Posts filed under 'social life'
One of my weirdest moments as a freshman was when a girl who completely ignored me in high school stopped to say hi outside our dorm building. I was kind of floored (and a little mad) that suddenly she thought she could act like we were friends.
It took me a while to figure out what happened-college had become a starting-over point.
The New You (or the Real You)
You’ve probably noticed that college campuses are bigger (sometimes WAY bigger) than high school ones. And there are a LOT of people you don’t know. The cool part about that is that they don’t know you either, so you’re not locked in to the mold you were expected to fit in high school.
Take this opportunity to show people who you really are, and to start figuring things out for yourself. Maybe you always wanted to be in a play, learn yoga, or even try out some research. At most colleges students are a pretty open-minded. (So you can be on the track team AND research invertebrates, and no one will be confused by the jock-science overlap).
“Finding” Yourself…
The best way to find out what you do and don’t like is to try things. I’m not talking about experimenting with drugs or dating everyone this side of the Mississippi, I just mean it’s time to explore the things you’ve been afraid of or uninterested in in the past. Some ideas:
- Try new styles of clothes, music, hair, etc.
- Explore the area your school is in and/or test out the nightlife (but be safe).
- Go to any club or activity that sounds interesting at least once (this is also a great way to meet new people).
- Take classes that excite you-the kind that feel more like fun than like a chore.
- Explore religious options if you’re unsure where you stand, either on or off-campus.
- Get involved in volunteering (talk about a great way to get exposed to new things…this builds your résumé too!)
- Learn about different cultures-better yet, study abroad!
…Without Messing with your Future
For a lot of people the journey of “finding themselves” involves some big changes-not all of them good. You probably already know this, but there are a few things that can really mess with your head, your GPA, and your future. You know them already, but for the sake of saying it, these basic items include:
- Drugs. Yes, they’re more accessible. Yes, you’re less likely to get caught. But the same rules of reality still apply-they can mess with your brain (literally), they can get you expelled, and they’re dangerous. Plus, some people (including some that I know) get so into them that they ruin their GPA, and/or miss or delay a shot at the career they wanted.
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- Sex. Besides the issue of possible pregnancy, there are a lot of emotions tied to sex-it can create at least a fleeting sense of intimacy even if you don’t have a close relationship-and that can be misleading and confusing when you wake up to the reality of the situation. That’s why one-night stands can mess with your head so bad. So, just like you learned in Sex Ed, try to make it a positive experience by being safe, and making sure you are (and will be) comfortable with the situation and the circumstances that result.
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- Alcohol. Obviously for the freshmen/sophomore end there could be legal ramifications of drinking, but at some point during your college career you’ll be “legal.” But even then you should be careful with alcohol. For one thing, it’s bad for you-it dehydrates your body, makes you sick, and can be addictive. Secondly, misuse of it can ruin relationships and/or get you into some really uncomfortable situations. So if or when you drink, be cautious.
photo: acer RoY by fishmonk
September 1st, 2008
A lot of you have requested more social life/relationship posts, so here is the first of many to come…
The leap from high school to college is a big one. It’s your first time on your own, really making decisions for yourself, and that means you’re going to change a lot-and so is everyone else.
Relationships change between the end of high school and college graduation-but not all of them are bad. While it can be unsettling to see cracks form in what once was a rock-solid friendship, you are just as likely to find that you and your friends change for the better.
Girlfriend/Boyfriend
Some high school sweethearts do stay together through college, but they are the exception rather than the rule. It takes a lot of work to make the transition from high school relationship to a real adult relationship-especially if it’s a long-distance thing-and it also takes a lot of maturity (which not everyone has at the beginning of college).
The majority of high-school-to-college relationships come to an end before graduation, whether because of freedom issues, changing values, loss of interest, or pure geographical distance. That doesn’t mean you have to give up on high school romance altogether, just be aware that change is the central point of the college experience.
Best Friend
More than likely, your best friend will stick around. It’s probably safer if you don’t room together-girls especially seem to have a hard time transitioning from friends to roommates-so keep your friendship strong by living apart. Even if you go to separate schools, your best friend will, most likely, keep that title.
That said, you are both stepping into a huge new world of people, and broadening your friend circle can cause jealousy. It’s not bad to have new friends, or if your best friend grows attached to his/her roommate, just remember not to drop your friend just because you’re meeting new people.
