special drizzle. Who needs a human Valentine when you have this?

2. Molten Chocolate Frappuccino

This drink puts a twist on the classic mocha Frappuccino with chocolate chips and mocha sauce blended into the coffee. Feeling fancy? Add the whipped cream and drizzle for an extra treat.

3. Molten Chocolate Latte

Iced or hot, this latte has melted chocolate chips in the espresso, and bittersweet mocha sauce in the steamed milk. The best part? Even the whipped cream is infused with mocha and espresso. Oh, and if that wasn't enough for you, there's an espresso mocha drizzle. We can't wait to try this treat!

With drinks like these, there are no more excuses for being sad on the dreaded February 14. Happy Valentine's Day!

Feeling under the weather? Need someone to talk to besides your parents and friends? Think you might have anxiety or depression? Recognizing something is wrong is one thing, but the next step could be going to your school’s counseling center. If you are someone who up until now has never felt the need to seek help with your mental health issues or personal issues, it’s definitely daunting to meet with a professional. That’s why we have provided you with an overview of college counseling centers and what your school can do for you.

1. Centers are equipped to help you 

No issue is too inconsequential or too severe 

College counseling centers were designed specifically for college students. Professionals in these centers are equipped with resources for you, whether you have an issue with your roommate or you believe you might be suffering from anxiety. With that in mind, you should never feel that your problem might not be relevant to what your center has to offer. Typically, every university has a few types of treatments options, varying from support groups to one-on-one sessions with a therapist.

For example, if you attend a large public school like UC Berkeley, Berkeley offers both non-urgent treatment and emergency same-day counseling to address concerns relating to academics, personal growth and career management. Reaching the counseling center to make an appointment is often only a phone call or email away. Berkeley’s counseling center website also helpfully offers an infographic that provides a few signs for depression. If you are not sure whether you have anxiety or depression, it is better to consult someone from your college counseling center rather than trying to self-diagnose.

In contrast to a large public school, a smaller private university such as Wesleyan University offers very similar services through its Counseling and Psychological Services office. Its support groups range from those that are educational and curriculum-based to those that are more informal and student-led. Support groups are a great way to find like-minded people and to learn about common problems students struggle with, from eating disorders to being a victim of sexual assault. It is important to know that you are not alone in coping with your problems. 

Related: “17 College Women Get Real About Depression”

2. Don’t Always Expect Immediate Results

It takes time for therapy to be rewarding

Iris Goldsztajn, a senior at UCLA, visited her school’s counseling center after she realized her dieting habits had turned into an unhealthy obsession with her body image. “I had three one-on-one counseling sessions and it was weird, but I’d been told how helpful they were,” she says. “ I was skeptical at first and it only made me more confused about my problem, but by the third session, I felt so much better!” 

During her therapy sessions, Iris says that her therapist emphasized how important it was to take a break from labeling her thoughts and self-judging. “It took some more time after that to really get over my ‘food obsession’ and I’m not quite over it yet but it was really great to have someone talk to me about my problems and help my understand what I was going through was completely natural,” Iris explains. Although her visits to the counseling center didn’t completely resolve her issue with dieting and body image, she found a support system and got on the right track to gaining a healthy perspective.

Related: “Orthorexia: When Being Healthy Becomes an Obsession”

3. Counseling Sessions Can Be Confidential

Your school will respect your privacy

Just as with a private practice, schools will respect your decision to keep anything discussed during your treatment strictly confidential, unless they are faced with suicidal behavior – in which case most professionals are required to report to school authorities. A typical school policy is illustrated through Wesleyan University’s counseling center, which states: “We do not disclose the content of sessions without explicit permission from our therapy clients, except in the cases in which we judge there is imminent risk to our client or other people.” College counseling centers are intended to be safe spaces, so don’t be afraid to share what’s really bothering you.

Along those lines, you should also not be afraid that based on your diagnosis, you will be forced to take medical leave from school. Leaving school because of a mental health issue is not only nothing to be ashamed of to begin with, but it is also completely your choice. 

4. Resources Can Be Limited

Consider whether you are seeking help for a long-term or short-term problem

Centers are coping with increasing class sizes and more students seeking help every year. A 2014 survey by the American College Counseling Association (ACCA) found that the average ratio of students to counselors was 1 to 2081 students, with only 26 percent of college centers expanded their counseling staff. So, there has not been a big enough change in resources to accommodate rising demand. 

