Job Hunting

Now's the time where all of us students should start thinking about where we're going to work over the summer. Being a student, getting a summer job isn't really optional for most of us - school's expensive! What we do have a choice in is where we're going to work! I'm in the same boat as all of you guys, so I'm going to share some of my job hunting tips with you!

Start Early
This is one that I learned the hard was last year, when I almost ended up jobless for the summer. Make sure you start looking for a job early... aka. now. Yes it might seem early, but there's going to be so many people applying in the next few months it's better to be early than late. This way you know you won't miss deadlines to submit applications and you'll get pretty much first pick at jobs.

Be Willing To Get Certifications
A lot of jobs now require different certifications, whether it's your first aid, cpr, or getting something like your smart serve (in Ontario it's your qualification to serve alcohol). Even if you don't have the qualifications when you're applying or during your interview, make sure they know that you're willing to get these certifications and qualifications - it'll make you seem like you're willing to do what it takes to get the job.

Dress for the Occasion
When you're going in and handing resumes to places, you don't have to be dressed like you're going for an interview. With that being said, it's also not good to look like a slob. Depending on where you're working, try to tailor your outfit to more towards that, so you fit in.

Apply Everywhere
Even if you think the job is way out of your league, apply anyways! You never know, they could see something special in you.

Follow Up
Some employers are looking for people who seem dedicated and who really want the job. If you are really interested in a job and you've applied but haven't heard anything back, call them and follow up with it.

When In Doubt, Start In Fast Food
While no one really wants to flip burgers all summer long, fast food is a good place to start. My mom works in the office of a store, and sometimes helps with hiring - she said that immediately if they see places like McDonalds, Wendys, Tim Hortons and other places like that, those people go to the top of their list. Fast food shows that you're able to work fast and you can work under pressure. Even if you just work a month at one of these places, you're still getting experience, then while getting your experience there you can go look for a better job.

Physically Hand In A Resume
In a world that is full of electronics, sometimes they create more of a barrier than anything. If you have the choice between handing in your resume in person or emailing it in, do it in person! You could also do both - I got a job once because I applied several times and they figured that if I was persistent enough, then I must have really wanted it. Anyway, apply in person and be confident!

Try Looking Online
A lot of malls now have an employment section on their websites, and it'll show you what stores are hiring, what they're hiring for, and how to apply. That way you know what places to be sure not to miss! Also, you can check websites like kijiji. It may sound a little sketchy, but there are some legitimate job postings on it - just be really careful and do some research first! Lastly, just google something like "part time/summer jobs in ________" fill in whatever area you're looking at, and you should be presented with a plethora of websites that will show open jobs in your area.

Good luck on the job hunting everyone, and I hope you get your dream job!

Self Esteem & Body Issues

          

          Many people think that only girls have problems with their bodies, that only girls are insecure, and only girls can struggle with self esteem and body issues.
WRONG.
That's so wrong it even deserved to be in capitals.
          It doesn't matter who you are, you can experience low self esteem and not be happy with your body and how you look. You can be young, old, a girl, a guy, something in between, and it doesn't matter what you identify as or with - YOU can experience these issues.
Society now puts so much pressure on us, how we're supposed to look, act, do, even what we're supposed to feel. And that is just wrong.
          Being at university or college definitely doesn't make it easier on us students, I'll be honest. If you were the most attractive person in high school, now you're faced with a ton of people who were in the same situation. Now, you're just another person. If you weren't at the top or even in the middle, now you have so many other people to compete with... And to compare yourself with.
          That's one of our biggest problems, we're always comparing ourselves to other people. We think that this is how we can judge our self, based on others. But the truth is, we can't. Every single person is unique in their own way and to base your self worth in comparison to someone else just isn't logical. But yet we do it anyways. Again and again and again.
          Going off to school has made these issues so much worse for people. I won't lie, me included. So many horrible things stem from these types of issues, and yet so many people still suffer from them. It's so easy to go unnoticed, to blend into the background, and to be suffering silently. It's easy to throw a smile on your face, and pretend that there's nothing wrong. It's easy to cry when no one is looking, and to have such horrible thoughts going through your mind. It's easy to have a negative outlook, especially when it comes to yourself. It's easy to be so shy because you're afraid of being judged. It's easy to be so self conscious that you never see how truly amazing and beautiful and great you are. It's easy to do all of these things, but it's really easy for this to happen when you're away at school. Gaining a few pounds in high school sucked, but at university or college, oops, now you're on your way to the freshman 15. Everyone around you could be so different, yet so the same. You like something that no one on your floor does? You're now the new 'freak'. Being away from home you're now completely in charge of yourself, and it's easy to get caught up in so many other things. But you know what? It's so easy to remember your flaws than to think of the things that are great about you. You're going to remember everything that isn't right about you, and forget what makes you unique. Being different isn't a curse - it's a gift, and we all have it. 

One of my favourite authors, Jodi Picoult, said it best:

“When you're different, sometimes you don't see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn't.” 

          Being different isn't a bad thing, personally I think being different is a good thing. As a society, and as a world we really need to work on the idea of accepting. Accepting people for who they are, and accepting them without trying to change them. Every day, we're bombarded with things that we should do so that we can be 'better' but really, who has the right to dictate this? No one.

