Is there anything worse then attending a wedding or other public celebration alone? The constant questions about why you’re still single and earnest attempts to set you up with friends can become unbearable. The service Rent A Gent understands your pain and has a perfect solution to the problem—That is, if you’re willing to shell out $200 an hour.

Rent A Gent is a "trusted marketplace of handsome, smart, and talented men on demand," according to their website. You can rent an intelligent and attractive guy for the afternoon and viola, no more questions about your single lifestyle.

Rent A Gent's creative director, Jon, told Business Insider that the service is "something different and classy. These are more GQ-type guys.”

The service is supposed completely platonic and focused on making sure women feel empowered and happy. Business Insider actually tried it, renting a guy to accompany one of their reporters to a museum event. The reporter said her gent, Aaron, was "never anything other than fully professional and fully engaged," and that she felt like she'd made a friend—though, due to the nature of the service, she wasn't sure how much of that friendship was real.

Yes please to renting a gent. Brb, going to watch The Wedding Date.

It is Justin Bieber’s birthday and here at Her Campus, we just couldn’t help but celebrate. In honor of Justin’s 22 year milestone, we have compiled a list of 22 moments Justin made us proud to be a #Belieber. Here's to 22 years of hair flips, legal depositions, and gorgeous ex-girlfriends. Happy birthday Justin!

1. When he coined his legendary hair flip

You have to admit this was a good look on him.

2. When he took a selfie as he took his last dying breath in Zoolander 2

Now that's dedication.

3. When he fixed his hair without a shirt on

4. Or smiled without a shirt on

5. Or when he shot his underwear ad without a shirt on

6. When he did this without a shirt on

7. Or when he took his shirt off for no reason at all

8. Really anytime he was ever shirtless

9. When he was ADORABLE on Ellen

That lil smirk!

10. When threw some shade at the lawyers during his legal deposition

Ballsy.

11. Or when he was sassy in any interview ever

Sassy is a way of life.

12. When he knew how to get us all in the holiday spirit

We're feelin' it.

13. When he was guilty on CSI Miami but we still loved him

Our two great loves: JB and crime shows.

14. And when we knew we would do anything to break him out of prison

Never underestimate the power of Beliebers.

15. When he was besties with T-Swift on their tour

...even though we all now how this friendship turned out.

16. Or when we wished we could attend our very own Bieber-Minaj pool party

17. When he hand-delivered a wedding cake

Don't mind if I do.

18. Or when he taught all of us the proper way to flirt

That signature wink gets us every time.

19. When he showed us what it would be like to go on a movie date with him

We don't even care what movie it is.

20. When we watched him get roasted on Comedy Central

It was a rough one.

21. When he showed us that he isn’t all that different from us

All the pizza, please.

22. When he killed it at the Grammys just a few weeks ago

So, we're dying to know...

We know our answer!

One of the best parts about college is embracing life on your own and finally making decisions for yourself—including decisions about your relationships. However, this process can be a lot more stressful if your parents, or other people close to you, don’t approve of the decisions you’re making. When it comes to intimacy in a relationship, many college women face backlash from parents who don’t approve of plans to live with their SO or sex in general.

To help collegiettes who are stuck in this position, we’ve talked to real college women and relationship experts about how to address relationship intimacy with strict parents:

1. Decide what YOU want

With conflicting opinions coming from your parents and possibly your significant other, it can be easy for your feelings to get lost in the shuffle amongst those you care about. In the midst of any disagreements, make sure that you’re making your opinions about your relationship intimacy a priority.

“Typically a person in this situation is believing it is an either or situation,” says Kim Olver, a relationship coach and speaker. “Either I do what my parents want or I do what my significant other wants. The first thing I suggest in situations like this is to determine what you really want. Do you want to be intimate with your partner? Is it worth the potential consequences to your relationship with your parents? At some point, a woman needs to take control of her own life but it is important to get in touch with what she really wants from the situation.”

Once you’ve decided what you want out of the physical aspect of your relationship, it’ll be easier to address the issue with your strict parents more confidently.

“When a parent is over-controlling or overinvolved in their adult children's lives, those children often choose behaviors in direct opposition and defiance of their parents' wishes and not always in their best interest,” says Olver. “There can be a knee-jerk reaction to do the opposite of what the parent(s) want.”

Make sure that your decision is one that you’re truly independent in making, and not influenced by the fact that you’re upset with your parents in the first place.

2. Weigh the pros and cons of addressing the issue

While some parents appreciate an open and honest conversation in light of a disagreement, other parents may become increasingly upset at your attempt to go against their word. You know your parents best, so it’s important to decide if you will benefit from addressing your relationship intimacy with them or not.

“Once you are grounded in what you really want, then you need to weigh the pros and cons of telling your parents,” says Olver. “If you want to have a direct, honest relationship with your parents, then you can choose to have a conversation with them about doing what you want. If you are concerned about the potential consequences of being honest, you can choose to not make any grand announcements to your parents about your plans, but you also need to take into account the stress of living a ‘secret’ life and the fall out of what could happen if and when your parents find out.”

While you’re in college and old enough to make your own decisions about your relationship, consider how much you still depend on your parents’ support. Although this shouldn’t be a make-or-break factor in your romantic relationship or level of intimacy, it is something to consider.

“I tend to believe that honesty is the best policy but before you have that conversation, be sure you are as prepared as possible for the consequences,” says Olver. “If your parents are paying for your schooling, will they withdraw their financial support? If they do, do you have a plan of how you will continue in college? This is an unlikely outcome because most parents want their children to complete college, but it is a possibility and I don’t want a woman asserting her independence if she is not prepared to be fully independent if necessary.”

While this kind of response from your parents is extreme and probably unlikely, it’s important to consider these factors when you start making important decisions for yourself—regardless of what they’re about.

Related: 13 College Women Get Real About Their Sexual Histories

3. Address the issue (if you decide it’s best)

If you’re never discussed relationship intimacy openly with your parents, but you’ve received direct and outward negative reactions from them regarding the issue, then it may be worth addressing it with them and letting them know where you stand.

“A woman who decides she wants to be intimate with her partner regardless of her parents’ restrictions can have a discussion with them acknowledging that she understands their wishes for her, and even realizes that they may be right, but that she is an adult and needs to do what she thinks is right for her,” says Olver. “She is not trying to deliberately hurt or disappoint them but she needs to make the decisions that she thinks are right for her, even if they are mistakes. She could assure them that she appreciates their wisdom and concern and will ask them when she wants advice.”

While your decisions about the physical aspect of your relationship are solely your own, your parents may be more accepting of them if you’re wiling to address things with them directly. If you’re willing to be up front about your feelings with them, and they still don’t approve of your decisions, you can at least say that you tried.