As much as college counseling centers make you a priority, remember that they are not designed to be a student’s only mental wellness resource during their college career. A combination of large student bodies and limited staff means that some colleges like Boston University and UMass Dartmouth operate on a short-term model, meaning that students can only see a therapist for one semester before they are referred to off-campus counselors. In the case of UC Berkeley, a student gets a maximum of eight counseling sessions per academic year, with five of them coming at no cost. So during the semester, if you resolve your issue – mental health-related or otherwise – then great. If you are seeking long-term help, your college counseling center may only be able to offer you so many therapy sessions before you are redirected to a private psychiatrist or mental health professional. Be sure to check with your school's counseling center if there are costs associated with being transferred to an external counselor. Some schools, such as San Jose State University, have included a mental health fee into their tuition so even a transfer comes at no cost. Other schools, such as Pepperdine University, offer free counseling but charge a $50 fee if you request to see the school psychiatrist. Reach out to your college to be referred to a private practice or perhaps a peer-to-peer counseling/listening service if your school offers one. Don’t ever feel restricted by limited resources in college centers; they are nevertheless going to do their best to help you.

In the end, it’s impossible to know whether seeing your college counselor will be the solution to your problem – but it can’t hurt, right? Know that it is the center’s job to help you, and even if what you are dealing with is more severe than the center is prepared to treat, your school is the first and closest step to finding a qualified off-campus professional that you can foster a long-term relationship with.

Writing this, I stare at my screen, and have the bitter taste of the sadness and pain you brought me build once again in the back of my throat. I take a deep swallow and continue to think.

I go deeper and deeper into the meaning of our relationship, and the meaning of us. It’s crazy how one person can come just at the right time, step in at the right moment and shift everything you knew about love.

I was never a firm believer in young love. I thought it was childish and foolish for kids our age, even younger, to claim they know what love, in a romantic way at least, is. Next thing you know, I was this foolish girl. I was the girl who gave up every precious thing she had kept dear to be with you.

I knew I loved you. My mother always told me that love is when you would sacrifice yourself, physically and emotionally, for that other person. And that is how I felt, and I felt it so deeply in my bones. I became the girl who didn’t believe it could all come crashing down.

Yet, one day, it did. That is when I knew for sure that I was in deep, and I was stuck. When you said goodbye, I sunk into a daze. I was trapped in dome sort of sick dream. Love is like a drug, you know. It gives you a rush, a kind of high that’s like no other. It makes you feel taller in this big world; it makes you feel stronger under society’s heavy weight. But when that sort of feeling is suddenly taken away from you, you become ill, like a drug withdrawal. You feel your body shake as you cry. You get sick. You feel your mind is a haze.

I felt as though I was moving from place to place, not really living but simply existing. I wish I could describe to you the pain I felt as I held back the tears all day, and then finally released them at night. God, it was so hard getting over you.

But, it’s true what they say: time heals all wounds. Eventually I realized that seeing you didn’t sting as much, and hearing your name didn’t make me want to run. Talking about the day you left didn’t make me want to die anymore and hearing about your new girls didn’t make me retreat.

I knew I had gotten over you when I started typing this letter. All because I had typed,“loved” in the title. As in the past, because that is where our story belongs.

So thank you for all the life lessons you have given me. Thank you for teaching me how to pick up a shattered heart. Thank you for making me put it back together myself. Thank you for making me stronger. But most of all, thank you for teaching me not only how to love others, but also myself.

Sincerely,

The girl you once loved 

Dear Chipotle,

We love you. No, like, seriously––we f*cking love you. Even when you let us down, you better believe we'll be coming back for more next week (or maybe tomorrow). Literally, not even an E. coli outbreak could keep us away from you! That means something, right? However, on the sad occasion that you do let us down, there are certain emotions that we just can't help but feel. What are they? Read below to find out:

That initial “How could you?” feeling of a shitty burrito/bowl

We trusted you... and you broke that trust.

Wondering where you went wrong in life

All we were was hungry and now we're full and sad. 

Feeling betrayed by your OTL

Honestly, where do we go from here?

Wanting to scold the workers when they’re out of something

What do you mean there's no lettuce? *Swears*

Screaming because your bowl is half empty

You call that extra rice?

Getting hangry AF when the line is out the door

We need our Chip and we need it NOW.

Feeling judged by the worker making your food

Can you, like, stop judging us for our one-of-a-kind burritos? 

When there just isn't enough guac

Stop asking us, "Is that enough?" when we ask for more. It will never be enough. Keep piling.

The frustration when your online order is f*cked up

Chipotle, you literally had one job. 

Visiting a new Chipotle location that just doesn't meet your standards

Sometimes, it seems like no Chipotle will measure up to your local Chipotle.

When your chips are salty AF, you are salty AF

"Do you want some chips with your salt?"

The sadness of disproportionate portions

It. Doesn't. Taste. The. Same. 

Crying when your burrito falls apart

We did not pay 7 bucks for this shit. 

Getting full after two bites

WTF stomach!? We didn't even get to enjoy it yet! 

