Unplug Yourself and Look Up

I came across something on Yik Yak earlier today that really caught my attention. For those of you who don't know what Yik Yak is, it's pretty much an anonymous twitter that only shows "yaks" from people in your surrounding area. It's very popular on college campuses across the country, and it's extremely entertaining to read when you're bored. Anyway, what I came across was something along the lines of "If you wear sunglasses and headphones while walking around campus, you're missing out on a lot of things." After just being here for a week and a half, I can totally agree with that statement. Although a lot of us don't want to be bothered while we walk from building to building, it may be nice to actually unplug ourselves and actually pay attention to what is going on in the world around us.

I'm the first to admit that I am a victim of the sunglass and headphones epidemic. (Drastic word choice? Take a look around and you'll see that it isn't.) It's the easiest way to avoid looking awkward, especially when you're a freshman like I am. But, by now we should all have a feel for where our classes are. Take off your headphones and listen to all the beautiful noises going on around you, whether they're student clubs harassing you to take their flyers or a hipster sitting on a bench playing his guitar. 

After reading that "yak", I locked my phone and put it in my bag. You would be amazed at how many people walk around the entire campus with their heads glued to their cell phones. Look up! There are so many things you're missing out on by completely ignoring every living thing that crosses your path. You're blessed enough to go to school at a  beautiful campus, why don't you take it all in? I'm sure it gets old after a few years, but who cares! You really never know when the last time you see the beautiful sights around you is going to be; you might as well enjoy every minute you can!

As of today, I vow to not use my headphones or cell phone as much while walking around campus. Don't lie, we all know you're going to use your phone throughout the entire class. Why not give it a rest during your walk to class? Maybe you'll stumble upon things or people you'd never thought you'd come across, and it may change your life. 

NG

First Week: Check

Finally. It's Sunday afternoon and I couldn't be happier. Weird, right? People usually dread Sundays because the infamous Monday we all have grown to hate follows it. Strangely, I'm happy it's Sunday. The thought gives me a sense of serenity. My first whole week of being away at school has gone by, and I'm glad to say it went extremely well.

To start, I am madly in love with my apartment, especially my room. The thought of coming back to my room every day calms me down, even if I'm sweaty and annoyed from getting lost on campus (yes, that happened). The view from my balcony is none other than the beautiful University of Central Florida. My roommates are some of the most fun girls in town (and Orlando is pretty big). My first week in my apartment was great and I cannot wait to see what else this little home on the fifth floor has in store for me. 

I've experienced quite an array of things this past week. Let's begin with me getting lost while trying to find my school gym... in Orlando's extreme heat and humidity. I'll add that to my list of things to avoid doing. I also had to climb five flights of stairs last night due to my building's elevator deciding to break. Another thing to add to that list. But anyway, enough with the negatives. Here's a big shocker that I stumbled upon in three out of the four classes I'm taking: classes are a whole lot bigger than 35 students. Two of my classes have 1,000+ students enrolled... Crazy right? 

I ended my week with some minor grocery shopping. (Tip: eat before you go to the grocery store and you'll end up buying less food.) I took a small power nap when I got home and I'm currently having some coffee while I wait for my laundry to be done. I can't wait to make dinner (chicken accompanied with Caprese salad...yum!) and have a relaxing night. I have three classes tomorrow, so I'll probably go to bed as soon as I'm done with the reading assignments (you have to read a lot in college, just saying). 

All in all, my first week in school couldn't have gone better. My best friend and my step brother came to visit, so that gave me something to look forward to throughout the week. (Side story: my best friend and I went to IHOP at midnight and had breakfast.... If you've never done that, you're really missing out.) I'll keep you posted on anything that happens this week. A school that has 60,000 students is bound to supply me with something to write about. My textbooks are calling my name, so I better start reading. 

Much love, and good luck to all those starting school this week! Enjoy it; your first week of college only happens once!

NG

Quick Power Surges

I never thought I'd be so happy to see my half-deflated air mattress. After having a very long, HOT day of sorority recruitment, the first thing I wanted to do was plop on my air bed and sleep. (That is after I ate lunch, of course. Do you know they don't give you a lunch break during Rush Week?)  I think at some point of every college student's day, they crave that little bit of sleep to keep them going on what seems like a never ending day.