4. Agree to disagree

After spending years going back and forth with your parents about your relationship intimacy, there comes a point when you have to agree to disagree. After all, part of college and living on your own is learning how to make your own decisions—and be confident with them.

“My mom has always been super-strict with me and she still is,” says Jenna*, a senior at her university. “Although I'm trying to break free, the harder a pull away the more she pushes back. My fiancé and I have been together for a long time. It was never easy dealing with her because she still can't fathom that I'm a grown adult who can make her own decisions. It was even worse when we were first dating because every time I talked about him she has a certain tone in her voice. She still does. I've learned to just not let it bother me anymore because it's my life, not hers.”

While it sucks to not have the support of a family member of close friend during your relationship, you have to do what you know is best for you. Continue to communicate with your parents about your relationship and what it means to you, in hopes that they will come around soon enough. Many times, just seeing how important a person is to you will be enough to make them change their mind.

Although college is all about independence, it can be difficult to escape the influence of your parents—especially when it comes to relationships. Be open and honest about what you want, and be mature enough to stand by your decision. Best of luck, collegiettes!

As college students, we are constantly bouncing from one task to the next. If we're not in class or doing homework, we're working jobs and internships (not to mention trying to squeeze in the occasional social event). That being said, why would anyone in their right mind add campaigning for the 2016 Presidential Election to their list of responsibilities -- let alone travel the country to do so? 

Perhaps because doing so is amazing. You're not only making a difference for your candidate's campaign, but you're gaining professional experience, networking, constantly learning about real-world issues and making friends who share a passion with you. 

While it's completely understandable that not every student can afford to drop everything and take off to the state holding the next primary, this isn't always the case. A lot of places gather volunteers to travel by bus for just a single weekend. Campaign coordinators are always willing to help find you free housing, transportation, etc. Additionally, many campaigns have offices located close to college campuses -- allowing you to volunteer on your own schedule! 

However you choose to contribute, you'll undoubtedly learn a lot along the way. It's likely that some of these things will be the following: 

1. You can't take anything personally

Whether you're canvassing door-to-door or making phone calls, you will always be interacting with people -- and they may not like what you have to say about the candidate you're encouraging them to learn about. In all honesty, at some point throughout your volunteering, you will be yelled at and even insulted. Politics can be a tough subject for some, and nobody likes to have their views challenged. Rather than argue with these people, you need to respectfully end the conversation and move on. 

2. Making friends is easier when you share a similar vision

Making meaningful relationships is a lot easier when you already have something in common. Throughout working on a campaign, you will meet people who share your views on current issues and passion for politics. Working together with a team of people like this is an unforgettable experience, and will likely result in friendships that will last a lifetime. 

3. You alone can make a difference

This may be hard to believe, but your individual contributions to a large election can and will make a difference. Even if you just convince one person to vote for your candidate, that doesn't mean your impact stops there. That person could tell their friends and family, and so on. Just by volunteering, you're sending a message to everyone you know that politics and developing a set of beliefs are important. 

4. Social media changes everything

Social media, especially platforms like Facebook and Twitter, have revolutionized how campaigns work. It's much easier to get out a message now, especially to young people. If you're not already tech. savvy, getting involved in the political process can change that. Social media may be a double-edged sword; however, it's one of the most important aspects of the current campaigns. 

5. Sleep isn't that important 

Well, at least not with a caucus or primary day approaching. Especially when you're really crunched for time, you'll be working 24/7: talking to voters during the day and entering data or preparing election materials at night. There's always something that needs to be done, which is why volunteers are so vital to a campaign. Remembering why you're doing what you're doing is a great way to motivate yourself to keep going (plus, lots of caffeine). 

6. You'll develop a sense of tolerance

It's so easy to dismiss other candidates, or even talk badly about them because you disagree with what they're fighting for; however, that's just the thing -- they, along with other volunteers like you -- are fighting. You'll develop respect and tolerance for the people working hard like you, even if you'd rather move to Canada than see their candidate elected. 

7. You will be disappointed

This is inevitable. Whether its due to a low voter turnout or close loss, there will be times that you want to throw in the towel and completely give up. Until November comes, though, you can't. Anything could happen between now and then, so keep pushing for what and who you believe in. 

8. Your life will be changed

Saying this isn't dramatic at all. Throughout the course of your volunteering, you will meet so many great people, genuinely enjoy the work you're doing and feel so rewarded at the end of the day. Doing so might even make you want to switch your major to something political because of the passion you'll feel -- and that's great! 

Seriously, if you find yourself agreeing with a particular presidential candidate, get involved now. Visit their website, look into opportunities on campus and most importantly -- register to vote!

St. Ives

For those of you who have experienced the trials and tribulations of being a freshman, I think we can all agree the first year of college is pretty unforgettable. You’re just getting used to the fact that you won’t be seeing your parents around every day, and suddenly you’re thrown into a world of crazy parties, stressful exams and minimal responsibilities. As we navigate this new environment, we’re bound to do a few things our older, more mature selves will one day regret.

1. Convincing yourself you are the shit because you’re in college

2. Posting IGs to show people how cool your college life is

3. Walking around the first day of classes with a printed out map and attempting to act casual as you try to figure it out

4. Wearing your dorm room key around your neck like a total dork

5. Doing and saying anything that instantly lets people know you are a freshman

6. Buying every textbook on the syllabus and finding out you don't need any of them

7. Not understanding that drinking on weekdays is actually completely acceptable

8. Thinking that you'll get to know all your professors well

9. Sprinting to class because you're afraid you'll be late and then realizing no one actually cares

10. Dressing nice to class like you did in high school

11. Eating five meals worth of food every time you visit the dining hall

12. Taking 138453 selfies in your dorm room in your “hot” outfit before going out

13. Wearing minimal clothing regardless of the weather

14. That first of walk of shame home in a bodycon dress you now regret buying

15. Realizing your forgot your favorite necklace at your hookup’s place

16. Saying hi to the cute boy in class you met the night before and finding out he’s not going to acknowledge you soberly

17. The first time you wiped out in heels that are entirely too tall for your own good

18. Calling every one of your ex boyfriends on the way home from a party

19. Then considering getting back together with them

20. Going to bed at 11 p.m. every night

21. Getting sick every other weekend from living in the dorms

22. Becoming friends with every girl who hands you toilet paper at a party

23. Buying 50 new outfits you’ll probably never wear again

24. Thinking you’d never run into the person you regretfully hooked up with

25. Not realizing how horribly embarrassing yet incredibly precious the first of year of college truly is until it's over

Before I start with my weeklong journey of “eating clean,” let me put it out there that I absolutely love food. I get hungry about six times a day and have horrible self control when I see, or smell something… well, delicious. For seven days I modified my diet from “Go ahead Brooke, eat whatever you want,” to “slow down and think about a cleaner option.”