          Anyway, getting back to my original point - self esteem and body issues are things that can stem from a young age, and if they're not taken care of in the right way there can be major repercussions in the later years. By the age of 6 girls are already starting to be concerned about their weight. Age. Six. Girls aren't the only ones to suffer from distorted views of their bodies - 10 million men suffer from eating disorders at least once in their life - and 20 million women do. (Statistics for the US) The Canadian statistics for 2002 say that 1.5% of girls ages 15-24 have had an eating disorder, and those are from 10 years ago. These statistics have been on the rise ever since, and will continue to do so until some serious has been done. 

          Eating disorders aren't the only things that are affecting students though, just having low self esteem and self confidence is detrimental enough. Self harm is another huge issue that can go along with this as well. Horrible isn't the word to describe it, but that's the best I can come up with. It is just so horrible to think that someone can be so upset about their appearance and so upset with them self that they make the decision to harm them self. No one deserves to feel like this, yet so many people do. 

          While I'm not saying that everyone who deals with these issues are going to end up having an eating disorder or self harming, I'm saying that it can happen, it does happen, and it happens more than you would think.
          Next time you see someone that looks like their having a bad day, compliment them. Appreciate people, and take them as they are. Appreciate yourself. Love yourself. Yes, I know that's easy to say, but hard to actually do, all I'm asking is for you to try. 

          You are so amazing, and I really hope that you realize this at some point. Why? Because you deserve to be happy, and be happy with yourself and who you are! Getting confidence is hard, but it's not impossible. Work at it. You're going to have bad days, but those are just the pathway to the happy ones. Forget what everyone says about how you're supposed to look - screw what they say. If you want to dress a certain way, do it. If you don't want to lose weight, then don't - own those pounds!

         I know this wasn't like my usual posts, but it needed to be talked about. I hope all of you reading this has a great day, and know that I believe in you. Show the world how awesome you are. 

Healthier Cafeteria Choices

Eating healthy at the cafeteria is hard. Really hard. With so many choices, it really seems easier usually go grab a burger and fries rather than actually thinking about what would be better. After coming home for the weekend today, it was not so subtly pointed out that it appears that I've gained a lot of weight (always what you want to hear...) so I think I'm going to try and be a bit healthier from now on.
Now, I'm not saying I'm going to be eating vegetables for all meals everyday, because I know that personally, I just can't do that. But I'm going to try and put a bit more thought about what I'm putting into my body.
Here's a few healthier choices that I've come up with:

Instead of... A BURGER
Try... A GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST
A grilled chicken breast on a bun is just a variation of a burger, but a healthier choice. You can still put all your favourite toppings on top (or you can be old school like me and just use ketchup) but instead of having the greasy-ness of the burger, it's just a piece of chicken.

Instead of... PASTA
Try... STIR FRY
At my university, there's a whole stir fry station in one of our cafeterias - and it's a huge hit. You can choose what vegetables to put on it, and if you want noodles or rice. It's not extremely healthy, but it's a better choice compared to a pasta dish with alfredo sauce.

Instead of... PIZZA
Try... A SANDWICH
Sandwiches are super easy, and you can make them to suit your taste buds. Pile it up with your fave toppings, add your cheese in there, and some places will even grill it for you! At my cafeteria we have a choice of about 8 different breads, even a spinach wrap! Play around with different toppings until you determine what you like best.

Instead of... POP
Try... A SMOOTHIE
Smoothies are yummy and refreshing, and will have natural sugars in them rather than the artificial ones that are put into things like Coke and Pepsi. Not only is it a great drink, but you are getting some of your daily doses of fruit too. A smoothie will be a lot more filling if you happened to be in a hurry and have to miss lunch, and you can try different combinations of fruits.

Instead of... PIECE OF CAKE
Try... FRUIT CUP
At the beginning of the year, the mentor for my floor told us that if we wanted to avoid getting the freshman 15, then don't get a dessert after every meal. Personally I tend to avoid the desserts at the cafeteria because a lot of them have nuts, which I don't like. But I know a lot of people that usually get a few a week. Instead of going for the piece of cake or that brownie, maybe try getting a fruit cup instead!

Instead of... BREAKFAST SANDWICH
Try... CEREAL
Now this is one that I personally struggle with because my cafeteria makes the best breakfast sandwiches ever. But instead of that, you can go for a bowl of cereal (hopefully not the one with the most sugar) and some milk. A good one to try is Special K! It's like Rice Krispies for adults, and while it's a healthier alternative, it doesn't taste like complete crap. (Just make sure that it's not expired... Last week I identically bought a expired multi-pack of cereal from the cafeteria...)

Instead of... FRIES
Try... SALAD
If you just want something quick to eat in your hour break in between classes, try grabbing a salad instead of a plate of fries! If you're looking for something more filling, you can try a chicken ceasar salad which can work for lunch or dinner! My school has a grilled salad station so you can get chicken ceasar salad, apple pecan salad, and cobb salads.

Remember guys, the goal isn't to necessarily lose weight, but to try to become healthier and more aware of what is going into our bodies! Just keep that in mind, and you'll be fine :)

*If you ever have a topic or subject that you want me to write about, just leave a comment and I'll be sure to write something up for you!

Dealing With Stress

University and College is stressful, there's no doubt about it. With so many things to worry about, sometimes it seems like all the stress just piles up until you finally crack.
Don't worry, just breathe, and know that it'll all work out.
Here's some tips about dealing with stress... Whether you're in school or not I think they'll be helpful for everyone.

