Top 5 Things to Do on the Weekend (no party version) (Post #9)

The most common question that makes its way across Washburn campus every Thursday is by far, "What are you doing this weekend?" The most common response to this is, "Uh..."

I never know what I'm doing during my time off. Personally, I don't go to parties or contribute to anything of the sort. I know there are many college students here at Washburn and all around the nation that feel the same as I do. So this blog today will help both you (the reader) and me (the writer) find out what there is to do on off days during the school year, other that go to parties! 

1. HOMEWORK

This is the most important thing, yet for me it seems to get done last. I urge you to do this first before you do anything else on the weekend. If you get this done first, you will lift a huge burden off your back! 

2. Relax, kid. 

Get some rest for the week. There will be time to socialize later! Personally, my entire week is a little off when I am busy all weekend without any down time. 

3. Gym. Gym. Gym. 

Gym's are fun...right? This is a chance for you to get out there and make some friends at the recreation center! 

4. Night Out of the Town

Get a group of friends together and plan a night around Topeka, going to the movies or a campus event. Sometimes finding your group of friends that don't party can result in a lot more fun than any party.

5. Game Night In 

The funds aren't there, I get it. Invite friends over to your dorm room or apartment  and tell them to bring a little snack each. Get a board game or a video game and go at it! This can be more fun than going out with your friends (and less expensive.)

Top 5 Ways to Find a Major (Post #8)

Recently, I had my semester advising appointment with my adviser. This is always a hectic time for two reasons; I never know what classes I want to take and I always wonder if I should be in a different major. Don't get me wrong, I love journalism. But just the thought of exploring another option or a different future career is always in the back of everyone's mind.

So what should you do if this happens to you? What if you aren't sure in the first place what you want to do? Today I want to give you a few tips in solving this mystery. 

1. Find a Majors/Minor Adviser

Most campuses have career advisers who help students figure out what they ultimately want to do with their lives. Take advantage of this! If you have no plans for the future, talk to these guys first. They will give you the best tips to finding out what you want to do. 

2. Find your Hobby

What do you like to do? How can you make that a job? Doing what you love to do (even like to do) can boost you in the right direction of finding a career. 

3. Find your Place on Campus

What are you involved in? Sometimes the best options in life are the ones right in front of us. Join a few clubs or activities. These don't have to be things you will do for the rest of college or even the rest of the school year. Just trying it out can trigger a future plan!

4. Find the Dough

We are all in college to find jobs that we love, but also jobs that pay well. How does money effect your life? If it is important to you, you may want to think of careers that can support your financial needs. 

5. Find your Friends

The people that you are around the most know you the best. Talk to them about what they are doing with their futures and ask what they think about yours. The honesty of that person may trigger either a spark for a career, or a petition against it all. 

I know first hand that finding your future in college is hard and it is bound to change at least once, whether it be the emphasis or the major in its entirely. But if you aim for a job that you enjoy and that you will make a living from, you'll ultimately find what you are meant to do.

Top 5 Ways to Stay Healthy in College (Post #7)

The other day, I went to the student union here on campus to buy a drink at the corner store. While there, I couldn't believe my eyes. Students of all kinds were grabbing big bags of chips, packages of cookies, over-sized sodas, and the tallest order of coffee available. Didn't these guys get it? The freshmen "15" (which actually applies to sophomores, juniors, and seniors) is an epidemic on campus, infecting all those students who invest in the cheapest junk food with the most amount of sugar to get them through long hours of studying.

But, it doesn't have to be like this! Although this food is cheap, it makes you want more, more often. So today I want to give you a few tips on how to stay healthy in college.

1. Eat Right

This may sound tough. Who has time to count calories when they can't even count their homework assignments? Calories aren't everything, however. If you replace cookies with fruit and chips with vegetables, an quick change will occur. 

2. Drink Right

Soda is tasty. Really tasty. It's borderline addicting, actually. Just taking this out of your diet (or better yet, limiting it to a few days a week) will keep the pounds off. 

3. Sleep, Sleep, and Sleep 

Exams are important. Sleep is more important. Schedule your time accordingly to allow you to get enough sleep to keep you energized during the day. 

Sleep=Energy. Energy=Study. Study=Success. Therefore, Sleep=Success 

4. Get to Know the Rec

This place is made for you. Literally. The recreation center on campus is made for you to come and work out as much as you want to. There are lots of things to do at a rec, if running isn't your thing. There are free classes for students, basketballs courts, and machines to work out on. Go check it out!

5. Don't Stress It

The number one way not to get sick is to limit your levels of stress. If you feel like you never get a moment to just rest, you should find that time! Even if it means you have to miss a meeting for one of your 50 clubs. 

I hope that these little tips get you started with either maintaining a good diet and weight or helping you in losing those few pounds that you have acquired here at Washburn. 