Plus, Girl Scout season has started... enough said.

When I Googled, what it means to “eat clean” I discovered that it does not have strictly defined boundaries on what you can, and cannot, eat. Vegetarians don’t eat meat and people on low-carb diets lay off the bread, but eating clean is described as “eating more of the best and healthiest options in each of the food groups—and eating less of the not-so-healthy ones,” by eatingwell.com. Sure, I liked having some of it up to my own interpretation, but that also gives the cheese-lover in me opportunity to talk myself out of a salad and into a grilled cheese, because it contains calcium and whole grains… right?

I decided to make a list of things to eat less of, and things to eat more of so that it would be easier for me to make good decisions on meals. I needed to limit my processed foods (less fast food and more Whole Foods) more veggies, more whole grains, less added sugar and less meat, because it contains high levels of saturated fats.

RELATED: I Cut Out Dairy From My Diet & Here's What Happened

I had started my research on how to eat clean a few days before I started the seven day journey so that I had ample time to Pinterest ideas and go grocery shopping. Pinterest is a girl’s best friend after all, especially when it comes to all things food related. Whether you need to find ways to be frugal while eating clean, meal ideas for the whole week or need clean snacks to grab on your way out the door, Pinterest has it all.

Day 1, Sunday:

Waking up knowing I would be eating healthy for the next week, I felt confident that I could do this and succeed, until I remembered that I spent the night at my parent’s house. They are serious food connoisseurs and whenever I am home we usually eat out every meal, or make way too much food for only three people (and eat it all.)

Choosing where to go to eat was difficult because I wanted to make sure wherever we went had clean options (and for the record I decided a protein-style In-N-Out burger was not classified as clean). Hard-boiled eggs held me over until lunchtime, when we decided to go to Starbucks because their Cheese and Fruit box is amazing, and surprisingly healthy. Knowing I was going out to dinner with friends I wanted to keep my lunch small. 

Dinner was hard; everyone around me got extra fried cream cheese wontons and lots of fried rice. Surprisingly I stayed strong and ate Kung Pao chicken with vegetables and egg flower soup. I avoided as much rice as possible and kept away from the soy sauce. Even though I made some substitutions to my regular meal choice, I actually did not miss any of the items I left out.

Day 2, Monday:

I knew this was going to be a hectic day for me, so I grabbed a Naked juice on my way out the door and felt good that I drank all of necessary fruit for the day before 9 a.m.  Between three classes and work in one day I didn’t have any time to sit down for lunch or dinner so those snacks I packed came in handy. When I felt like I needed something more substantial I had hummus and sugar snap peas. But whenever I felt the hunger coming on I ate a cutie, or some protein balls that I made the night before. Get the awesome recipe here.

RELATED:I Drank Nothing But Water For a Week & Here's What Happened

To be honest though, I cheated. Remember how I said I had trouble with self-control?

Day 3, Tuesday:

I had some time (if 10 minutes qualifies as some time) before I left for class so I made an organic peanut butter banana sandwich on 12-grain bread. Since I wasn’t starving it wasn’t as hard today to make good decisions on what I ate for lunch, I just did it. A chicken bowl with black beans, cojita cheese, salsa verde and lettuce contained no unnecessary ingredients and didn’t make me feel like I was eating on a turtle’s diet. Keeping the bag of protein balls, was very helpful, whenever my stomach started growling I could just eat a few and drink some water to hold me over.

Today I realized that by eating snacks throughout the days my meals didn’t have to be as big.

Day 4, Wednesday:

Naked juices never fail to keep me full throughout the morning and are totally delicious at that. I had time to sit for lunch today and it just so happened to be the day my school’s cafe was serving Italian food. What is better than spaghetti and meatballs? Not much, but I decided that probably wasn’t the cleanest option. I substituted the red sauce and fatty meatballs for a different and sautéed vegetables. To my surprise the pesto and vegetables were a perfect combination and actually tasted better than I thought it would.

Unfortunately my delicious lunch was followed by a less than satisfying dinner. Most of the time the dining hall serves jail food, with exceptions a few days a week. This was not one of those days.

Today was harder me to stay away from the ice-cream machine. Every time I craved something sweet I ate a protein ball and the honey in them made my sweet-tooth-self smile.           

Day 5, Thursday:

I basically repeated Tuesday’s breakfast and lunch today, but added in a few cuties. When it came to dinnertime it was difficult to find somewhere I could eat something clean with my friends who will eat anything full of grease if it tastes good. El Pollo Loco has many options for those trying to live a healthier lifestyle and it was easy for me to find something delicious and clean (I was very sad to have to cut down on El Pollo’s creamy cilantro sauce- it is the best.)

RELATED: I Tried Sleeping 8 Hours a Night For a Week

I realized that a big part of this diet change was what I drank. Water and green tea seemed to be the only thing I could drink and not feel guilty about the extra sugar.

Day 6, Thursday:

Today was the day of the club fair where I would be hosting our Her Campus club fair booth so I knew I needed a big breakfast.  I ate eggs, potatoes and vegetarian sausage (with an unhealthy amount of Tapatio) for breakfast and when it came to lunch I only ate because I knew I would regret it in a few hours if I didn’t. I filled my plate with fruit and a vegan burger patty (I ate all of the fruit, but half of the vegan patty found its way to the trashcan.)

When it turned about 6 o’clock I was craving a lot of something delicious. My go-to when I need something filling and full of healthy ingredients is Phò. Rice noodles, broth, onions, bean sprouts are only four ingredients that will leave you feeling stuffed, but not like a pig.

My biggest struggle today was telling the Girl Scout selling cookies that I didn’t want any Samoas (Because I totally did.)

Day 7, Saturday:

The final day has come and I am now more than ever craving chocolate ice cream, yes, even for breakfast. My clean choices included a Spinach Feta Wrap from Starbucks and eating my body weight in sushi. I know, moderation is key, but c’mon all rules are lost when you break those chopsticks.

Avoiding the smells of cheeseburgers, fries and chicken strips was hard because I have been without it for a week now, but every time I was tempted I reminded myself that the next day this was all over and if I wanted, I could eat whatever I wanted.

Overall, my clean eating week made me feel good about the food choices I made. Even though it may have been hard to avoid carne asada fries and donuts, I felt less guilty every time I looked in the mirror and felt self-conscious, because I knew I did all I could that day to feed my body good things. Even though I immediately broke my clean eating habit with some chili cheese fries, I fully intend on continuing my clean snacks and meals as often as I can. So give it a try and see what clean food can do for your mind, body and soul!