Still being hungry after wiping your bowl clean...

It goes both ways.

We love you, Chipotle. Thank you for existing!

In the past few months – the topic of gun control has permeated the media, the election – and naturally, your Facebook news feed, flooded with posts full of strong opinions from both sides of the argument.

But what do collegiettes think? We asked 12 college women if they thought the gun control laws in this country should be modified – check out what they said below.

“Based on the events that took place in 2015, it is clear that guns are an exceptional problem in our country. While I can understand why people would want them for practical reasons, and also to feel safe, it's too unrealistic to imagine that everyone who had a gun would be responsible. For this reason, I think there should be stricter gun control.”  

-Gina, Cal Poly Class of 2017

“I think guns are the biggest danger to the country at the moment. They are killing more innocent people than they are 'protecting.' We are the only civilized country in the world with this problem and it's sickening. Gun laws need to be stricter to prohibit all automatic weapons and drastically change how easy it is to possess a gun.”

-Shannon, Stony Brook University Class of 2018

RELATED: High Heels & Handguns: I Own a Gun For Protection

“If stricter background checks were required in order to purchase guns and we had a national protocol, I believe there would be less school shootings and other gun-related problems.”

-Rachel, James Madison University Class of 2017

“Gun control should not be increased. Lawful citizens use them as self-defense for good reason. Do people think that by banning or increasing gun control, the black market is going to magically disappear? Bad people will still exist. It's not morally correct to take away a defense mechanism from an innocent, law-abiding citizen, because criminals will still find a way to lay their hands on guns. A common comparison I like is: spoons and forks don't make people fat, people become fat because they eat too much, which happens to be with spoons and forks. Just like guns don't kill people, people kill people, because they decided that's how they wanted to use an inanimate object. If anything, more surveillance over guns would be acceptable — a more thorough background check, and if needed a psychiatric analysis. But don't take away an item that could potentially save someone's life by self-defense. Nearly 200,000 women use guns every year for self defense while being sexually assaulted. Do you still want to take them away?”

-Shaela, MNSU Class of 2017

“There should absolutely be a change to gun control laws in the U.S. Right now, it is legal for someone on the terror watch list to obtain a weapon, which is ridiculous and to be honest, scary. The laws that many Democrats are proposing are in no way trying to take guns away from upstanding citizens — they are only trying to keep them out of the wrong hands through completely reasonable measures like background checks.”

-Sarah, University of Connecticut Class of 2016

“I think there should be stricter background checks for purchasing guns, but guns should not be eliminated from the country entirely. Many of the guns bought for malicious purchases are due to lenient background checks. Perhaps there should be a mandatory psych evaluation before purchasing a gun. However, I don't think outlawing firearms is going to stop the gun violence epidemic. That will only come with a shift in society's glorification of violence and reevaluation of the country's mental health system.”

-Natalie, San Francisco State University Class of 2017

RELATED: Obama Cries at Memory of Sandy Hook While Announcing Gun Control Executive Actions

“I was raised around guns. My dad hunts and has taken me target shooting on a fairly regular basis for as long as I can remember. One of my early memories is of sitting on the floor in my parents’ bedroom and watching my dad clean a rifle. I remember going squirrel hunting and helping butcher deer and failing to hit clay pigeons. Guns have simply always been a part of my life. And largely because of that, I know how to act around guns. I've been told since I learned how to walk that you never point a gun at anything you don't want to kill. End of story. Because of my background with guns, I feel comfortable and safe around them. But I know that not everyone has had the same experiences I have had. Not everyone learned basic gun safety as a toddler. This may surprise you, but I do think we need stricter gun laws. Not 'taking away people's guns,' but just making sure you're sane before you buy a gun. Making sure you know how to safely handle a gun before letting you buy one. I'm all for letting people have their guns — we just need to not be stupid about it.”

-Paige, Kenyon College Class of 2018

“I think the gun laws need to be changed. With the amount of violent shooting that happen in the United States I would say its irresponsible to leave the gun laws in their current state. I would like the United States government's gun laws to mirror that of the United Kingdom, Australia, or Sweden.”

-Kaitlin, Chatham University Class of 2017

“I think the only thing that should change about gun control laws is that people should be required to prove past mental history, so as to determine if a person is emotionally stable enough to be able to handle a gun and/or be responsible with a gun in that way. Otherwise, I think gun control laws should remain unchanged. There will always be violence and no amount of legal regulation on weapons will change that. People will always find a way to get a hold of the things they want.”