Don't Stress About Stress
I've done it before, and there's a good chance that you have too. Sometimes we just get so stressed that we start stressing about being stressed. (How did I managed to write stressed 3 times in that sentence?) Freaking out about everything you need to do it's not going to help, and it probably won't make you feel better. The first step for getting rid of stress is just taking a big breath and calming down.

Figure Out What Needs To Be Done
Make a list of what all needs to be done, in order from the closest thing to the farthest away. Also, rate these things based on importance and how long they're going to take you. Divide and conquer! This way you'll be able to have a clear idea of what you need to do, and when.

Plan Ahead
I've mentioned it so many times before, but I'm still going to say it again. GET A WALL OR DESK CALENDAR. Or agenda. Whatever works for you. When you are told a date that something is due, write it down. At the beginning of every week, check to see what you have coming up in the next week or two.

Stress Ball or Glitter Jar
A simple way to help relieve stress is getting a stress ball. If you don't want to buy one, they're super easy to make! Just get a balloon and fill it with flour, and then tie the end! Simple as that. Something else that you can use is a glitter jar. A glitter jar is a jar filled with water and sparkles. Whenever you get really worked up about something, you shake it (like a Polaroid picture) and then you watch it until the glitter has settled - by then you might have been calmed down.

It Can't Be All Work And No Play
Yeah, it may seem like if you work for the next 2 weeks completely on your work then it'll get it out of the way and then you can have fun... But we know that's not going to work. If you don't include having fun into your routine once in a while, it'll just suck. Having fun is a good way to get rid of stress, so make sure to leave some time for hanging out with friends.

Find Something That You Like To Do
Whether you like to listen to music, run, dance, sing, knit, paint, read, or anything else - find something. When you're enjoying something, then you're more likely to be relaxed while doing it. Doing this can be an excellent distraction, and sometimes that's all you need, a little something to distract yourself. Experiment and find something that you're passionate about, and use this to your advantage.

Sometimes All We Need Is A Good Cry
While crying isn't going to help the situation, sometimes it can help us feel a little bit better inside. Personally, I'm the type of person that sometimes breaks down and cries when they get really frustrated with something. Don't be afraid to cry, it's not a sign a weakness. Just remember that when you're done with your tears, start again and keep going.

Talk To Someone
Sometimes just talking to someone about your problems can make you feel better. Call up your parents or your friend, your boyfriend or girlfriend. A nice rant session can do wonders. You never know, someone else might had a different perspective on something that could help you deal with your problems.

With all the stress in our lives, sometimes we just need to take a step back and collect ourselves. Everyone gets stress, it's nothing to ashamed about!
You got this, now show the world what you can do.

Doing Laundry The Right Way

I figured that since I'm sitting in the laundry room with my roommate right now (yes, at 9:00 on a Saturday night, we're so exciting) now would be a good time to do a post about doing laundry.
While it seems so simple, doing laundry is a skill that you're going to need for the rest of your life. It's really shocking how many people go off to school and don't know how to do their own laundry (me included).
About the second week of school the laundry room was pack and it was pure chaos. The most often thing you'll hear is "Is this a light or a dark?!" I also got asked a few times but some guys how bad your laundry will be if you don't use a fabric softener...
Anyways, the point is, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO YOUR OWN LAUNDRY.
Here are some steps and tips on how to make doing laundry as painless as possible.

Step 1. Have Soap and Fabric Softener
It doesn't really matter which brand you use, just go with whatever your parents use at home! Personally, I use Tide Pods because it's a lot easier to carry a few little pods down to the laundry room in comparison to a huge jug of detergent. Make sure you also have some kind of fabric softener! Whether you use the liquid kind or the sheet kind, either works. Just keep in mind that if you use the liquid kind, you're going to have to watch for when the dryer gets to the rinse cycle, and then pour it in before the end of the load.

Step 2. Sort Your Laundry
Lights, darks, colours, delicates,  towels, bedding... There are so many different ways that you can sort your laundry. For me, usually I can get mine down to 2 or 3 loads, depending if I need to wash my towels. Lights and darks are the two you need to be careful with... I'm sure we've all mistakenly thrown in that dark/colourful item into our lights and being sure that it wont bleed... and then being completely wrong about the whole thing. (In my case, I turned all my while face cloths a light purple by washing them with my dark purple towels... oops)

Step 3. Know What Water Temperature You Want
Cold water has gotten a lot more popular in the past few years, but it all depends on what you want. When in doubt, I go for cold, but you can just ask your parents what they use!

Step 4. Put the Clothes In
When putting the clothes in, make sure your load isn't too big for the washer - that's not good! Also, make sure they're evenly spread around the middle.

Step 5. Put It In The Dryer
Next all you have to do is transfer your clothes from the washer to the dryer! Make sure you don't have anything in there that can't go in there, and if you do make sure to take it out. Put the clothes in the dryer, add some dryer sheets if you want, and then all you have to do is wait for about an hour.

Step 6. Fold or Hang the Clothes
If you fold or hang your clothes right after they come out of the dryer, then they're less likely to get wrinkled.