Senior pranks are some of the things that you look forward to most throughout your entire high school career. Whether you started thinking of ideas your freshman year or obsessed over MTV’s High School Stories (R.I.P.), the time has finally come to pull off an awesome prank that will be remembered even after you graduate. Let’s be honest, though––it’s not that easy! It can be tough bringing together the entire class for one, solid plan that won’t forbid you from graduating. Don’t worry, we’re here to give you some funny ideas to try, and warn you about ones you should avoid!

The Good

Cups full of water

This idea is pretty simple, but it does require either spending money or compiling supplies! According to Jamie, a junior at Pitt State University, you’ll fill a ton (like, a ton) of paper or plastic cups with water and place them side-by-side in a busy area in your school – like a foyer, locker commons or something similar. Students and teachers will either have to step in the mess, or avoid going to class entirely. Who wouldn’t want the latter?!

Phone alarm fiasco

For this prank, you’ll have to coordinate with lots of people – but it’s worth it. Have everyone set their phone alarm to go off at the exact same time, particularly when people will be in class. Have some leave their phones in their lockers and others to class, just ensuring that the volume is turned all the way up. When they go off, teachers and the administration will have no idea what’s happening!

Erica, a junior at Boston University, had her senior class do this. “We had the entire student body of seniors set their alarms for 2:13, since we were the class of 2013,” she says. “Once 2:13 hit, we all stormed the hallways.” Fun!

Rubber mice

Well, you don’t necessarily have to use mice – but you get the point. Placing a bunch of rubber animals or bugs throughout the school is hilarious, without causing any issues that real creatures would! Some of the best places to hide them include: bathroom stalls, in lockers, around the hallways, under desks and more.

Beach party

This one is a classic. Get the entire senior class together for a Hawaiian-themed party! Depending on how risky you’re feeling, you could either use the cafeteria or the parking lot. Either way, go all out by bringing inflatable palm trees, Tiki torches, beach chairs, a small pool and even a BBQ to grill on (if you’re going to be outside, that is)! This is also a great last hoorah for your class before graduation.

Giant nap

Similar to the phone prank, plan out a time with the rest of your class to do this – preferably during a transition between classes or even while class is in session! Have people bring sleeping bags, blankets, pillows or even pajamas to change into. At a specific time, have everyone drop to the floor and pretend to (or actually) fall asleep! Your teachers will definitely be perplexed, and it will be hilarious.

Graduation chairs

While you don't want to do anything too ridiculous at graduation, there is one prank that's bound to make the audience laugh! Lauren McClure, a senior at the University of Wyoming, executed this perfect graduation trick. "When our class president did her speech at our graduation, she said 'class of 2012' four times, and every time she said it, all 870 people in my class lifted up our chairs a quarter turn to the right," McClure says. "So, by the end of the speech we had faced all sides of the stadium and ended up facing the stage again. The parents and administration actually loved it and it was really fun for all of us to do together." If you have a big class like Lauren did, start coordinating now!

Related: 5 Ways To Make The Most Out Of Your Second Semester of Senior Year

The Bad

Impromptu party

Yes, an actual party – with alcohol and everything. Contrary to popular belief, some students do think doing this on school property would not land them in any trouble. This happens year after year, and it never ends well. Just because the year is ending, doesn’t mean you can break the rules without consequences.

Sign change

This should go without saying, but a lot of pranks do this and end up costing students – literally. If your school has either a marquee sign or one with letters that can be moved, you might want to avoid messing with them. A lot of times, students will be charged for tampering with the property! It's best to avoid anything of this sort. 

Craigslist scam

Although most Craigslist users who come across a high school listed for $1 would know the post to be a prank, that's not always the case. When students at a Ohio high school posted exactly this, school administrators called the police. Luckily for the students, the local law enforcement was more understandable than the school and did nothing to punish them. However, you shouldn't push your luck! 

Related: 5 Problems All Second Semester Seniors Have (& How to Fix Them!)

The Ugly

Goldfish murder

Surprisingly enough, these are done practically every year! Seniors will take some sort of live animal or bug and put it in their school’s pool. It doesn’t usually turn out, well.

Brooke Grasso, a sophomore at the University of La Verne, saw this first hand. “Some seniors at my high school put nearly a hundred real living gold fish in the swimming pool so that water polo couldn’t practice,” she says. “Well, the fish quickly died in the heavily chlorinated pool.” Not so fun.

Vandalism

Unfortunately, there are many senior pranks that go too far. Last April, a Tennessee high school 100 students were banned from graduation after filling the hallways with crickets, chickens, urine, trash, and dead animals. It started out innocent and was only supposed to involve balloons and glitter; however, things got out of hand when more and more students began to show up. You shouldn’t ever risk missing out on graduation, so always be careful and respect school property!

Water Balloon fight

This sounds innocent, right? Wrong. Oftentimes, when you bring together the entire senior class, there are bound to be some students who don't exactly get along. This is when situations like a water balloon fight turn ugly. A high school in Florida learned this the hard way when fights broke out at what was intended to be a playful water balloon war, and the police were called. 21 students were pepper-sprayed and 3 were arrested. Just don't even go there. 

As graduation gets closer and closer, the more prepared you and your friends should be for your epic senior prank! As your parents would say, have fun AND be smart. 

It's finally here! Spring break couldn't come at a better point in the semester if it tried. Whether you're heading to Panama City Beach, Tijuana, Key West or anywhere else warm and sunny for your upcoming break from exams and essays, these are a few of the things that you're likely to think during your week of sunkissed debauchery.

1. "OMG I need this break SO badly! Where's the alcohol?" 

2. "...But I'm not going to drink THAT much. I know my limits!"

Nice try. You're not fooling anybody.

3. "We definitely won't get hungover. We're better at drinking than that." 

4. "I seriously need a tan."

5. "My hair is going to look so beachy and Blake Lively-esque. For once." 

Or not. 

6. "But I've been working out, so at least my beach body will look banging."

7. "And I'm going to be sure not to drunk eat and ruin that beach body." 

But then there was pizza.

8. "I can definitely put on my makeup for tonight after drinking on the beach all day." 

What could go wrong?

9. "I'm not going to spend that much money; boys will buy us drinks!" 

But really, kiss your savings goodbye. You didn't like money anyway, right?

10. "I really feel like I'm going to meet a great guy here!"

If "good guy" means "guy who is looking for a dance-floor make-out and nothing more," then yes, you will meet a good guy. Many, in fact.