-Micki, Mizzou Class of 2018

RELATED: Amy Schumer Tackles Gun Violence

“As I'm British, the only gun crimes I've ever really heard of have been in the U.S. It's scary and sickening to think of all the people who have died just because pretty much any idiot in America can buy a gun. It amazes me how some U.S. citizens are so pro-guns. Guns are literally killing machines. Are that many people willing to shoot to hurt or kill someone else? It's a terrifying thought and really puts me off travelling to America. I hope they do change gun laws, I myself find it hard to see the pros after living happily in Britain for 22 years without needing guns in my life.”

-Sarah, University of Nottingham Class of 2016

“Some things need to be changed. First, I don't think there is any logical reason for the average American to need to own an assault weapon — unless the zombie apocalypse comes. Background checks should be mandatory and people convicted of violent crimes should be barred from purchasing guns. They however should be legal. Also minors should not be legally allowed to fire anything more than a BB gun or simple hunting rifle, and their parents should have to be legally liable for them, register them, and make sure they attend gun safety courses.”

-Melissa, SUNY New Paltz Class of 2017

“We should have more gun control in America. While our constitution clearly states ‘the right to keep and bear arms,’ it was written in a time when that was a must. However, people should have background checks for mental illness and precious criminal record in order to purchase a gun. Purchasing a gun should be harder. Why? Because guns are made to kill. Saying ‘guns don't kill, the person behind the gun does’ is ridiculous because people were not made to kill. Guns, on the other hand, were.

-Emilie, University of Utah Class of 2017

Most people are comfortable being single -- that is, until Valentine's Day shows up and rears its ugly head. Through all of the complaining, chocolate binging and rom-coms, nobody quite understands the pure and fiery hatred we have for this cursed day. However, we might have finally found the one person who gets as angry as we do. This is what it looks like to be single on Valentine's Day, as told by our most cherished idiot, Donald Trump.

Some of you probably think Valentine’s Day is the absolute worst.

For years you’ve been desperately seeking a solution to keep all those disgusting Valentine’s Day lovers out of your sight.

Instead you choose to celebrate your singleness.

Yet, it feels like everyone is shoving this celebration of love in your face ALL THE TIME.

You’ve begun to absolutely loathe the colors pink and red.

When every single person is holding hands, kissing, giving each other flowers, etc. it triggers probable regurgitation.

Wearing all black becomes completely appropriate.

So does listening to heavy metal.

You want chocolate to taste like poop, but you can’t stop eating it.

The only things that you are capable of having a deep romantic relationship with are random inanimate objects like your body pillow or Keurig.

The worst part of it is that you actually spend most of the day doing absolutely nothing. It’s just a day.

At some point you force yourself to get out of bed, but all you can do is drag yourself to a restaurant and eat more.

Table for one please—and a giant lava cake to go with it.

And then there’s that moment when the waiter asks you if there’s anything else you’d like.

Another lava cake, please!

By the end of your night, you’re lying in bed with a chocolate induced headache.

You kiss your body pillow goodnight, look up at your NSYNC poster, and wonder “when will love find me?”

We all know that sex is supposed to feel good and be satisfying, but what happens when you’re having sex that isn’t either of those things? It’s easy to assume something is wrong with you when these problems are occurring because they often aren’t talked about, but rest easy. You are not broken, but it’s likely your situation may be. We talked to Rachel Born, PhDc in Human Sexuality about what may be making our sex suffer, and how to overcome those things.

1. You’re too in your own head

Nothing kills the mood more than anxiety does. “The most important sex organ is the brain,” Born says, though this may come as a surprise. When thinking about sex, most people don’t immediately picture the brain. But if you’re struggling physically, it may be due to something mental. Your mind needs to be “cleared of any anxiety, self-consciousness, body embarrassment, sexual shame, worries about if this person is going to abandon you at the end of it,” in order to sexually enjoy yourself.  Try to ground yourself by paying attention to the senses around you—how your partner feels, the way they look or how they smell to bring you back into the moment and remove you from these anxieties. Once you get into the moment it’ll be hard to focus on the way your stomach looks or how you sound, and both you and your partner will have a better time.

Similarly to when you’re anxious, when you aren’t relaxed mentally, your body isn’t able to relax either. “A big component to sexual pleasure is relaxation,” Born tells us. When your body isn’t able to relax, it may not be able to respond in the way you’d expect it to when you are in a sexual situation, which can make sex painful or entirely unattainable. All fears “need to be cleared in order for the body to respond sexually and get the blood pumping” to where it needs to be, Born says. Try to breathe deeply and clear your mind. Once you relax mentally, your body will follow.

“If I get too in my own head while I’m having sex I totally can’t enjoy it,” says Chloe, a junior at DePaul University. “Sometimes I really just need to remember that sex is supposed to be fun and being tense isn’t making either of our experiences better. Once I let go we both have such a better time.” Chloe recommends talking to your partner if there is something specific that's keeping you from being in the moment, such as performance anxiety. Once you lay everything out on the table "it becomes so much easier to relax knowing your partner understands your worries and is helping you to overcome them," she says.

