So how's your day going? Good? Total normal? Well, not for long. YouTuber/genius Chloe Erb removed all the music from Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" video as her final project for her sound design class and the results are, well... terrifying, but also strangely entertaining. If you are into sounds like heavy breathing, creaking metal and slobber, this video is totally for you. If not, well, good luck sleeping tonight. 

Jennifer Lopez joined James Corden for the latest edition of Carpool Karaoke last night, and the segment is important for so many reasons. First of all, J. Lo is everything. But we digress.

In the video, the "Big Booty" singer finally confirms whether or not her assets are insured for $1 million. She teaches us how to say no to an unwanted marriage proposal—being proposed to five times makes her somewhat of an expert. She demands—and receives—an apology on behalf of ALL men for all the times they’ve messed up in a relationship. (And she rejects the apology!)

But more importantly, she proves that girls make their friends compose texts to cute guys for them and then suffer major anxiety attacks waiting for the reply. Of course, the anxiety attack is understandable when that cute guy is Leonardo DiCaprio, just one of the many superstars in Jennifer's contact list. And to every guy who’s ever not texted back, there is no way you are busier than Leonardo DiCaprio—and HE REPLIED.

Sadly, J. Lo turned Leo down, but we’re free. Tonight. Club-wise. 

Face it—as much as collegiettes love free time, it doesn't come around often. Looking for some quick projects that won't take up your much-needed downtime? We have some quick and easy DIYs that we know you'll love. 

1. Crystal Magnets

Your parents probably bring you magnets from all their vacation spots, but wouldn't you rather your fridge look elegant and cozy? Invest in fake crystals (you probably have a ton of them from your elementary school field trips to local museums) and some magnetic strips. This lovely accent doubles as the perfect way to display your pictures, too!

2. Lip Balm

Want to know what's in your lip balm before you wear it? Take matters into your own hands, and make your lip balm.

3. Homemade Makeup Remover Pads

We've all spent way too much money on makeup remover cloths. Take about three minutes out of your day and save a few bucks with this DIY.

4. Homemade Cleaning Materials

Cleaning just got so much cuter! Make your own cleaning supplies and give them a touch of adorable by storing them in mason jars.

5. Potpourri Bags

Jazz up your dorm room with these adorable bags of potpourri. Scatter them around your dwelling and find your favorite scent wherever you turn.

6. No-Sew Headband

Have an old shirt that you can't seem to part with? Turn it into a headband! 

7. Grapefruit Bath Bombs

Bath bombs are the perfect thing to come home to after a long day. You never know when you'll need one, so make them whenever necessary.

8. Mason Jar Tiki Torches

We're convinced that mason jars make everything better—these outdoor tiki torches included! 

9. Washi Tape Banner

This washi tape banner looks amazing in any space.

10. No-Sew Infinity Scarf

Love infinity scarves? You're not alone. Now, you can have one in any fabric you'd like.

11. Coffee Koozies

We all have that sock that's missing its match. Repurpose it into a coffee koozie. Your coffee will stay warm, and your bank account won't have to take the hit for it. 

12. Leather Belt

It seems too good to be true, but this fashionable belt can actually be made in five minutes. Get your glue guns ready!

13. Heating Packs

A heating pack is a beautiful thing. And there's nothing like a pair of cute owls to cure your aches and pains. 

14. Candlestick Cake Stands

These are so simple to make. Just grab some candlestick holders, add a circular piece of wood, and voilà—you have the perfect cake stand!

15. Arrow Art

Who knew you could create art like this out of deconstructed picture frames? What a great statement piece!

16. Fabric Refresher

When you're procrastinating on laundry or cleaning your dorm, your small space might start to smell a little wonky. This fabric refresher should provide relief.

17. Metallic Gold Striped Vase

Turn a dollar store vase into an elegant centerpiece with metallic washi tape.

18. Washi Tape Clock

If you're looking for a way to upgrade your drab clock, washi tape can be your savior. Wrap it around the clock, and you'll instantly have an adorable way to keep track of time.

19. Mason Jar Toothbrush Holder

When you share a space with multiple roommates, just putting your toothbrush in a jar isn't going to keep them separated. Grab some wire from a craft store to ensure your toothbrush stays put.

20. Statement Necklace

Ribbon and a string of jewels—that's all you need to make this fab accessory.

21. Marble Place Cards

These are ideal for that fancy party you've been dying to host. Fake marble can be found online for a relatively cheap price. Add the metallic letters, and your place cards are all set.

22. Record Bowls

Have some old records that don't play anymore? Use them to store your earrings or any other knick knacks you have lying around.

23. Bubble Bath

How elegant does this look? Making your own bubble bath can save you tons of money. It also makes for a wonderful last-minute gift.

DIY projects don't have to take up your precious free time. All you need is five minutes, and any of these adorable projects can be yours!

Getting along with your coworkers is great—they can be wonderful new friends in the real world or, at the very least, they can make your workday a little more pleasant. But being close with your officemates doesn’t necessarily make it okay to talk about your crazy weekend at the water cooler. Here are five conversation topics you should avoid at work.

1. Salary

Talking about how much you make with your coworkers is a huge office don’t. Money is a touchy subject even among friends who don’t work together, and bringing it up with others in your position can get awkward quickly.

“When you are at work chatting with your coworkers, never discuss your salary,” says Samantha Moyer, an admissions counselor at Marymount Manhattan College. “You don't know if you are being compensated differently, and it can lead to resentment either on their part or yours.”

In fact, don’t bring up money with your coworkers at all. Discussing your own financial status can only lead to discomfort if others are not in the same boat. You should even avoid talking about how much something as simple as your new shoes cost—what might seem like a great deal to you might not seem so cheap to a coworker having money troubles. If asked by your work buddies about your salary, personal finances or expenses, it’s best to avoid answering, whether by pretending you don’t remember what you paid for your cute bag or simply saying you would prefer not to discuss your paycheck.

2. Crazy party stories

It’s a lot harder for your coworkers to take you seriously if they know you spent Saturday night puking in the bar bathroom. Even if you work with people your own age, you run the risk of being overheard by your boss or another higher-up when talking about wild weekends at work, which reflects poorly on you.

“You are building a brand for yourself in your career, and you want to keep that brand as clean and pure as possible,” says Marta Steele, partner at PeopleResults, a change and human resources consulting firm.