High School Friends
If you have a close knit group of friends, chances are you’ll stay in touch. My high school friends started a group blog so we could all keep up with each other as we went off to different schools. Now, five years later, we mostly keep up via group emails, and often get together for dinner when a few of us are visiting parents.
Everyone Else from High School
Your acquaintances, one-class friends, and yes, even the people you didn’t like will probably fade out of your life now. Sure, you can keep tabs on each other via Facebook or MySpace, but you probably won’t talk or email much, and you’re unlikely to get together-or really even run into each other-on visits home.
There’s nothing wrong with that! You can always keep in touch with the people you want to stay friends with, but if you lose contact with someone, you can always catch up on Facebook or at your 10 year reunion!
photo: happy friends 2 by lusi
August 26th, 2008
Mother’s Day is Sunday-do you have an armful of flowers, cards, and gifts ready? If not, don’t worry! I’ve got quite a few DIY gift ideas for Mom, so start clicking through (or check out my “DIY Gifts for the Ladies on your List” post from November) and see what you can get done in the next few days!
FOR MOMS WHO LOVE FABRIC GOODIES
Little Owls. Is mama a fan of nature, animals, or even wisdom itself? Whip up a couple of these adorable stuffed owls using this handy photo-tutorial courtesy of Moonstitches. Make just one or get ambitions and sew a whole parliament of owls (did you know a group of owls is called a parliament? Random!).
Easy Peasy Fabric Flowers. These cute fabric flowers are the perfect accent to mom’s jacket, bag, or really anything else-plus they last longer than (AND aren’t as pricey as) real flowers! Templates, photos, and instructions are all included-all you need are your supplies and a little bit of time.
FOR MOMS WHO LOVE CHOCOLATE
DIY Chocolate Magic Shell. True chocolate fans know that nothing is more magical than some quick-hardening chocolate sauce on a bowl of ice cream. Want to know how to make it yourself (and try some yummy new flavors, too)? Looks like it’s your lucky day (and mom’s, too, of course)!
“Better Than Chocolate” Body Scrub. Moms probably need a little pampering more than anyone, so why not whip up this easy chocolatey body scrub for her? All you need is a few ingredients, something to mix with, and an airtight container to store the end result.
Homemade Recipes for Popular Candy Bars, The oh-so-lovely people of Chow have made it super simple for you to make dozens of mom’s favorite candy bars yourself. Their easy recipes for popular candy bars make all that mouthwatering chocolatey goodness attainable and fun. Wrap these up in a cute wrapper or box & give Mom a big smile.
FOR MOMS WHO STILL HANG YOUR ARTWORK ON THE FRIDGE
Jewel Case Photo Frames. These easy photo frames are easy to make, easy to swap photos out of, and a cool new way for Mom to display whatever artwork she wants to eyeball this week. They’re also kind to your pocketbook. : )
Ribbon Striped Bulletin Board. Make all that artwork a little more portable with this ribbon-striped bulletin board-it’s a classier display space than the fridge, and might help Mom keep track of bills, phone numbers, and the dates of your finals weeks a little easier.
Happy Mother’s Day to all your mothers or mother-figures!
photo: new players from Moonstitches’ blog
May 9th, 2008
I’ve been busy making gifts for some of my family (including the Monster iPod Cozy for my brother!), and its actually been surprisingly fun–it seems much more personal. Here is a little assortment of fun DIY holiday gifts you can give to the teens and twenty-somethings in your life:
Redesigned Suitcase Backpack. To keep this unique project inexpensive, scour thrift stores for good-quality suitcases, and embellish with cool scraps you thrift or discover around the house.
Rice Heat Therapy Pillow. Schoolwork, new jobs, and all that comes with this age can mean stiff necks and headaches. This aromatherapy rice pillow will soothe all those aches and pains. This tutorial also includes ways to change the pillow into a cold pack and an eye-pillow.
Toaster Pastry iPod Cozy. This is the easiest iPod case I’ve found yet—just a needle, thread, and a couple pieces of felt. Plus it looks just like a Pop Tart! (Also check out the other iPod cases I posted in this entry and this one. I made the “Monster iPod Cozy” for my brother–it looks great and cost less than $5!)
Lavender Bath Salts. A bottle of these can cost $16 or more in stores, but they smell just as good (or better!) when you make your own.