I'm not saying that I'm planning on taking a nap every single day. But sometimes, it's just the little power surge I need. Whether you have a big test to study for, or a whole four days of recruitment left, naps are always an easy (and healthy) way to get that energy you need.

I find that the short, 20-30 minute naps are usually more effective than the two hour hibernations we all love to take. A short, peaceful rest will help us wake up with energy, ready to conquer whatever task we have ahead of us. Think about it. A lot of people drown themselves in venti sized coffees and super sized Red Bulls. What's the point? (Hello, calories do exist!) Although I myself am an avid coffee drinker (side note: I've had to adjust to iced coffee due to Miami and Orlando's extreme heat), I have come to the conclusion that sometimes all you really need is a quick power nap.

Try it out. The next time you feel exhausted, don't fight it. Go home, and set your alarm to wake you up in the next thirty minutes. I'm 99% sure you'll feel great after you get up. Skip the heavy caffeinated drinks every once in a while. You'll end up crashing a couple hours after you finish them anyway.

Happy napping!

NG

Scratch That- College Is Real!

I was about to begin writing on how weird I felt that this was my last Wednesday in Miami (for a while) when my computer made a ringing sound. I looked at the bottom right hand corner of my computer screen, and noticed that I had a new email in my UCF email account's inbox. Eagerly, I opened it to find my FIRST ever email from a college professor. How crazy is that?!

You're probably thinking, "Ok, she's weird. Why is that so cool?" I get it. I doubt anyone gets excited over emails from their professors. I wasn't necessarily excited, it was just so surreal on how I'm actually starting school soon. College is actually a real thing! Although I've known in the back of my mind that I'd be starting school this month, it hadn't hit me until right now, at 11:51 a.m. when I opened the email from my Financial Accounting professor.

I think that goes to show how you don't really believe things until they actually happen sometimes. All my friends and I knew we'd be starting school in a couple of weeks, but I guess that email made it real. Although it's a bit strange to me that I won't be able to hug my mom on the couch while we watch marathons of Keeping Up With the Kardashians and Botched, or sit in my sister's room while she plays her obnoxious country music, I think I'm really excited for the change. (I say "think" because I'm not sure if the feeling is "excitement" or if I'm extremely scared....I think it's excitement.) Hopefully the three strangers I'll be living with become really good friends of mine- let's face it, no one wants to have reality TV marathons alone! (Can you really call people you talk to every day strangers? That's modern-day technology for you!)

I'd like to end with this: I move to a new city in three days. Three. That's it. I can't wait to make my new apartment my new (temporary) home and fill it with memories that I'll be able to share with those whom I love most. I hope my last few days in Miami are filled with happiness and love from all the people staying behind (or going to other schools for that matter). Miami has been a huge part of my life (18 years of "huge") and I'm glad to say that I've more than enjoyed my time here. Now it's time to take on a new city and start a new story: Orlando, here I come!

NG

Long Distance

Yes, I know. The dreaded topic that nobody wants to think about. Being as we can't avoid it forever, I figured the perfect time to write about it was when I was about 192 miles away from everything I call "home". 

Long distance has many different categories: friendship, family, relationship, and many more. Although moving away to start school is something most of us are looking forward to, there's always that little, sad feeling hiding in our brains that makes us think, "What in the world am I doing?" I can only imagine that the best way to get through the homesick periods is by keeping a positive attitude. Don't think about how long it's going to take until you see the person you miss, but rather how soon it's coming. Picture the oh-so-famous "glass" half full, instead of half empty. 

My best friend is going to a different university than I am, and I know a lot of you are in the same predicament. Thankfully, her school is only two and a half hours away from mine. We already have plans to attend each other's homecoming weekends; that gives me something to look forward to. Make new friends in your schools, but don't forget about the girl who stayed up with you all night when you didn't feel well, or the girl who sent you homework because you were too busy watching a Grey's Anatomy marathon. FaceTime as much as possible, and visit as much as possible. If she stuck through all of high school's  ups and downs, she's a keeper. 

Family is the weird one. Many of us go away to school to try to get away from our crazy family life for a while. Thankfully, that's not my issue. Try and take your moms' daily phone calls as a good thing. Call your dads because they'll probably forget to call more than once a week. They're dads. They do things like that and don't even notice. When your grandparents call, don't ignore it. You know they're going to go on and on about how much they miss you (even on your second day of class), but embrace it. And lastly, don't get annoyed when your siblings text you that they miss you, because face it- as much as you say you hate them in the middle of a pointless fight, deep down you love them... a little. 