Similarly, make sure you keep it together when going out for happy hour with your cube-mates or attending office parties by limiting how much you drink, lest you earn yourself a reputation as a sloppy party girl. If your coworkers become friends you socialize with outside of work—or even share an apartment with—make sure you establish ground rules for keeping your personal and professional lives separate. Keep any discussion of booze-fueled escapades out of the office, and mind what you post on social media. Remember that at work, you are coworkers first and friends second. You’ve been hired to perform the tasks required of your job, not Snapchat each other from your separate cubicles.

3. Hurtful office gossip

Under no circumstances should you steal printer paper to compile an office Burn Book.

“Avoid gossiping around the office,” advises Leandra Falotico, a junior accountant at Winthrop-University Hospital. “While you might think that everyone feels the same way about a particular coworker, word travels fast, and you don't want to be associated with negative feelings.”

Speaking critically of the people you work with can keep you from being seen as a team player and cause others to wonder if you say similar things about them behind their backs. This, in turn, creates a hostile work environment that can make doing your job much more difficult, particularly if you need to collaborate with your coworkers in order to accomplish the tasks you’re given. If you simply must vent about the annoying girl in the cube next to yours, save it for your non-work friends and family so that it doesn’t get back to anyone who might have his or her feelings hurt.

In the event that you do get pulled in to a gossipy conversation, don’t contribute to it.

“If you find yourself in the middle of others sharing information that you don’t want to, then be the person quietly listening,” Steele says. “Change the topic or wait for the topic to change, and then jump in.”

4. Religion and politics

Chances are neither subject is related to your line of work, and discussing divisive political issues or matters of faith can lead to resentment between people on different sides.

“There's a stat that to be a fully engaged employee, you need to have a best friend at work. How can you make friends without getting personal? You can't,” says Emily Miethner, president and founder of FindSpark, a career development community for young creatives. “When making friends at work, stick to fun topics like your hobbies, music, food, sports, your neighborhood, movies and other broad topics you can use to connect with people. As always, religion, sex and politics are good topics to avoid, and are better for making enemies than friends.”

If any of these subjects do come up, don’t let it become an in-depth discussion of your personal beliefs.

“It’s okay for coworkers to know your religious and political preferences, but it’s not okay to make any discussions personal,” says expert interview coach Barry Drexler. “Never insult or criticize a colleague for any reason, particularly related to their religious or political views.”

5. Plans to quit your job

Even if you think you can trust your coworkers to keep your plans to give two weeks notice private, it’s best not to broach the subject with them at all until it’s a done deal. You may have misjudged their willingness or ability to keep your secrets, or they could simply slip up in front of your boss. You don’t want word getting out that you’re trying to leave until you’re ready to make that announcement yourself. If your boss knows you’re considering moving on, he or she might make that decision for you and fire you before you’re ready to quit.

“Your boss should be the first to know, but if she or he finds out from your coworkers, then it’s time to immediately speak to him or her and apologize that the information leaked,” Drexler says.

Keep in mind that even if your boss accepts your apology and keeps you on board, this makes for tense office interactions until you do leave on your own terms. If you’re excited about a new job prospect or are thinking about going to grad school, call up your parents or college friends rather than discussing those plans with your cube-mates.

Workplace friendships can be rewarding, but remember that this is your job, not your college dorm. Maintain a high level of professionalism whenever interacting with anyone from your office, and you’ll make your transition into the working world that much smoother.

Oh, what we wouldn’t give to have a supermodel ex-stepsister to enjoyVogue slumber parties with! This alternate reality is ~kind of~ true for one of Hollywood’s most glamorous duos—Kengi. 

Victoria’s Secret angel, Gigi Hadid, recently explained to Vanity Fair’s, Derek Blasberg, how she and supermodel gal pal, Kendall Jenner, are secretly related. And it’s hella confusing!

It goes a little something like this. David Foster, ex-husband to Yolanda Foster (Gigi’s mom), was previously married to Linda Thompson, ex-wife to Caitlyn Jenner. You can watch Gigi’s much more detailed, but slightly more confusing, explanation here if you don't believe us. 

Okay, so maybe they’re not technically related. They're not blood relatives, and they've never actually been in the same family at the same time. Still, the pair gives us MAJOR BFF envy. 

If you need us, we’ll be out there looking for the Kendall to our Gigi. #Kengiforever

Dawn Brown, the women's basketball coach at Prairie View A&M, was fired this week for suspending two female players who were dating, according to HoustonPress. Brown suspended the players based on a 'no dating' rule she put in place after an assistant coach and a player were caught having a relationship. The rule applied any players, coaches or assistant coaches having relationships with each other, but many are claiming the rule was unfair when applied to players.

The players, who are remaining anonymous, filed a Title IX complaint against the coach for discriminating against them based on sexual orientation. Prairie View A&M decided the athletes were right after their own investigation—and that the coach's suspension was a violation of Texas A&M's policies as well. Though Title IX does not explicitly protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, only against discrimination on the basis of sex and gender, judges have begun to see links between the two, according to HoustonPress.

Prairie View A&M is an historically black college in Texas, which is part of the Texas A&M system. They compete at the NCAA Division I level, making this ruling especially progressive in the fight for LGBT rights.

Meanwhile, coach Brown claims that her suspension of the players was okayed by the school’s Title IX specialist, leaving her with a feeling of betrayal. She plans to appeal, according to the Houston Chronicle.

This ruling definitely sends the right message: LBGT players and students should be protected from discrimination. 

Christmas has come early! Beyoncé’s new album Formation is gloriously gracing our lives a bit sooner than expected, and we are low-key peeing our pants with excitement. A release confirmation from Columbia Records has been circulating, confirming that the album will be released in just a few days. Here's the real kicker—the release date is listed as April 1. So, is it safe to assume that this might be a cruel and unusual April Fools’ joke?

We’ve pretty much all been salivating at the mouth waiting for the release of Beyoncé’s next album (let’s be real we salivate every time she speaks or even takes a breath) ever since her crazy amazing song “Formation” came out. Any confirmation that Bey will be dropping her new songs on us is enough to incite some excitement, but what makes this release from Columbia Records even more crucial is the tracklist itself, which features Frank Ocean, Jay Z, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Adele. We literally went into cardiac arrest just looking at those names.

So, yeah we want to freak out and jump around for joy, but with that April 1 release date, it’s safe to say that we are pretty suspicious of this situation. What do you guys think? Can we trust this rumor, or should we start preparing to cry our eyes out and ultimately wither and perish? 