11. "Oh well, at least I have margaritas."

And daiquiris. And piña coladas. So many new friends to keep you company!

12. "Oh, and obviously I'll be sure to get my assignments done before we go back to class..." 

LOL NOPE.

13. Can spring break just last forever, please?!

#sorrynotsorry

With spring break approaching quickly, many of us have been hitting the gym in hope of getting back in shape in time for swimsuit season. Despite the message of acceptance the body positivity movement has been spreading, stripping down to a bathing suit can still make some of us feel a little self-conscious. That's why Target is launching its #NoFOMO campaign, to inspire women to love their bodies no matter your size. And the best part? They're partnering up with Barbie.

FOMO plays an important role in Target’s campaign. With #NoFOMO, the company draws on the aspect that women should never have a fear of missing out on wearing a bathing suit just because they don’t have a body that society portrays as a “bikini body.”  

That’s not the only buzz flying Instagram right now, as tons of women are sharing photos of themselves in bathing suits using, #TargetSwim2016 and #NoFOM to show their love and support for body positivity. We are SO in!

What if we told you that Mean Girls wasn’t actually about following the lives of four catty high schoolers, but rather, a movie about the love story between Cady Heron and Janice Ian? A dystopian girl world that doesn’t revolve around Regina George victimizing people, but a world centered around two girls who are secretly in love with each other? We know, it’s pretty strange to think about.

Well, Mashable’s new “Trailer Mix”—a series that completely reimagines and mashes up movies into entirely different genres—cut the classic film into “Mean Girls: The Forbidden Lesbian Romance.” It is supposed to be set as as a Carol and Brokeback Mountain-esque romantic drama, featuring Cady and Janice as two star-crossed lovers.

Oddly enough, this re-cut trailer totally works, and it actually looks likes a movie we’d want to see. So, when's the release?

I recently had the privilege of attending Alessia Cara's concert in LA with my roommate and designated photographer, Jenna. I was stoked of course, but I didn't know what to expect, since Alessia is such a fresh face on the music scene. Well, it turns out she knows exactly what she's doing and the concert will go down in the books as one of my favorite memories of 2016. Here are just a few of the cool things I learned about the singer that night, and some of the reasons why I look up to her as a musician and a person.

1. Her voice is out-of-this world beautiful

If you've heard "Here" (believe me, you have), you know that Alessia's unique and raspy voice makes the song so much more than just another pop hit. But live? Her talent is striking. Jenna and I were lost for words.

2. She has a #1 single at age 19

I mean, does this really warrant an explanation?

3. Said single is super relatable

We feel ya, Alessia, we don't want to be at that party either.

4. She is sweet and level-headed

And I'm not just saying that because she favorited my tweet within 10 minutes of my arrival at El Rey Theatre and I can now die happy. Alessia was genuinely cool and inspiring the whole time she was on stage. I want to be her.

5. She thinks you're beautiful

Alessia got very real about her insecurities. "I just tend to look at every picture of myself and pinpoint every little thing I don't like," she told us. "I want you to know two things: all of the things you hate about yourself, somebody else loves them. And it's not about beauty."

6. She wants you to believe in yourself, even when nobody else does

Speaking of "Here," Alessia said, "this is the song that nobody believed would ever be on the radio." For reference, it's also the song that has 70 million views and counting on YouTube, so yeah. Her very fitting conclusion was a quote that you'll probably want to print on a novelty mug: "If you have a dream, I hope that you can achieve it no matter what." And you can, girl, you can.

After two months, North Korea has allowed Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student at the University of Virginia, to speak in front of the press and publicly appologize for allegedly stealing a banner. Warmbier, while traveling with Young Pioneer Tours, had gone into one of the staff-only sections of the hotel he was staying at in an attempt to steal the banner, which he said a neighbor had asked him to get. He was later detained at the Pyongyang airport.

Warmbier, who is originally from Ohio, was just now given the opportunity to talk to the media, giving his family back in the U.S. a chance to know he's alive. He said that he was asked by a member of an Ohio church to take the sign as a trophy. This person also bribed Warmbier, giving him a used car worth $10,000 and telling him that, if he were to get caught and detained, his family back in the United States would be sent $200,000, as long as there was no mention of the church being to blame. 

This is, of course, a totally bizarre story. Warmbier does not go to the church where this alleged bribe took place, according to reporting by CNN. He is also not a member of a secret group at UVA with ties to the CIA—another piece of Warmbier's confession. North Korea is known for accusing foreign visitors to the country of being spies, and as The New York Times put it, "the unlikely nature of the details [in the confession] suggested the script had been written by Mr. Warmbier’s North Korean interrogators."

Governor of Ohio and presidential candidate John Kasich commented on the arrest, saying that Warmbier, "should be released & returned immediately," according to KTLA. Kasich later said that President Obama should, "make every effort to secure Mr. Warmbier's immediate release and keep (his) family constantly apprised," according to CBS News.

Hopefully Warmbier will be released soon. This scary situation is a reminder that travel to North Korea is not a good idea—the State Department strongly discourages travel to North Korea by U.S. citizens.

Accessorizing just keeps getting easier and cheaper. No-sew clutches are the next big thing, so we're going to show you how to make your own in just five easy steps!

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 yard of suede fabric
• 1/2 yard of twill fabric
• Buttons
• Magnetic closure with prongs
• Fabric glue
• Ruler
• Sharpie
• Scissors

Step One:

Using a ruler and a Sharpie, trace the clutch outline in your desired dimensions onto the twill. We decided on a six inch x 10 inch rectangle. With scissors, cut out the clutch shape and set aside.

Step Two:

Cut the same shape out of the suede fabric, approximately one inch larger in each direction. With the right side of the fabric facing down, place the twill on the top right side facing you. The twill will be your lining, and the suede will be the outside of your clutch.

Note: Feel free to swap the suede for any other fabric. Vinyl can be used in place of the twill as well.

Step Three:

Fold the suede fabric over the twill and glue down with fabric glue to secure. Make sure no raw edges are exposed. If you’re having a hard time getting the fabric glue to hold, try hot glue instead.

Step Four:

Fold in the sides and bottom of the clutch. With the Sharpie, mark where your magnetic closure should go. Using scissors or an X-Acto knife, cut slits for the prongs. You’ll want to do this for the top flap as well. Fold prongs flat to secure.

Step Five:

After the magnetic closure of the top flap has been secured, glue your choice of button over the exposed prongs. 

One moment you’re decorating your freshman dorm room and the next you’re walking across the stage, receiving your degree. But let's be honest—adjusting to the real world is a difficult process, and while our mothers did all they could to make the transition easier, there were a few things missing from our grown-up manual. From the possibility of moving back home after college, to the effort it takes to maintain friendships, Her Campus has got you covered with the ten things your mother forgot to tell you.