If you’re worrying about your performance and how “good” you’ll be, “the brain can actually shut out sexual pleasure and turn more into an endless cycle of worries,” Born warns. Rather than thinking of the big picture, try to only focus on what is happening in the moment. If each individual moment in foreplay and sex is spent listening to one another, the whole experience will come together. Just take it one step at a time.

Related: 13 College Women Get Real About Their Sexual History

2. You’re skipping the foreplay

Foreplay is just as important as sex, if not more. Foreplay allows the body to relax and prepare for a sexual encounter, and skipping it may make sex painful or uncomfortable for both parties. “You don’t need to go all the way to be great at sex or feel sexually satisfied,” Born tells us. “Some people are really good at (and enjoy) giving oral. Others might really enjoy massages,” Born says. “The goal of sex, and especially sexual pleasure, is to ‘set the senses on fire.’ Reaching that level of enjoyment doesn’t necessarily need to come from intercourse.”

Jane, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, says that foreplay is her favorite part of her sexual experiences. “Personally, I enjoy the moments building up to sex more than sex itself,” she says. “I like the excitement, desire and mutual give and take of foreplay. Without it, I’m not only mentally unprepared, but also physically. My body literally won’t respond.” While your mind might be totally ready for sex, it can often take your body some time to catch up. While men's arousal can be seen almost instantly, it often takes women more time to become sufficiently aroused and lubricated. Without sufficient lubrication, intercourse can be uncomfortable and even painful because of the high amounts of friction. If you're not skipping the foreplay and don't feel your natural lubrication is doing the job, there is no shame in investing in some lube to give you that extra boost you need to make all things go smoothly.

3. You’re doing something you’re uncomfortable with

While this may seem like a no-brainer, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and feel scared to speak up. If your partner is interested in something that you don’t want to pursue, never feel afraid to tell them that you’re simply uninterested in participating in that act. Sex is all about being comfortable, open and honest with your partner. Stand up for what you want—and what you don’t! Consent is the most important facet of sex. You are allowed to consent to one act and not another—kissing someone (or any other sexual act) isn't an open invitiation for more. Even if you have gone to a certain sexual point with your partner before, it does not mean you are ever obligated to do it again. Additionally, you can remove consent at any time. If you thought you might want to do something specific sexually and then during that act you decide you no longer want to, you have every right to stop doing it right then and there, no questions ask. 

Telling your partner you're not comfortable with something doesn't have to be a big deal—simply tell them you're not interested or comfortable doing that and move on. Telling your partner what you are and aren't comfortable with, and hearing what they're comfortable and uncomfortable with as well, opens a door for you two to openly communicate. If you have specific things you want to try, or aren't interested in trying, letting your partner know that before sex can make communicating during sex that much easier. 

"My partner and I had an open conversation before sex where we laid everything out on the table." Jane told us. "I told him what I was interested in trying and what my limits were, and he did the same. Having the conversation before sex made me much more comfortable going into sex because I knew we had the same expectations. It also created trust between us, and I actually found it a turn on knowing he knew and was respectful of my boundaries." Whether you have a conversation before engaging in sexual activities like Jane or choose to feel things out in the moment, always feel confident and comfortable in what you're doing. If you're not, never be afraid to speak up.

4. You’re focusing too much on your partner (at the expense of your own needs)

While being a giving and attentive lover is an absolute must to any healthy sexual relationship, there is such thing as being too giving. If you’re focusing on your partner so much that you’re completely ignoring your own needs, you may be hurting both of your overall pleasures. Don’t be afraid to tell your partner what you want and what makes you feel good. They’ll appreciate your honesty and you’ll appreciate getting the pleasure you deserve! 

"Sometimes I feel like girls think sex is for guys and not themselves," Chloe says, "but it's absolutely about enjoying yourself too! Once I realized I was allowed to ask for what I want and that that didn't mean I wasn't being good to my partner, our sex got infinitely better. Knowing we're both enjoying ourselves is the best part of all." Remember that relationships are about give and take, and that includes acts in the bedroom. Being selfless is good to an extent, but make sure you're asking for what you need, too!

Sex should never be anything but pleasurable, satisfying and fun for both parties. If your sex isn’t, try to take a deep look into what the reason may be, and then approach your partner(s) on how to fix it. Maybe you need to ask for what you want, or maybe they can help you be more in the moment. Whatever the problem, know there are ways for you and your partner to make your sex life satisfying—or even mind blowing, if you work on the problems together. As Rachel Born ended our interview—“happy orgasms!”