The FDA has made changes to the label for mifepristone, a pill used to induce an abortion, giving women more of a choice when it comes to making pregnancy decisions.

Specifically, the FDA has approved new label changes which allow women to use the pill up 70 days into the pregnancy, according to The New York Times. This change from the previous guidelines extends the time period women can take the pill by three weeks.

There have also been changes in regards to the dosage of medication. Research now shows that a smaller dosage is just as effective as the larger dose that the FDA had been recommending for years. The new prescribed dosage is 200 milligrams as opposed from 600 mg, according to The Washington Post. One of the benefits of the smaller dosage is less of a possibility of negative side effects.

These old requirements caused the number of women having medically induced abortions to fall by 75 percent in the year 2012, according to research at the University of California-San Francisco, reported in The Guardian. The costliness of the pill excluded many poorer women and women of color from having the same options as wealthier women.

Several states have laws mandating that the original FDA label be followed, despite new research surfacing that nullified the label. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists publicly announced their support of the FDA change. "Medication abortion has been subject to legislative attacks in various states across the country, including mandated regimens that do not reflect the current scientific evidence. We hope that these states take the FDA label into account,” they said in a statement to The New York Times.

This is a win for pro-choice advocates, who have been fighting for the label to be changed since the 1990s.

Jessica Grubb was a politically active, intelligent and artistic girl, similar to so many other young women. However, she was also a struggling heroin addict for the better part of seven years, which her family shared with President Obama last October in West Virginia. Grubb died at just 30 years old earlier this month after receiving pain medications for a hip surgery she underwent.

In October, President Obama visited Charleston, West Virginia to address the opioid drug epidemic there. The Huffington Post reported that former state senator David Grubb, Jessica Grubb, shared their daughter’s story of addiction with the president (with her permission, of course). Sources close to the president later said that whenever he discussed the drug epidemic with lawmakers and advisors, he always drifted back to the story of Jessica Grubb. 

One governor told the Huffington Post, “[the President] got very emotional,” during a town hall moment with Grubb. “You’re in the deep-red [conservative] environment, but people are just opening their hearts on this. [The president] sort of was taken aback at how candid people were talking about this.” 

Although Grubb had overdosed on heroin four times, she had been sober since August following a long-term rehab stint. However, she got an infection in her hip muscle going into her bone from running. This required surgery and an IV going into her arms. Mr. Grubb told the Huffington Post, “She’d been sober for six months, she was loving Ann Arbor, she had a tremendous support community there, and she said, ‘[Getting high is] the furthest thing from my mind. I’m not even thinking about that’…So we felt so good about everything” going into her surgery. 

Grubb was allegedly prescribed pain medications after the surgery without her parents’ knowledge—to be exact, fifty pills of oxycodone, a powerful opiate with heroin-like effects. “Jessica had that addict’s brain,” her father said. “I think it was just too much temptation for her to resist.” The doctor at the hospital reportedly did not know of or acknowledge Grubb’s opiate addiction history.

She overdosed on the oxycodone, passing away earlier this month. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported that Mr. Grubb said, “She was doing so, so well…she was just a great personality and a person we’re really glad we got to know.”

According to the Daily Mail, tributes to Jessica poured in from people around the country who had heard her story and were pulling for her, including President Obama. “I am heartbroken by your daughter’s passing,” Obama wrote. “Through this extraordinarily difficult time, please know Michelle and I will continue holding you in our thoughts.”

The story of Jessica Grubb is so scary because it underlines the fact that anyone can become an addict. She came from a loving and supportive family, went to school, worked and ran nearly every day. Yet the opiate epidemic in West Virginia managed to creep into her life and end it. This is a tale that will hopefully continue to touch the President and those around our nation in order to bring about effective rehab and recovery for addicts everywhere. 

The Department of Justice has officially dropped its case against Apple to unlock the San Bernardino iPhone after they government found a way to hack into the phone without the tech company’s help.

According to BuzzFeed News, a law enforcement official said that the FBI found a method to unlock the iPhone used by San Bernardino shooter, Syed Rizwan Farook. This meant that the government no longer needs Apple’s help to break into the phone. Instead, with the help of a third party, the FBI figured out how to unlock an iPhone 5C running iOS 9. Since the case has been dropped, we won't get a legal answer to whether cyber security or national security is more important for now.

The law enforcement official added that this information is still “premature to say anything about our abilities to access other phones.” The third party that helped unlocking the phone remains unknown, but many have speculated that the help may have come from outside the U.S. 

Apple said in a statement that the “case should never have been brought” to court due to a dangerous precedent it could set in the tech community, according to a statement reprinted by The Verge. The Washington Post reported that if the order to compel Apple to unlocking the iPhone in the case stood, then the company would have had to create software to disable phone security—a backdoor to unlocking the phone that could be discovered by hackers and similar cyber threats. 

Aaron Levie, CEO of the cloud company Box, said he didn’t see a winner despite the FBI’s withdrawal of the case, according to The Washington Post. “This entire experience has brought to the fore a much bigger problem that remains unresolved.”

“The lawsuit may be over, but the Constitutional and privacy questions it raised are not," Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) said, according to USA Today.

This case put civil rights and privacy at odds with national security, leading to a tricky and ongoing issue. With several more cases in courts attempting to compel Apple into unlocking 12 more devices, the legal battle is far from over between the tech giant and the government. 

Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested on Tuesday for simple battery. The charges were pressed by Michelle Fields, a former reporter for conservative site Breitbart News, who claims Lewandowski shoved her down while she was attempting to question Trump during a Florida campaign rally on March 9.

Fields pressed charges two days after the incident occurred. She resigned from her job soon after, due to the company’s lack of support for her—The site's editor told reporters repeatedly not to publicly defend Fields. Lewandowski immediately took to Twitter after the charges were pressed to proclaim his innocence.

The Trump campaign issued a statement denying the accusation.

“Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge. He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court,” the statement read.

Trump himself is supporting the campaign manager, even going so far as to say the bruises Fields got from the incident were from something else, according to Jezebel. "How do you know those bruises weren't there before?" he said. We know, however, that Trump has a long history of lying brazenly about just about anything, so we can take his questions with a grain of salt.

For now we’ll just have to wait for that day in court to see how the story unfolds. 

A research out of Russia’s Tomsk State University is claiming that unicorns really did exist, according to Refinery29. Well, if you consider a large, rhino-like animal with one horn a 'unicorn.'