Tips:
- Check to see if the laundry room is busy. It's usually pretty packed Sunday nights, so try to go at odd hours if you need lots of machines (my whole building only has 8 of each, so it gets really busy!)
- Get a basket or bag. I started out with using a really big re-usuable bag to lug my laundry, and actually ended up breaking it - so now I'm using a laundry hamper. You want something that is going to be easy to carry and strong enough to hold your laundry
- Bring work to the laundry room. I know a lot of people put their stuff in and leave, but I personally like to stay in the laundry room while it's washing and drying. I'm not worried about people stealing my stuff, but the laundry room is a great place to get work done without distractions!
- Do laundry with a friend. Most things are for fun when you have company, laundry included! I usually end up doing laundry with a friend that way we both get something done that's necessary and we don't have to go alone.
- Wear something cool. Not cool as in like, lookin' good, because lets be honest, if you're doing laundry then you're probably down to your last pair of sweats, so you probably aren't runway worth. What I mean is that wear something that you're not going to get really hot in. If all of the dryers are going, then the room is probably going to get really hot.
- Check the lint catcher. You'd be surprised at how much lint one load can generate... So make sure to scoop it out and throw it out!

Good luck, and I hope your favourite white t-shirt doesn't turn pink!

Getting Sick at School

Winter's here, and it's brought all the nasty colds and flu's with it. While getting sick just sucks in general, getting sick at school sucks even more. In some of my lectures you can't even hear what the prof is saying because there's so many coughing an sniffling. Ew. Being at school makes it so much easier to get sick, especially if you're living in residence, germs spread as fast. Here are some tips to avoid getting sick, and what to do if you do happen to get sick (like me!)

1. Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands or sanitize them as much as possible. It will help to eliminate germs! If you're sick, then make sure to do it a lit - I recommend carrying a little bottle of hand sanitizer with you. Bath and Body Works has a lot of really nice smelling ones, and when they're on sale you can get them 5 for $5.

2. Drink Lots of Water
If you have a sore throat or a cough, then avoid drinking milk and dairy products. It'll make you feel worse and it won't help your cough get better! Drink water and stay hydrated.

3. Take a Vitamin
You probably aren't eating as healthy as you should be, which means you might be lacking necessary vitamins that your body needs. An easy way to solve this is to take a multivitamin once a day, that way your body is getting everything that it needs.

4. Kleenex and Lots of It
Stock up on Kleenexes  No one likes that one person who refuses to blow their nose, and they just sniffle all day, gross. Get boxes of them, and keep a few Kleenexes in your pockets and purses and backpacks - you can never have too many!

5. Use the Appropriate Medication
Make sure to take the right meds based on your symptoms, and don't over or under medicate yourself. Don't take nyquil before your 9 am class, you will probably pass out and possible have the snore and drool combo - not cool.

6. Check Health Services
See if your school has a health services center if you feel something could be really wrong with you. Some sicknesses are quite contagious, like strep throat and mono. You can easily be tested for these and it'll save you the hassle of getting blamed for your whole floor being stick in quarantine.

7. Dont Share Drinks
Seriously, though. Don't be stupid and share your drinks with people, they don't want your icky germs or cooties.

8. Separate Yourself If You Can
If you live close enough, maybe go home for a few days if you're feeling really bad, or at leas try to stay in your room and not get other sick. Its bad enough being sick, but it's even worse living on a floor with 10 sick and very cranky people.

So that's it for now, feel better if you're sick! :)

Dressing for the Occasion

With so many new trends always coming out, it's hard to focus on the ones that are worth trying, especially in university/college. Sometimes there's just no time to look cute, and whatever doesn't smell is the first thing that makes it on you. That's okay! But, for those times where you do consider what to wear, here are some choices for different occasions!

Dress To Impress: Interview

Dressing the part for an interview is always important! While you don't have to look super fancy, looking professional is always key. In this outfit I paired a few basic things to make a great interview outfit.

Here's a formula for a great int

1. Blazer - A blazer is a great thing to have in your wardrobe. Whether you need it for an interview, or it becomes part of your daily wardrobe, you can never go wrong with a great black blazer. They come in all different price ranges and you can get some for pretty cheap.

2. Nice Tank Top - When picking a shirt, make sure you're not showing too much cleavage. Pick a nice but modest looking one, I chose this one because it gives a nice pop of colour.

3. Leggings or Dress Pants - I've worn both for an interview, so choose what you're more comfortable in.

4. Flats or Heels - Again, up to you! Whatever you feel comfortable in :)

Class

I've put together two different outfits here, both of them use the same basic pieces: Jeans, a cardigan, a tank top, and boots.

The first look I created is for those of you who dress up a little bit more, hence the sparkly top.
The second look is more simple, with a a plain but pretty coloured tank top and ugg-like boots. Add a scarf if you want to add a little bit more.
This is for any day of the week, when we all take a break from our sweatpants.

Going Out

Here I did two different types of outfits that you can wear when you're going out.

First: a little bit dressier and edgier. The black body-con skirt is really popular now, and you're going to see it everywhere. The shoes add a bit of an edgy vibe to the outfit. This can either be worn with the lace tank top, or the purple one.

Second: This is for those of you who aren't a huge fan of the whole tight, short skirt thing. You can totally look great, and feel more comfortable! For this look, I paired some black jeggings, a cream lace top and bright red heels to give it a pop of colour. You can also do it with the blue tank top, and switch the colour of your heels around - blue and red don't always go together. 

Weekend

Here's an easy going outfit look that I designed.