Paper Lantern. Take your origami skills to the next level by making this gorgeous paper lantern for your friend, sibling, or roommate. It’s very straightforward, but looks stunning when its finished!
Recipe Book. Perfect for anyone taking on the first few years of living on their own, fill this book with favorite family recipes or scour the web for recipes you can make with just dorm supplies (microwave, fridge, toaster, etc.). To cut costs a bit, you can use a regular binder instead of a scrapbook album.
Want more low-cost and DIY gift ideas? Check out my other gift entries, below, or subscribe to keep up on my latest posts!
Photo: Christmas Decorations by alitaylor
December 13th, 2007
A lot of people are pledging to give handmade gifts this holiday season (and by the way, happy Hanukkah to those of you now enjoying the first few days of it!). You may not want to give all handmade gifts, but I personally like this idea because it can be much less expensive to make your own gifts (yay!) than to try to buy for everyone on your list. If you have kids on your list, I have a few fun and thrifty ideas for you!
Build a Cardboard Kitchen. You know how parents always complain that little kids will play more with a big box than with a toy? For only $7 you can buy a pattern to build an adorable toy kitchen out of cardboard! (Check here if the first link no longer works, and check out the creator’s blog for tutorials on making more fun kid gifts, like multi-colored crayon melts).
Harry Potter Wands. Made with just paper, paint, and a glue gun, these wands are surprisingly cool-looking! Perfect for that young (or old) would-be wizard in your life. 
Glitter Playdough. Easy, pretty playdough you can make with simple grocery store items. Give them with some cookie cutters for maximum fun!
Stuffed Felt Monster. My little cousins (a pair of energetic little boys) love anything “scary”—from ghosts to monsters, and anywhere in between. This clever photo tutorial shows you how to make one yourself.
Quick & Easy Snow Globes. Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with a way to make snow globes yourself! These aren’t super fancy, but you can customize them to include favorite cartoon characters, dinosaurs, anything your little buddy loves.
A Recycled Dollhouse. Check out this cool dollhouse you can make using things from around the house—these ideas are just a start. Get creative and see what else you can come up with!
Paper Mice. A free downloadable pattern helps you make some teeny mice and a piece of cheese for them to play in! Remember, you don’t have to spend a lot of cash to make a little kid happy–they’ll love playing with these little guys with you, so start a game of pretend.
Is there anything else you’d like to read about? More gift ideas? Finals tips? Tips on making money over the school break? More holiday posts? Let me know!
I’ve got more ideas for you, so don’t forget to subscribe or sign up for email updates if you want to keep up!
Past Holiday Posts:
Photo: fourtytworoads
December 6th, 2007
Need to give some fun gifts this holiday without spending a lot of money? Check out these fresh, fun DIY gifts for the guys in your life—be they dads, boyfriends, roommates, or brothers.
Monster iPod Case. Definitely not your typical iPod case—this one takes some sewing, but it is so worth the effort. I’m thinking of making my brother one for Christmas. **UPDATE** I made this for my brother over the weekend, and it came out great AND cost less than $5! I’ll try to post a picture soon.
Ski Cap with Integrated Headphones. Perfect for snowboarding or skiing, these caps cost about $40 to buy, but this tutorial teaches you how to make one for as little as $10!
Apple Puff Pastries. I have yet to meet a guy who didn’t enjoy free food—these apple puff pastries are a fun gift because they’re a little fancier (and they sure beat a Pop Tart). These simple directions will have you baking in no time.
Make Your Own Journal. This is my only repeat from my past DIY gift post (for the ladies on your list), but it would be a fun gift for any guy who writes or draws. Perfect for beginners, this video tutorial shows you how to make a journal using paper, glue, and some 4×6 photos.
Coin Cufflinks. Make some cool cufflinks out of coins in just two easy steps!
Hollow Hiding-Place Book. You know those hollowed-out books where people hide their most treasured possessions? Well this tutorial tells you how to make one yourself. Talk about the perfect gift! Make it even better by filling it with something fun (or delicious).
Etched Drinking Glasses. You have to be careful making these because the etchant can be dangerous, but the finished result looks really classy.
I’ll have at least one more of these gift roundups in store, so check back (or you can just subscribe via RSS or get email updates if you want to make it even easier!).
Past gift posts:
Photo: Gifts? Already? by mysza831
December 3rd, 2007
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