Still, the “Siberian Unicorn” as it’s being called, was a pretty cool animal, even if it didn’t possess any magical powers. A fossilized skull of one of the animals was discovered in Kazakhstan's Pavlodar region, which is revealing some interesting facts about the species.

It was likely about six feet tall, weighed 9,000 pounds, and roamed the Earth 29,000 years ago. It looked like a rhino (being part of the giant rhinoceros family) and was about the size of a woolly mammoth, but hey, a unicorn’s a unicorn. What’s so cool about this finding is that until now, scientists believed that this type of giant rhino had gone extinct 350,000 years ago.

These Siberican Unicorns survived for an extra 320,000 years—so maybe it’s too soon to rule that magical creature theory out.

For now, let’s just enjoy the fact that next time someone tells you unicorns aren’t real, you’ll have an awesome comeback. 

Last week, an Uber driver caught University of Michigan student Jake Croman verbally harassing him on tape.

Croman, who is a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, yelled homophobic, demeaning and profane remarks at the driver, Artur Zawada.

"You're an Uber driver. Go fucking drive, you little fuck," he said at one point in the video.

The rant has now been viewed over 650,000 times on YouTube. According to the Huffington Post,  Zawada claimed that Croman had harassed him three times before. Zawada tried to get him banned from using Uber, but unfortunately, the app makes it easy to use friends' accounts.

The video shows that Croman was not provoked before he made the homophobic and insensitive comments, but he says otherwise. In a statement released on Buzzfeed and Michigan Live, he apologized, but not before saying, "What you don’t see in the video is that the driver had made a number of offensive anti-Semitic remarks that provoked my response."

Uber to the rescue. A spokesperson of the company recently commented, "Any type of aggression or harassment is simply unacceptable and violates Uber’s code of conduct for riders and drivers. We are looking into all the details as we investigate this incident and are in touch with everyone involved.”

Tau Kappa Epsilon has been looking into the situation and said that Croman's actions may lead to expulsion from the fraternity. Additionally, local Ann Arbor police are aware of the situation and are investigating it.

As a final comment, Zawada told The Tab,"“I have lived in this country for 30 years. To see someone have complete disregard for another human being — to be abused just because they overloaded the car or they are mean or rude, I have to put a stop for it. I was shocked. I was just in disbelief.”

Just when we thought people were becoming more tolerant of those different than them.

Can we just take a moment to reminisce about the beginning of the semester? Everyone was returning to campus full of excitement and hope. Now? Not so much. You haven’t even had time to notice that the weather is starting to change because you’ve been holed up in the library. Yes, the semester is officially coming to an end. With this conclusion comes a plethora of problems. Don’t worry, though—we’re here to provide solutions. While we can’t guarantee your life will be as easy as it was during syllabus week, if you’re dealing with any of the following, we’ve got you covered.

1. Running out of money

Are those cute budgeting printouts that you found on Pinterest still sitting on your desk, unused? Don’t feel bad—it’s easy to plan on carefully handling your money throughout the semester, but unless you actually get in the habit of doing so, you’ll end up spending until your bank account says zero. “There is no universe in which budgeting is fun,” says Julie Zeilinger, author of College 101: A Girl’s Guide to Freshman Year. “But it’s truly necessary.”

Zeilinger recommends a couple of different approaches, like taking advantage of budgeting apps such as Mint. With Mint, you can connect your debit and credit cards, checking and savings accounts and even monitor your student loans and interest. The point is to track your spending, and Mint makes it super easy with a variety of graphs and lists. Mint isn’t the only app of its kind, though. There are plenty of other money saving apps worth checking out! “It’s worth noting, [they’re only helpful] when you actually use and stay on top of them,” Zeilinger says.

The second method that Zeilinger suggests is calculating how much money you can comfortably spend in a week, taking out that amount in cash at the beginning of each week and trying to avoid the use of a debit or credit card. Only try this if you have a safe and secure place to keep the cash!

Related: 15 Hard Decisions You Make Every Day in College

2. Studying for finals

No matter how overstated it is, the fact remains that finals are the worst. If you find yourself frustrated because you don’t know how to study, it’s important to understand that you’re not the only one. “Most people seem to take for granted that students inherently know how to study in a way best suited to their particular learning style,” Zeilinger says. “The truth is, knowing how to study is an individualized skill that’s hardly self-evident and should be approached as such.”

That being said, each time you study, try out a different method and a new location. Attempt to study the following ways to see which works the best: alone, with a friend or with a group. The main thing to figure out is how and where you’re most productive. Experiment with study groups, use flashcards on your own, visit a coffee shop—anything that you think might be beneficial when preparing for finals. “There’s no perfectly effective way to approach studying, and holding yourself to some universal standard you think is ‘right’ could very well be the least effective for you,” Zeilinger says.

While everyone may have different study habits, Zeilinger says that there’s one thing that shouldn’t be negotiable: when you start studying. “Cramming always seems like a good idea but is never effective,” she says. “Start early and try to break up studying into manageable chunks of time so that it never feels overwhelming and you have time to reach out to professors or peers with questions.” It’s time to ditch those last-minute all-nighters!

3. Staying on track

Motivation? We’re not sure if that’s even a real thing at this point in the school year (especially when it comes to attending morning classes). However much it sucks, we still have to finish the semester strong. There’s no point in doing damage to your GPA when you’ve worked so hard to maintain it.

One way to motivate yourself actually has to do with treating yourself. Caitlin, a junior at the University of New Haven, created a genius way to ensure she gets her work done. “I try to make myself daily lists of things I need to accomplish,” she says. “Surprisingly, this motivates me a lot more since I see what needs to get done, rather than just thinking about it. If I accomplish everything on my list, I treat myself to a relaxing night of binge-watching Law and Order: SVU!” #TreatYourself

Abigail, a junior at the University of West Florida, finds planners and apps to be useful for staying on track with school. “I’ve been a big fan of Google Calendar and the app Sunrise,” she says. “It reminds me when I have to do things automatically on my phone, which means I can devote more brainpower to my exams!” Wunderlist, JotNot and other organization apps are also extremely helpful!

Related: How You Feel on Exam Day, As Told by ‘Parks and Recreation’ 

4. Waiting to hear back from internships

You crafted the perfect resume and mastered every cover letter, collected a worthy amount of recommendations and maybe even nailed a couple of interviews. So why haven’t you heard back from any companies? The waiting game can be super stressful, especially when you want to start planning your summer right away. Obsessively checking your email every day isn’t helping, either.