1. Finding your "dream job" will take some time

Mothers always tell us that things take time. But did you think that that advice would apply to finding a job? You may assume that your stellar resume and internship experience will get you your dream job immediately but in reality, landing the job will take time, networking, and hard work. "Finding a job is really tough and I have to fight off the feeling of hopelessness it brings," admits Alicia Santana, a 2014 graduate from the University of Texas at Austin. You may have to work a part time job, take an internship, or start out in a field totally unrelated to what you want to do.

Sending off hundreds and hundreds of resumes and cover letters only to receive rejection letters or worse—silence—can be disheartening, but you have to believe in yourself. "You might not get that ideal job you have always dreamed of during your four years of college, but that doesn’t mean you’re a failure," says Cristina Flores, a 2013 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. If you’re feeling down about not finding that perfect opportunity right out of college, be proactive and attend job fairs in your area, ask your friends and family about positions, or find a volunteer role in the company you’d like to work for. 

2. You can’t stay up 'til 3 a.m. and still be functional the next morning

Remember the bedtime your mother enforced when you were a kid? She didn’t tell you that you would also need one as an adult, did she? In college, you were nocturnal. You pulled all-nighters and still aced your English exam the next morning. You partied Sunday night and still made it to your 10 a.m. seminar Monday morning. Unfortunately, you can’t keep this up forever. If you’re working a 9-to-5 job, you’re going to want to set a regular bedtime during weekdays; afternoon naps don’t exist when you’re working full time! (Don’t worry though… you can still stay up late Friday and Saturday nights if you really want to relive your college days.)

3. Sometimes you may have to be dependent on your parents (and that's okay)

Neither you, nor your mother, could have planned on you coming back home after college or needing financial help. If you’re living at home or your parents are helping you out with food and rent, be grateful for their assistance. Opt to do extra chores around the house or run some errands. Work hard to show them you’re still being responsible, and get a part-time job until you are able to secure your dream position.

4. You don't know everything

Your mother raised you to be a strong, independent woman (capable of mastering her morning commute with ease) but she may not have told you that there will be moments you’ll need to ask for help. "I haven’t ever gotten through anything all on my own. In your twenties, you learn how to stop beating your chest and exuding an air of absolute independence. You learn how to lean on others, how to ask for help, how to honor your relationships and absorb everything from the people around you," says Tyece Wilkins, creator and editor-in-chief of Twenties Unscripted,” a website dedicated to chronicling her experiences as a twenty-something woman. As an adult, you may be tempted to take on the I-can-do-this-all-by-myself attitude, feel like you can’t ask questions, or assume that you have to know everything. The truth is that in order to get through this thing we call “life,” you will have to ask for help. Whether it be wisdom from your parents, or an advice session with a mentor, a shoulder to lean on can get your through life’s confusing moments.  

5. Friendships take effort to keep

"When you and your college buddies go separate ways [after] college often times it’s hard to see each other every day or even talk to each other every day like you used to," Cristina points out. In the real world, you may find that you have to make a special effort to keep friendships alive,” especially now that you and your close buds have changed area codes in pursuit of new jobs, graduate school, or other opportunities. Being more than five minutes away from your bestie may be strenuous, but that doesn't mean you can't keep in touch. Planning trips to visit each other, Skyping, and having regular phone calls can work wonders to keep a friendship alive. That being said, don't forget to be open to new friendships. No one can replace the people who entertained you during all-nighters, but making new friends can make transitioning into adult life a lot more fun!

6. It’s okay to change your mind

Your mother may have given you a set checklist on what makes a person successful: the perfect job, a salary that’ll cover all your expenses, great relatioships. What she didn’t tell you was that the path to success is different for everyone and that your path may evolve into something other than what you originally planned. "It's okay to change your mind," says Laura Bozarth, Life Coach and owner of Good Girls Health. “A lot of young women get caught up in doing things a certain way and sometimes that formula doesn't work out. It may not pan out perfect." Changing paths is not a sign of failure, but rather, growth. It shows that you understand life is not a straight path and that your interests, goals and dreams may shift. Instead of getting frustrated, accept that you’ve changed (even if it means starting over completely!) and go back to the drawing board to revise your goals. Talk things over with your parents, connect with alumni in your new area of passion, and seek out mentors who are doing what you’d like to do. 

7. Know that mistakes don't make you a failure

"When we're young, and the decision is wrong, we chalk it up to a learning experience. But as we grow older, graduate college, and venture out into the real world, we still have to make decisions, and when we make the wrong one, it feels like a mistake; a mark in the failure column of being an adult," says Felicia Fitzpatrick, a 2014 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. You’ll make mistakes upon entering the real world but it’s not the end of your world. You haven’t failed miserably if you say the wrong thing in an interview or forget to pick up eggs during your weekly grocery run. Look at your shortcomings as learning experiences and understand that through making mistakes in your job, your relationships, and your life, you will become a wiser person.

8. You probably won’t see your family as often

In college, you prepared for real life by juggling multiple courses, extracurricular activities, social events and family gatherings. Once you graduate, the juggling doesn’t stop. Different from your college activities, your juggling may now include working on a project at your job, staying involved in your hobbies, and keeping in touch with your family. With all of that going on, you may find it hard to attend every family gathering, especially if you’ve moved to a new city; something your mother didn’t prepare you for! Cristina moved to Washington D.C. after college and says that she had to learn not to feel bad about missing some of her loved one’s graduations and birthday parties. "It was harder to go to everything when responsibilities like going to work and paying the bills required staying home and strategically thinking about what I was spending my next paycheck on," she explains. Not seeing family as much as you would like is simply one of the prices you must pay when you move across town, to another state, or even to another country. Make it a priority to set regular phone calls, Skype sessions, and holiday visits to keep the family bond strong, even when you are far away.

9. Use your downtime to pursue your passions

In college, it was easy to go straight from class to a study session and then to soccer practice or a drama club meeting. Your mom was always encouraging you to be productive, but the last thing you want to do after a long week of work is socialize or work on passion projects. Dreams of owning your own business or writing for your favorite magazine can often to get pushed aside due to exhaustion, or in favor of gaining an income, but that doesn't have to happen. You need to be strategic with your time. Instead of binging on Netflix or Facebook stalking every weekend, use those moments to work towards your dreams. J. A. Smith, a 1998 graduate of Southern University, works as an English teacher but uses her spare time to write and direct her own plays and films. Although Smith’s teaching keeps her busy, she uses her lunch break to work on her creative writing. “At the end of the day, it’s not about balance. It’s about passion. Your passion needs to become as important as your next breath,” she says.