This last category will be from a different point of view, considering I don't have a boyfriend to write about. My three best friends all have boyfriends though, so I can treat this like advice I've given them. First off, don't hold back on any experiences YOU want to do because of someone else back at home. Keep them close in your heart and make wise decisions. Ultimately, what's meant to be, will be. Keep a tiny memoir of them in your purse, or you can "man-crush" it and put a picture of them as your wallpaper. And make sure to make space on the small dorm room desks for their oh-so-handsome high school picture. 

All the people who mean the most to you will be with you throughout college, whether they're next door or a couple hundred miles away. They'll guide you and help you just as they have before, but in a different way. All of your relationships- be it a friendship, family, or a significant other- will mature throughout this long distance journey. Take it as a blessing in disguise; if you can make it through this, you can make it through much more. Enjoy the ride and remember to always keep a positive attitude, even on a cloudy day. 

NG

Picture by Nicki Guerra

Treasure Cay, Bahamian Islands

Don't Yell Freshman

"I don't want to look like a freshman." These are the words being said/thought by girls around the country as the fall semester creeps closer. It seems as if no one knows what to wear on the first day of school, considering a lot of us came from wearing the same uniform everyday for the past four years. Is it too "try hard" to wear a t-shirt with your school's letters on it? Should you wear a hoodie, even though chances are it will be over 80 degrees? I myself am wondering the same thing.

Many of us are going away, which gives us a major reason to be excited for our first day of class. If you ask me, my "perfect" first day outfit is jeans or jean shorts, paired with a plain v-neck or cool graphic tee, and sandals. Plain and simple, without being too casual. Having a cute bag can also help the outfit (My choice: a Longchamp Large Le Pliage tote- comes in almost every color!). You don't want to dress so nice that you scream "try-hard freshman," but you also don't want to look like the "she thinks she's cool freshman" by wearing sweat pants and a pajama shirt (Save the comfy dressing for when you're more comfortable around campus).

I personally don't think it is "try-hard" to wear a shirt with your school initials on it; don't go overboard and pair it with matching shorts and socks. As for the hoodie, take it in your bag for the cold auditorium classes. It isn't cool to walk around campus in a hoodie when it's 85 degrees (no pun intended). There are many different looks to rock on the first day, so make sure you find the one that's right for you!

NG

P.S. Where can you get this casual first day look? My answer: Forever 21 and Old Navy. You can never go wrong with Forever's $10 jeans and Old Navy's $7 v-necks. They're a must for everyday school-wear.

From 10 to 3

I came across an eCard a few days ago that said, "Remember: People only rain on your parade because they are jealous of your sun and tired of their shade." Although I've heard that saying before, I really noticed the accuracy in it this week. Many friends and family began complimenting me on this blog that I started, but of course, the first thing some people did was make fun of me. Not surprisingly, it was girls who I used to call "friends." I've never understood why some people allow their insecurities to take over them. Making fun of people just to feel better about yourself ultimately leaves you with a bigger hole. Why rain on someone's parade?

I have begun to discover who my real friends are, and I couldn't be happier. I'm not sad that I'm losing friends. The fact that they're being "lost" means they were never there to begin with.  True "friends" don't make fun of you for something you're passionate about, which is why I am not sad that my circle of friends has been cut from about 10 to 3.

Actually, it may have been a blessing in disguise. Knowing who my true friends are after four years, I now have a better judge of character and will hopefully be able to make good friends throughout my journey in college. Friends are supposed to support you and encourage you to do well, not tear you down. I encourage all of you to eliminate those who do not care or support you in what you love to do from your lives. It will only drag you down and keep you from reaching your dreams. When you begin school, search for people like you, people who have a passion and are not afraid to express it with the fear of being judged or ridiculed. Find those girls, or boys, who bring out the best in you. I couldn't be more excited to find new friends to spend the next couple of years with.

And one last, important thing: do not forget about the friends you have back at home, who have stuck by you through it all. You may be a couple hundred miles away, but true friendship overcomes those things. Continue supporting your friends, whether it's through monthly visits or daily FaceTime chats.

T-minus 30 days until I leave for school; let the excitement begin!

NG