Before you consider following up, check if the position has a rolling deadline. If that’s the case, the company has tons of applications to sort through, so give them time! Also, if you applied before the deadline, wait until after the deadline has passed to reach out to the company.

If neither of these applies to your situation, you should definitely follow up with whomever you submitted the application to or the company’s HR team. “You might feel annoying, but following up on a position shows that you’re determined,” says Jessica, a junior at Ohio State University. “I usually wait at least two weeks before emailing or calling, but after that, I check in at least once a week.” Just remember to be polite, and reiterate your interest for the position!

5. Asking for extra credit

The key word with this is “asking,” as opposed to “receiving.” As the semester’s end draws closer, more and more students are beginning to show up to their professor’s office asking for extra credit. To say it’s not guaranteed is an understatement!

If you do want to take a risk for a little grade boost, though, you should try. Hannah, a teaching assistant at the University of Kansas, recommends first reaching out to your professor over email to schedule an in-person meeting. “Doing this is much better than just showing up to their office hours—especially when you haven’t been once all semester,” Hannah says.

You should also come prepared. “Don’t just say, ‘Can I have some extra credit?’ Think of a couple things that are similar to the assignments you’ve been doing in class and suggest those,” Hannah says. Be ready to have a conversation, not just a quick exchange.

6. Self-care

Trying to pack up your dorm room or find a sublease for your apartment on top of the pressure of finals may lead to neglect, both of your physical and mental health. “‘Self-care’ has become something of a buzzword recently, but I’ve found that consciously taking the time to do something relaxing and even mindless is key to being at your best and sharpest when it’s most crucial,” Zeilinger says. 

With that in mind, it’s not only acceptable, but actually recommended that you spoil yourself with a relaxing Netflix night! If you can’t do that without feeling like you’re wasting time, do some yoga or visit the campus gym. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and better your overall health.

If you don’t take care of yourself during these last few weeks of school, you’ll only be left much worse off by the time summer hits. “Don’t wait until you’re completely burnt out; make sure to incorporate relaxing, self care practices into your routine,” Zeilinger says. Find what you like, and make the time for it.

As much as we wish we could just fast forward to break, that’s not going to happen. In the meantime, you might as well finish the semester to the best of your ability. Persevere through the next few weeks, and remember: the harder you work now, the more you get to celebrate later!

Can you ever really know that you are ready to lose your virginity? We asked 20 college women how they knew they were ready — or if they even knew.

“I don't think I ever really knew. I was so young when it happened, 15, that I just did it to do it. Looking back on it I wish I had waited for someone I truly loved.”

-Marissa, Florida State University Class of 2018

“Honestly, I probably wasn't. I was younger than I thought I would be, but I thought I was in love and that it was a good idea. It was awful and totally embarrassing, but I don't regret it at all. It happened, and I felt comfortable with the person I was with. That's how you know you're ready, you feel comfortable waking up next to the person the next morning, with smudged makeup and pajamas.”

-Margaret, Wilfrid Laurier University Class of 2018

“I was intimate with a couple guys but never had full on sex. On some of those occasions I felt really connected with them and emotionally I felt like it was sex. So then I realized that sex is just an act and I should just do what I want to do. The first time I actually had sex, in my mind is wasn't the time I lost my ‘virginity’.”

­-Sarah, University of Michigan Class of 2016

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

“It was something I thought about a lot and stressed over but then I was hooking up with a guy I didn't particularly care about, let alone love, and I realized it wasn't a huge deal to me. I realized society wanted me to make it a huge special deal with someone I love and once I thought about it I didn't feel that way, it wasn't a huge deal to me and so I just did it.”

-Dorothy, Marist College Class of 2018

“I don't really know when I was ready. I was comfortable with the idea. At first I didn't really feel comfortable even talking about it and then I met the right person. He was my best friend and then became my boyfriend. If you don't know if you are ready, then you aren't ready. If you feel comfortable about it and it's not something that is a huge thing to you, then you are ready. You just know.”

-Jacqueline, Pace University Class of 2017

“This is so weird, but I knew I was ready when I talked to my mom about it. She always said ‘If you are grown enough to have sex, you should be grown enough to talk about it.’ Once I was with my boyfriend for some time, I told my mom I was ready to have sex with him and needed to be put on birth control. She understandably freaked out, but gathered her composure and understood I was being mature in talking to her about it. We went to my physician the next day and by the next month I was no longer a virgin. I want my children to be honest in talking to me about things like sex and drugs because I'd rather know.”

-Jazmyne, Boston University Class of 2018

“I had only been with my current boyfriend for a couple weeks before I knew I was ready to have sex with him. He'd slept with a couple of girls before me, but don't think for a moment that he pressured me into it. I'd dated more experienced guys before and still hadn't felt ready. But from the very first date, it just felt right with this boy. I was comfortable with him, trusted him, and was very attracted to him. After a while, it started to seem silly that somehow having sex was a ‘big step,’ whereas everything else we were already doing had been fair game from the get-go. I simply didn't see why traditional, penetrative sex was treated so differently from manual and oral sex. That distinction felt very arbitrary, and still does. Some of the sexiest and most intimate nights I have spent with him did not include traditional ‘sex,’ but that doesn't mean they were any less sexual. I simply don't see what's so different about ‘sex,’ as apposed to all of the other wonderful sexual things we can do. That's why losing my virginity wasn't a big deal to me — ‘sex’ is great, yes, but it's really not that different from everything else we can do in bed.”

-Amanda, Ohio State Class of 2018

“For a long time I thought of losing your virginity as a big deal. There was the belief that you should save it for someone you truly loved, or for marriage. As I got more into feminism and sexual liberation, I read pieces that talked about how virginity is a social construction, and that women should be free to do whatever they want sexually without criticism. I liked that a lot more than the idea that my virginity was like a prize. It wasn't that I felt I was ready, but rather that I dismissed the perception that you need to be ready or that it's a big deal.”

-Caroline, Fairfield University Class of 2018

“I didn't. I was tired of not knowing and I realized that I never would. It just had to happen. So my boyfriend and I talked about it and he agreed that we would and we planned. And it was beautiful. And I realized afterwards that it was because of him that I was ready.”