10. It’s time to take ownership of your life

When you graduate college, it is helpful to have a plan, but understand that there will be moments where you will not know what to do. “It's okay to feel sort of lost and scared but at the same time excited for what's to come,” says Alicia. Yes, you may feel confused at times, but don’t let that feeling stress you out. Soak in the experience. If your mother didn't mention the importance of you making the most of this time in your life, then know this: you’re only a twentysomething college graduate once, so get every ounce of adventure, knowledge and experience you can from it. For once, Mom and Dad are not the authors of the path you take, the choices you make, or the mistakes you do. "Start taking ownership of your choices, mistakes and ambition. If you need role models, go and find them. Or better yet, become them," says Myeashea Alexander, 2010 graduate of Eugene Lang College, The New School.

Remember that life after college is a new adventure and that you’re not alone. Many graduates are making the transition. into adulthood, just like you are. Although your mother didn’t tell you everything, she equipped you with the tools needed to conquer this chapter in life. So update that manual for the real world—and get out there!

Looks like we’re heading back to East High! Yesterday, Disney Channel announced its plans for High School Musical 4. And they're certainly not wasting any time getting production underway. The reboot announcement was coupled with news of a casting search, which will kick off this spring.

While we were treated to a High School Musical reunion with the original cast (sans Zac Efron) in January, this follow-up film will feature an entirely new team of Wildcats. We don’t know the exact release date just yet, but we have a feeling the wait will be totally worth it.

Maybe this time around Zac Efron a.k.a Troy Bolton—and, fingers crossed, the rest of our favorite High School Musical characters—will make an appearance. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat, right?

At this year's Academy Awards, Lady Gaga performed a touching rendition of her Oscar-nominated song, “Til It Happens to You.” Her performance struck a chord with everyone in the audience, as well as people watching from home. 

But it seems members of Lady Gaga's own family were surprised to find out that the singer is a survivor of rape. Although she publicly revealed this fact back in 2014, some of Gaga's relatives—including her grandmother and her aunt—were unaware of her personal ordeal.

In a sweet post on Instagram, she shared a photo of her grandmother and aunt—the caption details their reactions the day after her performance. While Gaga was long afraid to come to terms with this truth in front of her family, their response is beyond touching.

Simon Newman, the president of Mount St. Mary’s University in Maryland, resigned on Monday amid controversy after he compared failing freshman to bunnies in need of drowning and subsequently fired professors who criticized him.

Mount St. Mary is located outside of Baltimore, Md., and is the second-oldest Catholic university is the country. Newman was only in his first year of presidency.

His resignation comes as a surprise considering that Newman had vowed not to step down, according to The New York Times.

“It was a difficult decision but I believe it is the right course of action for the Mount at this time,” he said in a statement.

The controversy began when student newspaper The Mountain Echo ran a story detailing his controversial plans to improve freshman retention rates. According to the paper, Mr. Newman said, “This is hard for you because you think of the students as cuddly bunnies, but you can’t. You just have to drown the bunnies. Put a Glock to their heads.”

Newman apologized for his statements, but weeks after the story ran, Ed Egan, the faculty advisor for the paper, was inexplicably fired. So was an associate professor of philosophy who had been critical of Newman. Both the professors were later reinstated, but Newman’s reputation has already been tarnished. The firings were seen as revenge for speaking out against Newman, which didn't go over well in a university setting where academic freedem and freedom of speech are prized above all else—The faculty voted in a stunning 87 to 3 vote to demand that Newman step down as president.

While Newman’s tactics may have been unorthodox, he still had the backing of the board even when the faculty was against him. He had quite a bit of student support, too—The Washington Post reports that some students held a rally for Newman and that those who responded to a survey showed support of him as well.

 “The board is grateful to President Newman for his many accomplishments over the past year, including strengthening the university’s finances, developing a comprehensive strategic plan for our future and bringing many new ideas to campus that have benefited the entire Mount community,” a board spokesman said in a statement, according to the Times.

For now, the school is looking to pick up the pieces and move on from this controversy.

The work day can be long and hard, and it's very easy to let your focus shift to the conversation that you had with your roommate last night or how much you want that pizza after work. While it is definitely a challenge to maintain focus, it's not impossible. Not only does focus increase your productivity, but it also makes you a very valuable employee. Although you might think that giving yourself a social media break is the best way to regain focus, we have compiled sure ways to get your focus back on track during the workday.

1. Don't let coworkers distract you

People in the office like to gossip and goof off, but just because they're doing it doesn't mean you should too. When trying to get work done, the best thing you can do to keep yourself focused is to tune out all of the outside noise and chatter. Once you get roped into a conversation about last night’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy, your productivity at work is as good as gone. While it might be difficult to keep yourself from sharing your opinion on Shonda’s latest emotionally victimizing episode, try to wait until after work to fill your coworkers in.

If a coworker approaches you, casually mention whatever task you are currently working on and make it clear that you are very focused on getting it done. You can also tease them about their workload which might just be the hint they need to increase their own productivity. While you might be afraid of hurting someone's feelings, you shouldn't feel bad about choosing your work over a coworker.

“I tend to just ignore the conversations that my coworkers have and keep doing my work, no matter how tempting it is to join in,” says Kerry Moore, University of South Carolina Student Services graphic designer, class of 2018.

2. Create a to-do list

Lists help to keep priorities in order and remember deadlines. When you glance at this list you will know when you can take it easy and when you have to get to work because you have three or four projects lined up. To-do lists create a sense of urgency that will keep your focus in check. Putting your assignments on sticky notes and placing them around your computer or on your desk is a great way to visualize what you have to do for the day.

“If you set specific goals that you want to accomplish each day, it will be clear what your priorities are and you will be able to go after your goals with laser focus,” says Deidre Elkerson, an MBA student mentor at Western Governor’s University.

Related: 11 Things You Should Never Talk About With Your Coworkers

3. Break up your work

For some collegiettes, it can be very overwhelming to walk in to work and visualize everything that you need to get done that day. Everyone's approach to focusing at work can differ. If lengthy to-do-lists stress you out, try breaking up your work into more manageable bits.

It is easy to shut down and get frustrated at the thought of working through assignment after assignment with no end in sight. The best thing to do is crush things into manageable pieces and proceed that way. Also, it is definitely more satisfying to cross multiple items off of your to-do list. Ending the day with seemingly only one thing accomplished can be very frustrating.

“I always find my work more manageable when I complete it in smaller chunks,” says Kaia Thompson, Ball State University Career Center assistant, class of 2018. “It also feels more satisfying when I look back at the day and see that I completed a bunch of tasks instead of one task, no matter how large it is.”