You might have thought that you'd be seeing Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates purely for the opportunity to stare at Zac Efron for approximately two hours, but the new trailer made us realize that there's a way better reason than that. (Unbelieveable, we know!)

Enter Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza, our fave BFFs. Because Anna and Aub are, well, Anna and Aub, they totally kill it in the trailer and have us dying to see the real thing. Just in under 3 minutes, they do tricks on four-wheelers, rock super cute retro beach wear and throw themselves in front of moving vehicles (you can try and guess which crazy lady did that one).

The girls are definitely our new definition of #friendgoals. Check out the trailer below for Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and get pumped to see Anna and Aubrey team up and steal the show!

Nothing stirs up social media buzz quite like a reunion. Whether it's Hollywood exes uniting for a night out or TV cast members catching up to make our fantasy worlds complete, we just eat it up. So you may be kicking yourself for missing this latest reunion that occurred while you were busy watching Beyoncé kill it at the Super Bowl. That’s right, there was a mini Jonas reunion that totally made your fangirl dreams come true.

Seventeen reported that Nick Jonas made a surprise appearance when brother Joe and his new band DNCE were performing at the ESPN and Express Super Bowl Party this weekend. The duo jammed to “Cake By the Ocean,” the latest song from DNCE. Nick was on guitar, of course, and Joe fell right back into his older brother role of front man and energizer.

The only one missing was Kevin, who was reportedly in New Jersey celebrating his daughter’s birthday. We’ll let him pass this time, but our hearts are set on a complete reunion before too long!

Joe broke the news with tweets from the Sunday night concert:

With Valentine's Day in the not-so-distant future, you may already be planning the perfect Valentine’s Day look. We've put together a list of three perfect hairstyles (and how to recreate them!) for those looking to try something new for the biggest date night of the year. Check them out below!

1. The side fishtail braid

The fishtail braid is beautiful, versatile and easy to do. Here’s how to get the look!

1. Gather your hair onto one side and brush it through so that there are no tangles or knots.
2. Separate your hair into two sections.
3. Take a small section of hair from the back of one section and bring it over to the front of the opposite section.
4. Then, repeat this alternating the side that you are taking the hair from until you reach the bottom of your hair.
5. Tie the bottom with an elastic.
6. For a more casual look, slightly pull the sides of the braid to loosen it.
7. When you’re done, to avoid frizz, give it a quick spray with a hairspray such as Drybar's Money Maker Flexible Hold Hairspray ($26).

2. Sultry beach waves

A soft yet sultry look. Here’s how to achieve it!

1. The night before Valentine’s Day, separate your hair into two sections.
2. Create two classic braids and sleep in this hairstyle. If you have just showered, the waves will be even better.
3. The next day, undo your two braids and redo your hair into one braid; this will keep the hair wavy, but by reconfiguring the direction of the strands, it'll look more natural by the end of the day.
4. When you are getting ready, undo your braid and spray in product such as TRESemmé's Smooth & Silky No Frizz Shine Spray ($5.79) and run your hands through your hair to loosen the waves.

3. Pin straight high ponytail

A classic, sexy, no-fuss hairstyle. Here’s how to get this look!

1. Spray a heat protectant such as Alterna's Anti Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray ($25) onto dry hair.
2. With a straightening iron, straighten your hair completely.
3. Comb a small amount of hair gel, like the Clean Hold Styling Gel ($16) from Kiehl's, through the top portion of your hair.
4. Flip your hair overhead and run your hands through it, collecting it into a ponytail; fasten it tightly.
5. Spray an extra holding spray such as Nick Chavez's Volumizing Extra Hold Hairspray ($23) over your hair to avoid any frizz.

Whether you're having a casual day out or a romantic dinner for two, these hairstyles will suit any Valentine's Day event!

Ben finally saw the light and sent Olivia home on last night’s episode of The Bachelor. It was a moment that had us simultaneously cheering and maybe feeling a little bit sorry for her. Two-on-one dates always end with a really uncomfortable sendoff for the woman who’s left in some remote corner of the world to contemplate what’s wrong with her. Since Olivia fell victim to this scenario last night, we thought it was only right to give you a play-by-play of the thoughts racing through her head.