-Maddie, High Point University Class of 2019

RELATED: Sex: What to Expect From Your First Time

“I always knew that I wanted to wait until after I was 18. After that, it wasn't planned, at all, and I think that's how I knew. I was with someone I then trusted and cared for deeply and he cared about me too. We didn't have it planned out, it just happened and we were adults about it with using protection and making sure it was consensual. Plus I never saw my virginity as this huge holy thing rather than just another step into adulthood, so why not do it with someone I trusted and cared for? Trust and consent are the most important factors and I had that that night.”

-Jessica, Virginia Commonwealth University Class of 2018

“I knew I was ready to lose my virginity when I fell so in love with my boyfriend at the time that I wanted to feel as close as possible to him. I finally relaxed, felt at ease and embraced the crazy, insane love that I had for him. My mind felt ready and I just let the endorphins take over from there.”

-Veronica, Marist College Class of 2016

“Virginity is so hetero-normative. Truth be told, as someone who has only ever slept with other women, I haven't the slightest as to which experience counted as my ‘first’. Does it require penetration? I've had quite a lot of sex in my time, but never with penetration. Some might say I'm still a virgin, as a result.”

-Hannah, Miami of Ohio Class of 2019

“I felt ready to lose my virginity when I stopped living by the standards of what everyone else believed I should do. The second I let go of other people's opinions of my own personal life, I felt willing and ready to do whatever I truly wanted to do.”

-Karen, Marist College Class of 2017

“I knew I was ready to lose my virginity when I had been dating a really amazing guy for a few months. Towards the end of my first year in college, I was almost raped one night after a party. It was a difficult experience to recover from, and I thought that it would be a long time until I would be ready to be intimate with someone. My boyfriend never pushed me to have sex, and we actually waited until five months into our relationship to both lose our virginities. It felt like the right time and the right person, and I still feel that way today, over a year later.”

-Ellie, Kenyon College Class of 2017

“I didn't plan on it. I didn't have a boyfriend at the time but I was talking to someone pretty seriously and he ended up being terrible. I was at a party and met a guy and we ended up going to his room and having sex. We were both drunk but I don't regret it. We ended up finding each other on Facebook and we still hang out and text pretty frequently. I knew I was never going to lose it to a boyfriend of five years, because I've never had a long-term relationship. I just wanted to lose the stigma that came with ‘being a virgin’ and even if it wasn't the typical way all of my friends lost theirs, it worked out fine for me.”

-Katie, Temple University Class of 2016

“I honestly don't think you ever ‘know’ until it's too late. I lost my virginity to someone I wasn't in love with, and someone who never loved me. I only realized how much of a mistake it was once I did fall in love with someone. While I can't change the past, it's a regret that I will always carry that I lost my virginity to the completely wrong person.”

-Kristine, Molloy College Class of 2016

“Sex is the closest that you can physically be with another people and I realized I wanted that with him. So that's how I knew.”

-Hannah, University of Pittsburgh Class of 2018

“Even though I was young (15), I waited until I was in a relationship where I felt secure enough to have sex without feeling unsure of my boyfriend's feelings toward me. He was actually way more terrified of the experience than I was. We had been together for six months already, and it was both of our first times. Honestly, there's no tell tale sign of knowing when you're ready for your first time having sex. You just need to feel comfortable enough with the person you're with to do it in a safe and secure environment.”

-Ashley, UMass Amherst Class of 2017

RELATED: 5 Conversations You Need to Have Before Sex

“I felt really comfortable with about my body and with the person I was with. I didn't feel as insecure as I usually did when I was with a guy. I wasn't in a relationship and didn't know if we would ever hook up again after spending that night together but I thought I would be happy with my decision no matter what happened. I had hooked up with him a few times and never felt pressured to have sex. One night I just felt really at ease with him and just really wanted it, so it happened. We continued to hook up throughout the semester until he graduated. We're still good friends.”

-Ana, Boston University Class of 2017

“I knew I was ready because I was in love with my boyfriend at the time. Yes, I was young, 16, dating a guy who was 18 and leaving for college that fall, about 2 hours away. But I still was ready, regardless of the barriers I knew we faced. I think what matters most is that at the time you are happy with who it happens with. And in that moment, I knew I wanted to lose my virginity to him. We dated on and off for two years before eventually splitting up. Everything happens for a reason, and at the end of the day, I am happy he was a part of my life for the time that he was. He will always be a part of me, and I will always care about him like how he has said he will always care about me. Young love is something magical, priceless, and so special I think everyone should experience.”

-Nicole, Winona State University Class of 2016

You hear it all the time, and it can bring up different emotions depending on how far along you are in the process. If you're a freshman, thinking about “the best four years” fills you with excitement and anticipation. If you’re a senior, it’s more like tears and FOMO. Either way, among all the exams, final papers and group projects that we must endure during our time in school, we also experience these magical moments when it all becomes worth it; when we realize there’s absolutely no place we’d rather be than living the best four years of our lives.

1. When you discovered you could take naps in between your classes

This is better than preschool.

2. When $1 could get you a slice of decent pizza

Is this delicious, or am I just really hungry?

3. When you went out and actually made it to your 8 a.m. the next day

Seriously, they should give out trophies for this.

4. When you realized you weren’t the only one who stays up until 3 a.m. every night

#TeamNoSleep

5. When class got canceled two weeks in a row

Enjoy that conference, professor. We'll greatly miss your stimulating lectures!

6. When you didn't actually have to attend class

So I don't have to go to the principal's office if I have three absences?

7. When you woke up anywhere but your own bed and didn't know how you got there

Hi, Uber driver? Yeah, can I drop you a pin? 

8. When you found your people freshman year

Shoutout my second-floor sweethearts. 

9. When you ate your bodyweight in dining hall food

This whole buffet-style deal is not doing good things for my health.

10. When you realized you had endless drunk food options any given night

I'm feeling Taco Bell tonight, Micky D's tomorrow.

11. When your song came on at a party

Make way people, it's about to get real.

12. When you killed it on the dance floor

In your mind at least.

14. When you hosted your own party

So if 100 responded to the Facebook event, does that actually mean 100 people are coming? 

15. When you experienced the aftermath of your first party

Who stole my phone charger? What's that red substance? How did my stuffed animal end up in the freezer?

16. When breakfast was the only thing that could get you out of bed on a Saturday

Even if it was at noon.

17. When you got your first drink bought for you on your 21st

I could get used to this.

18. When you weren’t judged for being in complete shambles basically all the time

We're all riding the same struggle bus.

19. When you successfully submitted a paper at 11:58 p.m.

Probably my worst effort, but at least it's on time.