Sweatpants are comfy and great for weekends, or just anytime! Grab your favourite kind, a white t-shirt and throw on your fave sneakers or toms! Cute and comfortable.
Another possible option is putting on some comfy leggings and your favourite and well worn band shirt.

Business Casual Events

You never know when you're going to need a classy outfit thats not over the top, but not too frumpy either. Whether you're doing a presentation in front of your class, or going out to a nice restaraunt, you'll probably need something nice to wear over the course of your schooling.

A fit 'n flare dress in a different colour always works, pair it with some tights and either some ankle booties or flats with nice detail and you're ready to rock whatever you've got planned.

Afternoon (or eternity) at the Library

Studying is going to happen, so you might as well be comfortable while you're doing it. Throw on your comfiest jeans, your softest t shirt and some trusty converse, and you're ready to study the day away. Or, pull on your warmest sweater and your yoga pants, slip on your shoes, and you're out the door!

I hope some of these outfits helped you, with so little time in school sometimes it's hard to decide what to eat, nevermind what you're going to wear to the next party.
Enjoy :)

10 Tips For House Hunting

This post is for those of you who are starting to look at places to live next year. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of living in residence, so I'm really excited to live off campus this year! Currently I'm searching for a place to live with a few other people, and it's tough being first-time renters. It's a whole new experience and we weren't really sure how to go about a lot of stuff.
Since I'm currently going through this, here's a list of some tips that I've learned from this:

Look Early
If you're just starting to look now... Well, you came a bit late to the game - a lot of people have already signed leases by now. Don't get too freaked out though, you can still find a decent place. Looking for houses is early if you want to get the best bang for your buck, and the nicest house. It's also good if you/your group is picky.

Know Your Numbers
Not only know how much you can spend, but know how many people you're for sure going to live with. Signing a lease is a legal document, so if someone signs and then decides to drop out then they're going to have to still pay, or they're going to try to sucker you into doing it for them. To avoid this, make sure you know the people that you're living with are 100% dedicated to it. Another type of number to be concerned about it the price point. Talk to your group and set a maximum price that you're willing to pay, and only look at places that are within the price.

Location is Key
Most schools will have housing close by that is unofficially deemed student housing. These are the streets that you can walk down on a friday/saturday night and there will most definitely be some parties, or a few going on. If that's your thing, then that's the place for you. If not, think about getting a place away from this, because it's really going to piss you off if people are yelling and being typical drunks at 1am and you're trying to sleep. Another thing to look at is to make sure the neighbourhood is safe - throughout my search for a place to live we've seen some pretty trashy and dumpy looking places. You want to be safe in your place and not have to worry about putting 10 locks on your front door. Avoid they shady areas. Yesterday my future housemates and I were at an open house and a bunch of prospective renters were standing outside of the house and this guy pulled up in his car and asked us if we were the people giving out free weed... then asked if we were a church group. It's safe to say we decided that wasn't the house for us.

Think About Transportion
Does anyone have a car? Will you be walking to school, or using the bus? These are things to think about when looking for a place to live. You can find a beautiful place, but if it's going to take you an hour by bus to get to school everyday, is it really worth it?

Know Your Future Housemates
No one wants to be stuck living with people you hate, or even worse, people you don't know. Be careful that you don't end up living with 8 people - that could get hectic! Know who you're going to be living with, and make sure that you're going to be able to live with them without wanting to punch them in the face - or without actually punching them. If you have a problem with one of your housemates ideas, be honest about it, you don't want to get stuck in a situation that you don't want to be in.

Don't Get the First House You Find
Unless you absolutely love it and you couldn't imagine living anywhere else, look around. You never know what good deals and good houses that you're going to find. Don't settle on a house that is just okay because you don't want to spend the time looking at others. The time time you put into finding a house will pay off.

Are Utilities Included?
This is a big factor for my group while we've been looking at houses. We want utilities to be included in the price of our house each month, that way we don't have to deal with them. Decide if you want to have to pay for the on top of your house, or if they are included in the price.

Does it Come With Furnishings?
Some places will come with furnishings and some won't. It's most likely that they won't but you will find some that come with pretty much everything necessary. A lot of places won't need too much furniture - beds, desks, tables, chairs, couches - that kind of stuff. This can get costly, but you can also do it on the cheap. Figure out if anyone has any old furniture that they can contribute, and what you'll need to buy to make your future house unique.

Get To Know the Landlord
Landlords can be great and helpful, just make sure yours is actually going to do what they say. If something happens to go wrong with the house, for example, if the toilet starts leaking, they are in charge of fixing it. Make sure that they're the kind of person that's actually going to fix things and not just leave it. Something else to consider is, if you're in a house, who is going to handle the yard work. Is the landlord in charge of mowing the lawn, or are you?

Ask Questions
Make sure to take a tour of the houses, and ask questions! If they aren't willing to answer your questions, or they don't sound very knowledgeable about the property, then you might want to consider looking elsewhere.
Here are some good ones to ask:
- How much is the house per month?
- Will there be a security deposit?
- What needs to be payed upfront? (first/last months rent)
- What does the price include?
- Who else has access to the house?
- Will the locks be changed after the current residents move out?
- What stores/things are nearby?
- Will there be inspections?
- When does the lease start?
- How old are the appliances?
- Are pets allowed?
- Has the house been inspected for bugs?
- When was the last time the house was inspected?
- Does it come with cable/internet/phone?
- Who do you call when there are problems with the house?