4. Have a routine

It might seem monotonous to have a schedule, but the built-in structure is a key component of staying focused. Having a routine, such as when you respond to your emails or even just when you take a lunch break, allows you to minimize distractions due to random choices. The time you would have spent contemplating your lunch hour, you could be honed in on your work.

According to Dr. Mahnaz Hashmi, a consultant psychiatrist and co-founder of expert healthcare platform Medstars, "When the distractions come from outside factors, you need to think about the boundaries you’ve set yourself. Instead of jumping at every opportunity to gather around the water cooler, plan your day in advance and schedule your time out."

5. Take on your hardest task first

We have all heard that first is the worst, second is the best, and third involves someone in a polka dot dress. While it may be a silly little tune that we used to sing on the playground, there is definitely some truth to the first task being the worst task. If you take on your most dreaded task first, you can get it out of the way and you won't linger and procrastinate on other tasks to avoid it. Once you've handled the first and worst, everything that follows will seem more manageable.

"Do things you’re not looking forward to the most first. It makes sense, really. That way, you won’t spend your day wasting precious energy stewing about them," says Lee Grant, a clinical director at Efficacy Limited.

6. Focus on one thing at a time

It is easy to try to take on numerous tasks in hopes of finishing earlier or moving on to more exciting things. However, it is impossible to completely devote yourself to multiple tasks. It is much better to hone in on one task and complete it to the best of your ability than to rush through a handful of tasks. Finish one assignment and then reward yourself with a break, a snack or a quick Buzzfeed quiz before returning to the other assignments on your list. 

According to Sarah McKay, the founder of Your Brain Health, "If you attempt to do multiple tasks, your brain will simply switch focus back and forwards between the two tasks, essentially diluting your attention, ability to compute and extending the amount of time it'll take you to reach your goal. Not only will you be less efficient, your stress levels will increase and you'll be at risk of cognitive fatigue or burn-out. Multi-tasking is a myth. Choose one task to focus at a time and follow it through until completion."

7. Take a break

While you might be saying “duh,” it isn’t unusual for people to avoid breaks because they think that once they get off track, it will be difficult to refocus. It may seem counterproductive to say that the best way to stay focused is to take a break, but it actually is very helpful to take a minute or two for yourself during the workday. As long as you don’t use your break to social media stalk your crush, your productivity shouldn’t be interrupted.

“I like to go to the bathroom, get a snack or a drink, or just get up from my computer for a minute or two,” says Moore. “When I finish my break I know that it's time to get focused and get back to work.”

Whether these tips save you from an endless conversation with a coworker or just a very stressful day, hopefully you will be able to start and end your day with laser sharp focus. An increased focus at work will help you to be a more efficient, productive and overall invaluable employee. At the very least, you will have a very happy boss on your hands and that, in itself, is something to be proud of. 

It’s a mindless game that many college students play: swiping left or right on a picture of a stranger. The concept may be simple, but the consequences are far from minimal. I’ve had my fair share of Tinder experiences, even referred to myself as “Tinderella,” and at one point I was convinced that Tinder was the only way to meet a guy since my major is almost completely women.

I downloaded the app after my ex-boyfriend and I broke up over the summer after our freshman year. “Why not try?” I asked myself. “It’s worth a shot.” I got addicted to the app and was swiping guys left and right as much as I possibly could. I was hungry for matches because I wanted attention. I wanted to feel loved again.

The first match I actually connected with, let’s call him “A,” was incredibly sweet and funny, and we ended up hitting it off almost right away. He was a few years older than me and was only in town for a baseball tournament, but we still talked for a couple weeks before he ghosted me one day. I was a little hurt, but I moved on within a few days and continued my near obsessive use of the dating app.

“B” was the next match I talked to. We met the day we moved back to our college town, and he seemed to be an amazing guy. He was tall, strong, and driven: an almost polar opposite to my ex. After a short walk around campus where we had very pleasant conversation, we went back to my dorm and he immediately wanted to have sex with me. I’m not a girl who sleeps with someone she just met, so I declined.

He wouldn’t have it. It took multiple attempts for me to get him off me and out my door. A month later, he asked me to hang out again, apologizing profusely for his previous behavior. I’m a believer in second chances, so I accepted the apology and met him at his place. We had an extremely deep conversation about life and future, and I thought everything was going to be okay. Then, he tried pulling me to his bedroom to have sex with me. He was playing me the whole time, so I left heartbroken and feeling used.

I talked to a guy we’ll call “C” between my two encounters with the previous match. He was an extremely handsome and kind Catholic guy, someone my parents would have definitely approved of. We talked for quite awhile, but he went to a school in a neighboring town and we never had time to see each other more than once. One day, he told me via text that despite being a sweet girl and his attraction to me, we would never work. I had spent so much time talking to him and telling him all about myself that I was absolutely torn after reading that text message.

Since I had been heartbroken three times from three separate matches, I deleted Tinder in the middle of September. I downloaded it again a couple weeks before Halloween because I was still tired of being single. In the two weeks between deleting the app and Halloween, I matched with and met three separate people. One was a self-absorbed artist, the next was a gym-obsessed guy who was only interested in a physical relationship and the third had no motivation to do anything with his life.

“D” was my latest and my last match of my life if I can help it. He lived about 45 minutes away and was a few years older than me, but that didn’t stop us from seeing each other. Every weekend someone would go to the other person’s place. We had so much in common, shared the same sense of humor and he constantly complimented me on my smile and my eyes. After we’d been talking for about five weeks, he asked me to be his girlfriend. I gladly accepted, happy to finally be wanted by someone again.

I was ready to praise Tinder, to tell people that there are good guys out there, to finally have someone to show off. One week later, he broke up with me because I was too young for him, he was uncomfortable with the distance and he hated being tied down. You can imagine how devastated I was, because I’d already told my best friends and was planning on telling my family within the next few days. I cried for hours on end that night, wondering where I went wrong and why guys always deserted me.

Looking back on it all, I realize that my heart has been has been broken too many times in just a few months. I’ve had too many kisses goodbye and not nearly enough kisses hello. Somehow in all this insanity, I lost parts of myself that I’m trying to gradually get back.

I am never downloading Tinder again. Why? I’m more than a match on a dating app. I’m more than a face that you swipe left or right. I’m more than just a collection of five photos and a short little bio. I sincerely hope everyone who has had his or her fair share of Tinder problems comes to realize this. Sure, I might be single for a while, but I’m young. There’s plenty of time to find a Prince Charming who doesn’t have a taste for Tinderellas.