1. I will stand on this sandbar plotting my revenge until the end of time…or until the Women Tell All.
2. I hope they let me come inside before the hurricane hits.
3. Emily, stop kissing my husband.
4. This must be a sign; I’m meant to be the next Bachelorette.
5. At least my hair is tied up.
6. That looks like their speedboat.
7. This is even more embarrassing than my striptease.
8. Are we breaking up?
9. Joke’s on him—we’ve been married in my mind for six weeks already.
10. Is this because I said I like to "talk smart things"?
11. I’m obviously still the front runner.
12. How do I get to Paradise from here?
13. Maybe I shouldn’t have dropped the L-bomb.
14. Well, I’m not as crazy as Leah.
15. I’m so shocked that I could literally fit this whole island in my mouth.
16. What could the twin possibly offer Ben that I can’t?
17. They sent a rejection pig to pick me up. REALLY? They couldn’t even spring for the rejection limo?
18. Demi Lovato lied. There ~is~ something wrong with being confident.
19. I’m Olivia Caridi, reporting live from my breakup with Ben.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made a very controversial statement about how we as women should live our lives. They stated that women who are not on birth control should stop drinking if they want to have sex. As we know all too well, if we have unprotected sex, we could get pregnant. And if we get pregnant while we had been drinking, there is an increased risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which could cause a whole pantheon of disabilities ranging from “physical, behavioral and intellectual,” according to the CDC’s latest report.

 “An estimated 3.3 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 years are at risk of exposing their developing baby to alcohol because they are drinking, sexually active, and not using birth control to prevent pregnancy, according to the latest CDC Vital Signs report,” the CDC states.

Coleen Boyle, Ph.D., director of the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities said in the CDC’s press release, “It is critical for healthcare providers to assess a woman’s drinking habits during routine medical visits: advise her not to drink at all if she is pregnant, trying to get pregnant or sexually active and not using birth control.”

While the CDC probably didn’t mean to shame women, they inadvertently did. By saying women shouldn’t drink and have sex, women are given all the blame for FASDs. Shouldn’t we be reminding men to wear condoms, too? Having safe sex, which will help lower the risk of pregnancy, and therefore FASDs, is a two-way street. Funny enough, pregnancy is not solely dependent upon the woman, so why does society, and in this case the medical community, still treat it as though it is? It takes two to tango.

Many women were also horrified by the CDC's condescension and the way they seemed to see women only as babymakers, not as individuals. The CDC clarified that that wasn't their intention—But they still wanted women to know that drinking even during early pregnancy could be very dangerous for a developing baby.

"We weren't as clear as we hoped to be," Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, told The New York Times in an interview. "We’re really all about empowering women to make good choices and to give them the best information we can so they can decide what they want to do themselves."

Tara Haelle writes in Forbes that there are definitely very real risks associated with drinking while pregant, but that the CDC's patronizing tone will make it harder for them to get that message across to women.

"Women are not children who need admonishment about not touching the stove," she wrote. "They need information—clearly communicated information without euphemisms or tsk-tsks, delivered in a reasonable tone that respects them as adults capable of making their own decisions."

As a college woman, you're probably not trying to get pregnant right now, and the CDC's statements seem like something to worry about later—a lot later. But the controversy around these statements just shows that with anything—from alcohol to sex to skydiving—you don't have to make decisions based on platitudes, conventional wisdom, or fear-mongering. Go out there, get all the knowledge you can, and then make an informed decision based on what you've learned, whether it's about picking the right birth control, having safe sex, or eating the right stuff for your body. Be empowered to make the best decisions for you!

Get ready to experience all the feels. Hallmark has released their Valentine’s Day commercial, and it is just as cute as you’d imagine.

The commercial highlights a wide array of different couples sharing a kiss, then telling the stories of how they met. Some of the couples still catch their breath when talking about meeting their partner for the first time—That alone will melt your heart.

Hallmark shows a diverse range of couples, featuring an interracial couple, a lesbian couple and a gay couple, and covering a whole expanse of generations throughout.

This commercial is so moving because it is so genuine. It’s obvious the couples are real people who are actually in love. Something about all that sincerity could pull at even the most shriveled of heartstrings!

In its essence, the commercial is wildly hopeful. And even better, it gets away from the clichés. Nobody proposes, there aren’t pink and red hearts everywhere, and there isn’t a trace of forcing or fictionalizing a love story just to sell some cards. Instead, there are real people talking about their real love stories and gifting each other cards that say “you’re my person” on the outside, followed by an even more beautiful sentiment on the inside.

This commercial proves true love really does exist. Now where are those tissues?

It can be pretty hard to accept your identity as an LGBTQ+ collegiette. A lot of times, there is an expectation for lesbians to fall into one of two categories: butch or femme. If you don’t quite fit either one, this can be pretty distressing and make you feel invalidated. Here are some ways to rock being you, no matter who you want to be.

1. Don’t feel like you have to pick between butch or femme

Your identity and presentation usually go through more than a few changes in your lifetime. Just think back to your MySpace days—bet you’re glad those are over! As you get older, you’ll probably still evolve physically and mentally. Sticking to a label just for the sake of it isn’t necessarily going to make you happy. If you don’t identify as either butch or femme, that’s fine—and if you do, that’s fine too!