Good luck on your search for a house, everyone!

Roommates

At some point in your life, you're probably going to have a roommate, or at least a house mate. Dealing with this new change can be hard - especially if you've always had a room to yourself. While yes, it does suck at times, it can also be really fun! Here are some tips and ways to help you get through living with someone else:

Get To Know Them
Bond with your roommate, try to do things with them every once in a while! It's nice to know what things you have in common, and that way it's not just all small talk. Go with them for dinner once a week, or watch a movie, or even just hang with them. Living with someone is easier when they're not a complete stranger.

Try To Be Friends
While you might not become best friends, it is nice to be friends with the person you're living with. Yeah, that always happens in movies or on tv shows... That's not always the case! It does happen occasionally  but also be prepared to possibly not get along with your room mate at all. You don't have to hang out with them 24/7, but it's better to like them than to hate them.

Don't Be Too Clingy
Yes, it is nice to be friend with your roommate, but understand that you're not their only friend. No one really likes super clingy people and by trying to hang out with them too much it's just going to make them feel weird and uncomfortable, and make them not want to hang out with you.

Be Respectful
This is a major one, be respectful of not only them but their stuff. If they don't tell you that you can touch their things, then don't. Don't borrow their stuff or clothes or anything. Really, don't do it. If you have decided that you can use each other stuff, that's fine, but just make sure that it's a mutual thing. Don't eat all their food and leave nothing, replace it if you eat it all! Don't come in late at night and make a ton of noise, be quiet! Treat you room mate and their stuff how you would want them to treat yours.

Keep The Room/House Clean
If you're sharing a room with someone, then it's probably about the size of your room at home - just with two people living it it. In other words, it's about the size of a closet. Make sure to keep your stuff on your side, and place vacuum every once in a while. Clean up your dirty clothes, and wash your dishes - no one wants to see your gross cereal bowls everywhere. If you're sharing a house, make a list of chores and assign one to each person, and then just rotate so that everyone gets the lovely task of cleaning the toilet.

Address Problems as they Arise
If something bugs you about your roommate, tell them when it happens - don't wait for months to bring it up. If you let little things slide, then it's going to get bigger and then there will be a real problem. Don't be like the people on my floor who got so mad at each other who ended up punching one another. Learn from them, and get these things resolved while they're still small. But on the other side, try not to be the roommate who complains about every single little thing - they're just annoying and no one really likes them.

Be Nice to Their Friends
Your roommate or housemate will probably have friends over at some point. Be nice to them and polite! Who knows, you might make some new friends of your own.

Don't Panic if Your Roommate Sucks
The way I see it, all you room has to be is a place to sleep. If you hate your roommate a lot, and it's just not going to work out, talk to the department of residence. Usually they're pretty accommodating and will let you switch rooms. If you don't want to get them involved, just hang out with your other friends during the day and try to stay out of your room. You will get through it!

Be Careful About Who You Bring Into Your Room
If you have a girlfriend/boyfriend (or if you don't) just be respectful about what you do in your room and when. If you want the room to yourself, then tell your roommate! ...Just don't kick them out like, every day.

Good luck with your roommate/housemate :)

Decorating Your Dorm Room on a Budget

We've all see the beautifully decorated dorm rooms on tv shows and in the movies. Realistically, your room probably will never look like that. But that's okay, because you can still have an awesome looking room, and do it on a budget! Here's some tips and tricks, as well as some pictures as to how you can decorate your room!

Here's what my room looks like:

Pretty plain, I know! But you should have seen it before I put my own personal touch on it! This is actually only have of my room, because I have a double to myself :)

Here are my favourite aspects of my room, maybe you'll even get some ideas!

Quotes: 

Quotes are really important to me so I had to make sure that they were a part of my room too! What I usually do is write my favourite quotes on pieces of paper, cut them out, and then stick them all over my wall around my calendar (you'll see what it looks like later in the post) and then the second picture shown is a wall sticker! There are so many different ways to have quotes in your room, whether you write them, or paint them on a canvas/buy them, the can really make your room look cool.

Calendar/Scarf

As you can see, I have my calendar in the middle and my quotes up all around it! I think wall calendars are really awesome because not only are the functional, but that can look pretty as well!

Also you can see my school scarf up above the calendar... My room at home has scarfs hanging everywhere to decorate - there are so many pretty colours and patterns and you can put them everywhere!

Whiteboard

I honestly love my whiteboard, it's such a fun thing to have. I have mine on the outside of my door, and it's great for people to leave you messages if they need to talk to you! Also, I never know what will be drawn on it when I come back from class next. My whole floor loves it and gets really creative in their drawings. You can get whiteboards at the dollar store (thats where I got mine!) or bigger ones at stores like walmart. They come in all shapes in sizes to fit your wants and needs. 

Plants

This is my African Violet. While it's not blooming yet, once it gets closer to summer it'll be filled with pretty purple flowers! Plants are a great way to add some life to your room and they just make it seem nice and fresh. Hopefully by the end of the year I'll have more than just this one. With so many different types of pants out there, you will find one that you like - who knows, maybe a nice cactus will brighten up your room!

Fish

Okay, while my fish might not be real - it sure looks like it! If you tap the tank it reacts like a real fish... It's pretty much the perfect pet for a university/college student because you can't kill it!
Anyway, whether your fish is real or not, it adds a little something different to your room!