20. When you made it through a night in heels without wiping out

Call me Heidi Klum.

21. When you sent drunk texts even you couldn't understand the next morning

Your guess is as good as mine.

22. When you actually wanted to go back a week into Winter Break

Took a nap, ate a home-cooked meal... I think I'm good.

23. When you realize you never want to leave

Please don't make me be an adult.

Hooking up is complicated enough to begin with. Add in insecurities about the way you look, and your sex life can definitely take a hit. We all get self-conscious, but if body image woes are seriously affecting your sex life, it may be time to make some changes. We talked to Dr. Ramani Durvasula, psychologist and author of Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving a Relationship With a Narcissist and You Are WHY You Eat: Change Your Food Attitude Change Your Life to find out how!

1. Practice self-love

It’s unlikely that you will enjoy yourself during sex if you’re preoccupied at all, let alone distracted by negative thoughts. Loving your body isn’t always easy, but it’s important to feel comfortable and confident in your own skin. Luckily, practicing self-love is as easy as it is necessary. Try writing positive affirmations on sticky notes and attaching them to your bedroom mirror. Or, every time you feel the urge to critique your reflection, give yourself a compliment instead.

“Catch yourself anytime you say, ‘this makes me look fat’—and then reshape the statement,” says Dr. Durvasula. “Being aware of these self-statements can be step one in changing them. Also, pay attention to negative self-talk when you are actually making healthy choices (e.g. when the dessert menu comes around monitor words like ‘the last thing someone like me needs is that’).” Focusing on what makes you beautiful and unique will help banish those silly insecurities!

Related: 12 Women Talk Body Image & Positivity in College

2. Talk to your partner

The more comfortable you feel with your partner, the less you’ll think about the way you look. Try having a conversation with him or her before you start hooking up to ensure that you are both ready to move forward. “Be open,” says Dr. Durvasula. “If your partner is a decent human being they will hear it. Take ownership, and be honest and direct (e.g. sometimes I have difficulty opening up sexually because I do not feel good about my body). This does two things: it may help your partner feel more connected, especially if your hesitation made your partner question themselves. It also creates a greater intimacy because you are sharing a vulnerability. If your partner mocks you or leaves you feeling worse…show [them] the door—you don't need that.”

Don’t be afraid to keep the conversation going during sex as well. Tell your partner what you like and what feels good, and don’t be afraid to suggest alternatives if he or she is making you self-conscious in any way. Having a dialogue during sex doesn’t have to feel forced—talking to your partner is sexy, and it’s the perfect way to learn what turns one another on (and off!).

Related:How To Get What You Need & Want From Sex

3. Boost your confidence

There are many easy ways to kick-start your confidence in the bedroom. If you’re insecure about your mid-section for example, you can treat yourself to some babydoll lingerie that makes you more sure of yourself. Not only will you look and feel amazing, but your partner will enjoy it too! Another tip is to put on music while you’re hooking up. The right playlist can really set the mood. In fact, listening to stimulating music is proven to do more than help ease an anxious mind. According to a study commissioned by Spotify, 40 percent of people think listening to music is actually more arousing than touch during sex. Finally, if it makes you feel more comfortable, you can dim the lights the first time (or few times) you have sex with a new partner. Again, this makes for a more romantic setting while also helping to calm any nerves and curb self-doubt.

“Use lighting that works for you,” says Dr. Durvasula. “Candlelight is sensual—everyone looks good in it and it adds a nice tone to sex and intimacy. Wear lingerie that may be sexy but also allows you to feel confident. Do the things you like to or may be willing to try that don't play as strongly on body issues (talk dirty, try interesting positions). Make it more than just about intercourse or orgasm—play up the foreplay—few people say no to a nice and sexy massage.” A relaxed body should put your mind at ease, too!

4. Get to know your body

You should know your body better than anyone. If you feel uncomfortable during sex, practicing self-pleasure may be the answer. “Get into the habit of masturbation yourself or with toys,” says Dr. Durvasula. “It puts you in better possession of your body and what works for you [and] makes you a more confident lover.” While it may be difficult to get alone time in college if you have roommates, it’s a great thing to do when you can find privacy.

Masturbation is somewhat of a taboo subject for women, but it shouldn’t be! “It is healthy,” says Dr. Durvasula. It “reminds us that our bodies are capable of pleasure and that it is often our own minds that get in the way (e.g. body image issues) of having that with someone else.” Once you get past any initial embarrassment, you’ll be one step closer to fully embracing your sexuality.

5. Consult a professional

If you’re really struggling with your body image, you may want to think about talking to someone. Your school’s health and counseling centers are great places to start. If necessary, you may then be referred to an outside therapist who can better address your specific needs. “Consider therapy with a licensed mental health practitioner,” says Dr. Durvasula. “Body image issues run wide and deep, and the guidance of a therapist can help [you] understand these issues and how they are impacting [your] sexuality.” If you’re on the fence about consulting a professional, consider whether body image issues are “impeding your relationship, making it very psychologically difficult or physically uncomfortable to have sex, leading to behaviors (e.g. extreme diets, starvation, overexercise, binge/purge) that are dangerous for your health, or [if] the thoughts about body image are preoccupying your time and your mind,” says Dr. Durvasula. If so, then it may be time to seek out help. 

Dr. Durvasula also recommends engaging in activities that are body positive, such as healthy eating, exercise, meditation and getting enough sleep. “When a woman takes care of herself, the rest often follows,” she says. If you’d like to work on your diet or exercise habits, find out if your college offers group fitness classes or one-on-one physical training sessions. There may also be a dietician on campus who you can talk to. Whether it’s about taking better care of your mental health or focusing on your physical health, making changes over time can help you feel more self-assured in all aspects of your life.

Sex is obviously an extremely intimate act, and with this intimacy comes the possibility of feeling exposed. You are your own worst critic, though, and it’s important to remember that your partner is a little too busy to judge the way you look (which is beautiful!). But building self-confidence and body positivity takes time. Luckily, there are strategies you can practice and resources you can utilize to help you on your journey toward loving the way you look and feel. With these suggestions in mind, you’re on your way to a healthier body image and a happier sex life!

You’re in the prime of your life, young and in love, but your relationship has fallen into a boring routine, a series of events that never really excite either of you anymore. Are you worrying and questioning if it’s time to let go of your SO since your relationship is losing its spark?