Dr. Carol Queen, a staff sexologist at San Francisco’s Good Vibrations, notes that identity is different for everyone. "[The terms 'butch' and 'femme'] are not just stereotypes into which people are expected to fit; for some, they are also proudly-held identities that help people who adopt them navigate in the world and find partnership and meaning,” Dr. Queen says. That's not the problem with these labels; the problem is the pressure some women may feel to identify with one or the other, when they fall somewhere in between.

Alaina Leary, a first-year graduate student at Emerson College, feels like her queer identity can be pretty liberating when it comes to gender norms and expectations. "In my experience, being queer gives us some freedom to experiment with what it means to be a woman because we aren't automatically sorted in male/female roles," she says. 

2. Find your style icons

Expressing your identity through style can be really empowering. You might feel your most confident when you’re rocking a dress, a suit, or even just a sweater and a pair of jeans. Every girl has her own style icons, even if she doesn’t realize it. And although a whole lot of lady style bloggers present as mostly feminine, there’s also a whole lot of female and nonbinary style bloggers who present more fluidly. If you aren’t exactly sure what you feel comfortable in or what suits you best, find your inspiration!

Trisha* an incoming college freshman, says, "I loved stereotypical pink girly stuff but I also hated wearing dresses and the only transportation I liked was skateboarding. As I have gotten older, I've had a hard time trying to make myself choose what I want to be. Now I try to live every day like its own and, if anything, it's great breaking the stereotype and I ride my longboard with my Vineyard Vines 'shep' shirt and pearls."

Whether you're more inspired by Pretty Little Liars’ Hanna Marin or genderqueer model Rain Dove, your style gurus are definitely out there.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Gender Fluidity

3. Ditch dated ideas about dating

When people think about lesbian relationships, what often comes to mind is one femme woman and one butch woman. Sometimes couples do look like this, but sometimes they don’t. If you don’t exactly identify as either, then the idea of dating can come across as a little bit scary. You might be wondering if that cute butch girl you’re into only wants to date femmes, or vice versa. And for that, we’ve got just one word of advice: stop! How someone presents doesn’t dictate who they’re attracted to.

Once you do get the girl, keep on keeping on and forgetting about those dusty old gender roles. “I don’t feel my girlfriend and I fit into butch and femme stereotypes and we have definitely gotten questions about this,” Alaina says. “A lot of people assume she’s 'the man' because she’s physically larger and stronger, but she wants to carry a child naturally while I don’t. I find these labels are just that—labels, and that gender is more complicated than that.”

If you’re interested in someone and you don’t think you’re their type, there’s really only one way to find out. Go for it!

4. Just do you 

There are a lot of different stereotypes that you have to deal with as an LGBTQ+ collegiette already, and presenting a certain way can change how much other people hold you to those stereotypes. It’s cliché for us to talk about how it’s totally fine for you to challenge stereotypes and gender norms, but it’s also important. At the same time, don’t feel like you have to go out out your way to avoid behaving in a way that people see as stereotypical.

"I like to think of myself as aggressively bisexual,” Trisha* says. “Growing up, I never really fit into a category. It's honestly been a huge struggle, but I've come to terms with the fact I don't need to fit into a category and [the idea] that I can be whoever I want, whenever I want.” When you like something about yourself, just go with it! The old idea of certain things being “girly” or not is really tired—and honestly irrelevant.

If you want a label, cool. If you don’t, also cool! Anything that makes you happy when it comes to your personal presentation and identity is a great thing, collegiettes.

*Name has been changed.

If you sometimes looked to McDonald’s Happy Meals to take you back to times when life was full of Happy Meal toys, coloring books and funny smelling glue instead of student debt, novel length papers and peer pressure, unfortunately it's time to grow up. But only for a little while, because McDonald's is taking a break from Happy Meal toys to do something pretty cool—promote literacy!

Delish reports that the fast food chain will not be giving out toys in kid’s happy meals for the next few days. Up until Feb. 15, the restaurant will be providing those who get happy meals with books instead of toys in an effort to reach their goal of giving out 17 million books to kids. When you add in the books they've been giving out since 2013, by the end of this year they'll have distributed 50 million books!

The books, which include titles, such as Pete the Cat, Paddington and Clark the Shark Takes the Heart, were created as a collaboration between McDonalds and the literary nonprofit group Reading is Fundamental—And some of the books will even be distributed in Spanish to certain spots. They even fit inside the Happy Meal box!

"Studies prove the simple act of reading a book to a child at bedtime has a direct impact on his or her educational growth and potential," Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of Reading is Fundamental, wrote in a statement. "With two-thirds of children living in poverty without books, McDonald’s is helping to provide critical access to books to inspire children to read."

While toys are fun and make you feel a kid all over again, there is really nothing better than eating a nice (and happy) meal while reading a good book.