Top 5 Things To Do Around Town (Post #6)

One of the most important parts in going to college is getting involved on and off campus. The community around you is what supports the university activities, faculty, and students. There's one good way to get to know your community, and that is to explore!

 Today I'm going to give you five ways to connect with your town you are in. If you are not from Topeka, these events will help you become a little more familiar with the towns atmosphere. I am not from Topeka and before attending Washburn, had only visited Topeka a few times in my life. If you are from Topeka, or grew up near it, these places may be things that you haven't been to in a long time or maybe have never gotten around to going to.

  1. Capitol Building
Topeka is, after all, the capital of Kansas. This building is the center point of the city. It has a lot of different architectural art and styles, and is filled with history. It gives Topekans a background that you may need to know more about in order to find what the community is all about.
 2. Burger Stand on College Hill
 This is a restaurant near by campus that attracts a lot of different people from Topeka. Not only does it have great food, but a great crowd to be around.
 3. Westridge Mall
 Although malls have become somewhat of a thing of the past, the mall in Topeka is a good place to hang out, shop around, and a great place to go to get off campus.
4. Rees Fruit Farm
Since it is Fall after all, Rees Fruit Farm is the perfect place to go when you need a break from campus. There are all of events in the Fall, like pumpkin patches and hay rides. They also have the best apple cider and the best cider doughnuts in the area!
5. Gage Park
This park isn't just an average park-it is so much more than that! With flower gardens, playgrounds, ponds, and even a zoo right next door, it is a great place to go when you are wanting more from Topeka.

Top 4 Ways to Keep the Christmas Spirit (a few months early) (Post #5)

It's October. I know. Not only is it October, but it is early October. If anyone else is like me, they would already be in the Christmas spirit. It is my favorite time of the year, for many reasons. But as classes continue and the hustle and bustle of everyday life ensues, its hard to find that Christmas spirit.

So today, even though it is technically not the Christmas season, I want to give some ways to keep the holiday spirit in your life as a college student.

You definitely do not have to be a Christian to have this holiday cheer. No matter what religion you practice or lifestyle you lead, winter time is always a good season to spread cheer.

Here are some ways to keep this cheer!

1. Christmas Music
I will be the first one to admit that I have already began to listen to Christmas music. I am well aware that this is probably abnormal. But it is a good way to make this connection to the holidays that you could be lacking.

2. Go to Walmart
Lordy, lordy. The trees are already up and the smell of cinnamon and apples are in the air. If you are ever searching for the spirit of Christmas just walk into a Walmart.

3. Start Planning your Christmas break now
This could mean a lot of things. Sign up for an alternative break for a way to have a bigger holiday season impact.

4. Bother your friends with how  excited you really are
This is what I am doing. The words, "Christmas", "Break", and "after finals" come out of my mouth at least 20  times a day. You'll feed your own excitement, but will probably annoy your friends. The sacrifice may be worth it.

Christmas is around the corner (and down the street a little).

Top 4 Ways to Make Things Less Awkward (Post #4)

So far I have talked a lot about general things that lead a student to be successful in college. Today I want to change it up a bit and talk about an issue that has recently effected me, and I'm sure it effects many every day.
 The other day I was sitting in one of my classes waiting for class to start. Every one was filing in, taking their usual seats, and pulling out their usual notebooks. It was class time. But then, no professor came in. 5 minutes passed, nothing. Chatter began to spread in the room on whether we should leave or not. In a class of 25 kids without a professor, it's a total free for all. 10 minutes passed and still no professor. We were all so confused. After 20 minutes of sitting in a teacher-less classroom, we all got up and left, forming together as a unit just in case the professor happened to show up a little later, and only some of the students got points.
 So, what do you do when this happens? Here's a few things that you can do to avoid this feeling of fear, guilt, and freedom.
  1. Wait It Out
Some say that the amount of time you wait for a professor to come is the equivalent to the professors title (i.e. Doctor). I can't seem to find any evidence for this, and I do not think it has any grounds as being truth. If you think that you will get into trouble if the professor does so happen to come into the classroom and no one is there, just wait it out!
  2. Form Together
Like my group of classmates in our awkward situation, some decided to form together and leave the room as a team. Something about safety in numbers, I guess.
 3. Check The Office 
We did this, too. We went to his office the next floor up and searched around for him, but did not see him. If the office is closed with the lights off, it may mean that he is not there, or it may mean that he is hiding from us. Both very likely.
 4. Check Your Email 
This should actually be the first thing that you do. Sometimes professors get caught up in situations, and we as students should understand this. Usually an email is sent if this does happen. So make sure your phone is handy so you can be informed through out the day. In my situation, this did not help.

Ultimately, if your professor isn't going to show up, they aren't going to show up. It's nice to have a line of communication open just in case something like this does happen. In any case, follow at least one of these steps and an awkward situation will seem less awkward. Until the next class.