Bed

My bed is probably my favourite part of my room. I love the bed set that I got and the different blankets. You can get fairly cheap sets anywhere, I got mine at homesense (It's like a canadian version of marshalls but for house stuff) but you can get them at places like walmart or target too! Even if the actual set is boring, you can always spice it up by mixing prints and colours. Your bed is probably where you're going to be spending a lot of your time, so you might as well like it!

So yeah, that's my room for you guys! But here are some other ideas for decorating your room:

Be Creative

It's YOUR room, and your the one that's going to have to live with it for the next year or whatever. Personalize it, and let the true you shine through. If you want it colourful, then do that! If you want a themed bedroom, go for it. Do what you want to do, it's your masterpiece.
If you want to put up cat mirrors, do it. 

Pictures

I'm probably one of the only university students that don't have pictures on their walls. But that's just me! I know a lot of people on my floor have their walls covered in them! You can make nice collages or just have them in cool picture frames - it's up to you.

Christmas Lights

I have Christmas lights hanging in my room at home, but sadly not in my dorm room. You can string them around your room and not only do they look pretty, but they're functional. You can go for colourful or get cool black and white ones, the choice is yours.

Posters

At the beginning of the school year, most schools have poster fairs. They have hundreds to choose from and have different types, so you're bound to find one you like. Whether you want a picture of that actor/actress that you think is just so hot, or pictures of your favourite band, it'll really personalize your room more. 

Rugs

If your room has that ugly-who-knows-how-old-this-is carpet then it's probably pretty nasty looking. Years of wear and tear, stains, and who knows what else has probably made your floor look pretty dingy. Don't fret! You can find neat looking rugs at almost every store, you can bring back the nice shag carpet stage, or go for a classy black and white. Go crazy... Well, not too crazy. 

Candles 

Some schools allow you to have candles and some don't - so make sure you check before you light 'er up! Not only do they make your room smells nice, but they can be cute decorations.

Storage

Having a place to put your stuff doesn't mean you room has to look ugly! There's tons of portable fabric drawer sets that you can buy to hold your prizes possessions  Also, you can get these cube-like chairs/stools, and when you take the top off, it's a storage area! 

Bunk Beds/Loft Beds

Some bed frames can lift up so you can stack the beds, you can give this a try if you and your roomie are pressed for space! You've have more floor space, which is always a plus.

Pillows/Blankets and Chairs

If you have enough room for a few chairs for when your friends stay over, lucky you! (some of us barely have room to walk, nevermind entertain in our rooms) Mix it up with with different colours and designs. If you don't have room for chairs, maybe invest in some snazzy looking pillows or blankets for if you and your friends get stuck sitting on the floor. (remember how icky that floor could be... maybe we should just stick with the rug idea)

DIY Decorations

It's always so satisfying to have someone praise you on something that you made yourself. There are hundreds of do it yourself decorations that you can make and use to spruce up your room! I'm compiling a list of good ones, so watch for a post revolving around this soon!

Well, there you have it! A crash course in interior decoration for the dorm room. Maybe some of these ideas have inspired you to change up your room! If you have any other suggestions, just send in a comment - I always love hearing new ways to make my room look great.

How To Handle Before and After Exams

Exam Time is stressful for everyone - exams don't discriminate. Whether you're at the top of your class or the bottom of your class, you still get the same thing that thinks it can determine your intelligence.
Exams are now over for me, and there are so many things that I learned from my first shot at round 1 of university exams. While it may be late now, maybe book mark this for when term 2 exams come around... Or for any of you high school students reading, listen up, because shit's about to get real.
Exams like to boss us around, tell us that we're either smart or stupid, they think that they know us better than ourselves. But guess what? They don't determine how intelligent you are.
Intelligence can't really be determined by one stupid test, because intelligence means something different to everyone. Don't feel bad if you didn't do as well on your exam as you thought you would - we've all been there. Here are some tips for trying to handle the stress and everything else that comes along before and after exams.

BEFORE THE EXAM:

Make Sure You Have All Your Notes
There's nothing worse than going to study for an exam and then finding out that you don't have all the notes from lecture... Remember that one time you skipped class to sleep off a nasty hangover? Well it's coming back to haunt you now! Try to make friends in all of your classes, that way if you happen to miss class, you have someone to get the notes from. Everyone hates those kids that post in the facebook groups looking for a full set of notes... a week before the exam. Seriously, don't be that person. I'm warning you.

Manage Your Time
Usually schools give you your exam timetable ahead of time. Use this and determine when you need to study and for how long. You're the only person that can determine what you know and what you don't, so make sure to schedule enough time for each class!

Do The Readings Ahead of Time
Generally prof's will assign you readings that you're supposed to be keeping up with throughout the year. Don't leave them until the last minute (like me) because it's really not fun trying to read 10 chapters of that incredibly boring textbook in just one day. And really, when you cram like that, how much information are you really retaining anyway?

Don't Cram
I know, it sounds simple, yet we all do it. It's probably useless to tell you this, but seriously, don't cram. Staying up until 4am studying for your 10am exam isn't going to do you much good - the most likely scenario would be you falling asleep at your exam. Get a good night's rest (or about as much sleep as you can must up, I know I find it hard to sleep the night before an exam) and try your best.