Sometimes even the best relationships can hit a rut, but it’s not always an unfixable problem. We understand how relationships can become dull for you and your SO once you’ve been dating for a really long time. From going on adventures to being extra romantic on date nights in, we’ve come up with a list of ways to spice up your relationship so you two can rekindle your fire and remind you why you fell for each other in the first place!

1. Make a scavenger hunt

A super-fun activity for you and your special someone can be to create a scavenger hunt for each other. The list of items can lead to places you both love to go to together or that are sentimental to your relationship. Give your SO clues that lead to your first-date spot or where you first met. Heading back to these meaningful locations will have you both reminiscing about what made you two work so well together in the first place.

Have the hunt finish with your SO meeting you at a new restaurant or spot you’ve never been before for a date where you can make new memories!

2. Cook a new dinner recipe

Another great chance to spend some quality time together is to skip that your typical off-campus restaurant for one weekend and cook dinner together.

You both can research delicious recipes you both love or have been dying to try (Pinterest has the best ideas!) and then shop for the ingredients together. It’ll be fun making something and then enjoying it afterward with each other. The intimacy of staying in as opposed to going to your usual spot can really spice up the night.

3. Go on an adventure

Experiencing something that makes your adrenaline go through the roof with someone you trust and love can be an incredible experience.

Carole Lieberman, M.D., psychiatrist and author, says, “Exploring exciting hobbies together … can be just the thing. Activities like these, where you need to have each other's back, can build trust and intimacy.”

These adventures don’t even need to be as intense as bungee jumping (unless you’re into that!). If you’ve always dreamed of scuba diving, riding in a hot air balloon or even going horseback riding, bring along your SO. These are unique experiences that you can share with the person you can let loose with!

4. Leave each other romantic love notes

If you’re always at your special someone’s house, apartment or dorm, consider leaving cute notes that remind him or her of how much you love each other. Once you both fall into the routine of a long-term relationship, “I love you” can be a phrase used too few times together.

“It can be very difficult to maintain a long-term relationship in college, where there are daily temptations to see what someone new would be like,” Dr. Lieberman says. “The grass always seems greener on the other side.”

Writing down quick, romantic notes can keep you on your SO’s mind all day. Alexandra Churchill, a college graduate from the University of New Hampshire, says that these gestures may seem small, but their sentimental meaning is what supports your relationship. “It was the little gestures that meant the world to me and to [my boyfriend]: He would leave me little sticky notes saying ‘I love you, beautiful’ when I was busy reading for class,” she says.

Reminders of how much you appreciate and care about each other can keep the worry of those temptations away and increase the attachment between the two of you.

5. Start a new hobby together

Picking out an activity that you both can make time for and will enjoy doing is the best way to make sure you get quality time together. Is there an interest you both go nuts over, or a class you two always talk about wanting to try? Check out what’s nearby and sign up!

Lanie Biggar, senior at St. John’s University, says,“My boyfriend bought me a bike for my birthday, so we [made] biking our new hobby, which has been really fun. … Every Sunday we explore a different park in New York City.”

It can also be fun to work towards a similar goal. Have either of you wanted to run a 5K, or are you both hikers who always say you’ll climb that huge mountain one day? Train together to complete that common goal! Working hard toward a goal together can strengthen your relationship.

6. Act like high-school sweethearts

We know the pressure of college can really get to all of us at one point or another. Do you feel like the plans you have for after graduation, what internship you’ll have next year or college loans (ugh) make you feel too old for your late teens/early twenties?

The solution: Act like a teenager with the person you like being silly with. Pretend you’re high-schoolers who don’t have the weight of the world (or econ textbooks) on your shoulders. Make each other mix CDs with cheesy love songs, go roller-skating or go to an amusement park and engage in some serious PDA. Forgetting your inhibitions and tapping into those nostalgic activities will make you laugh and forget all the typical nights you two have already done together.

7. Take a trip

Mark in your planner when your next long weekend or break is, and plan a little getaway with your SO. Changing your usual relationship setting can refresh those feelings and make your relationship feel brand-new again. Without your roommates around or piles of studying that needs to get done, the two of you can focus on each other and not have to run on a schedule.

Taylor Zepeda, a senior at the University of California, San Diego, says, “Whether it’s a few weeks away or a month away, [my SO and I] like to plan dates to keep us excited for what’s ahead and to reinstitute those butterfly feelings that can sometimes get lost in a long-term relationship!”

If you’re the outdoorsy type, go camping in the woods or find the closest ski lodge and enjoy the slopes for a few days. Just getting away from the monotony of your current situation can help you both refocus on why you love being together.

After you’ve been dating for a really long time and your relationship gets dull, it’s important to think outside of the box to spice things up with your SO! 

Let’s be real for a sec here: college relationships SUCK. Unless you’re one of those lucky few coupled up collegiettes (or you’re just highly delusional), your love life is much less Tayvin and much more like that whole Jelena fiasco. Not pretty.

Enter I Had a Nice Time and Other Lies… by the genius minds behind The Betches and Betches Insta. They dealt with all the crap so you don’t have to anymore, and of course, they did it in all their signature unapologetic, betchy glory. If you’re not ready to give up on your perfect Amy Adams movie romance yet, then yeah, probs not the book for you. But if you’re done going on garbage Tinder dates and pining over the asshat frat bro who never has and never will text you back, it’s time to pre-order your copy of Book #2 from The Betches. Your other option is growing old alone with your 27 cats. But like also, you do you.

Whether you’re a feminist or not (in which case, please defer to this article) there is something that most women seem to agree on: that catcalling does not flatter us, and actually makes us feel pretty damn uncomfortable.

Girl Meets World star Rowan Blanchard recently discussed the profound effect being catcalled had on her as a young girl. She recalled when a man asked her and her friend, “You guys need a ride anywhere?” while they were standing outside of a movie theatre. This proved to be a pivotal point for Blanchard, who was just 12 at the time. “I just remember sitting there feeling my heart sink into my stomach. It was such a surreal moment,” she explains. “It was like I was out-of-body for a second. I had seen that in movies, on TV, on the news. But when it happens to you, it's like, 'Oh, crap, this is real; people look at me this way.'” She went on to explain that she never talked about this with anyone. She blamed herself for the incident, saying she felt that it was because of what she'd worn.

Blanchard’s entire life was affected by this seemingly small event. “You see it everywhere,” she continues. “When you're watching your favorite TV show, you see a joke that maybe would have gone over your head a month ago. You can't escape it. There's really nothing you can do except endure it and try and speak out about it. So that's what I tried to do.”