Stay Away From The Drugs
Around exam time drugs like Adderall are about as common as people in sweatpants. People often take drugs that are supposed to help treat things like ADHD around exam time because it helps them stay awake and focus better. Stay away from these. While it might seem like a good plan at the time, they are harmful to your body and are highly addictive. Keep it clean.

Skip The Partying
While it is very tempting to blow off some steam by attending that huge kegger a few nights before your exam, it's probably not a good idea. Save the partying for after the exam, you're going to be less stressed and your mark will probably benefit from that extra night of studying.

DURING THE EXAM:

Don't Be Scared
If your school does things like mine, then it can be really scary walking into the gym with hundreds of other people and just looking at the rows and rows of desks. It's okay, just take a deep breath, and make sure you sit in the right spot. Once you get in the zone and start writing the other people won't matter.

Stay Calm
There's no benefit to getting worked up when you see the exam. Keep calm and skim it first. Go through and look and the questions, if you don't know something at first, move on. A trick for ones like multiple choice are do the ones that you know, and circle the ones that you don't - that way you won't miss them when you go back to finish them, and maybe the answer will come to you while you're doing other questions.

Don't Leave an Answer Blank
Even if you don't know the answer, put something down. If you at least try, you could get part marks - there's no benefit to just not answering the question.

Don't Rush Yourself
You know how long you have for the exam, and how fast you do things. Plan how long you should be taking on each task and react accordingly. There's no prize for being the first one done, and there's no penalty to being the last. Take you time and work at your own speed. Just because everyone's leaving, it doesn't mean that you have to as well.

AFTER THE EXAM

Party Time

Sorry, just kidding. Well, you can party if you want - that's your decision.

Waiting For Your Marks
Sometimes waiting to get your marks can be even more stressful than actually preparing for the exam. My philosophy is simple: hope for the best but expect the worst.
But really, I try to have no expectations about my exam marks, that way you're not as disappointed if you didn't do well. Honestly, it is completely possible to do good on university exams. But on the other hand, you can definitely fail them.

I Failed! What Should I Do Now?!
Breathe, everything can work out. While it'll probably feel good to cry or get frustrated or angry, know that it's not the end of the world. Most classes don't rely solely on the exam mark, so there are other assignments that can pull your mark up. You can pull your mark up.
Don't be too hard on yourself okay? Learn from your mistakes and fix things for next time. Don't feel like a failure, don't feel dumb or stupid. Some people struggle with the idea of exam writing, and just because you didn't do well doesn't mean that you don't know it. Most exams only measure our ability to regurgitate information, not understand it.
You are smart. Don't let this get to you. It's in the past, keep it there, and move on.

I hope that these will help you in some way, exams are tough on everyone. It's a tough time filled with study snacks (forget freshman 15... freshman 50, anyone?) sweatpants, and sleep deprivation. You can make it through, and you can be successful.

How To Survive Grocery Shopping

Unfortunately, unless you're one of those people that get your groceries delivered to your door then you will always have to go grocery shopping. While yes it sucks, it is manageable. Here are some helpful tips that could help get you through your next shop successfully and without breaking your bank account.

1. Have a method of transportation
Whether you have a car, you're taking a taxi, or you're using that trusty bus pass - know that you have a way to and from the grocery store.  If you happen to be taking the bus, know what time it comes and where it comes - it really sucks being the person running to catch the bus, but it sucks even more if you're the person running to catch the bus while carrying all of their groceries. Not only do you look stupid, but everyone pretty much has the automatic right to laugh at you.

2. Bring a list
If you don't you will forget things! Also it helps you stay on track so you don't overspend.

3. Leave extra time
You never know when there could be a line, so make sure you have enough time. You don't want to run late and be the awkward person that comes late to lecture all because you took too long getting your groceries. Leave time so that you can make sure not to be rushed!

4. Coupons
Look for sales and coupons, the money that you save on groceries can go to other things! See if your local stores will price match with other stores, that way you're not trailing all over the city to get a deal, or so you don't over pay. It's your chance to be like the people on extreme couponing.

5. Plan you meals
If you plan ahead then you're more likely to have a quicker grocery trip. Also, that way you know what to buy and exactly what you're going to need.

6. Stock up
Whether that means being a hoarder and making a huge Costco trip, or just making sure you have enough for the week - make sure you don't buy a few meals at a time. It's really inconvenient and usually the more you buy, the better the deals. When it comes to groceries, it is all about the money!

7. Split the bill
If you go shopping with your friends or housemates, make sure to split the bill that way no one is stuck paying all of it, and that way it's even! It always sucks when you end up paying for most of it when it's not even your food!

8. Don't be afraid to try new things
Don't get stuck buying the same things every time, KD and frozen pizzas do get boring after a while! Try something new, you never know! ...Maybe just make sure to have a back up plan in case you don't like it!

9. Look for student deals
If there's a grocery store near your school, then they might have special deals for students! At the local store near me, every tuesday students get 10% off if they show their student card! While 10% might not seem like a lot, it will add up! Utilize this, I mean, there's not many discounts in between the student discount and the senior one!

10. Have fun
Grocery shopping doesn't always have to be a bad experience! Go with some friends and make it an adventure - you never know what you'll find!

Hope that helps, and good luck on your next grocery trip!

Workout Songs/Personal Dance Party Playlist

The only thing that goes better with a workout other than your favourite pair of running shoes is a great playlist. The same goes for when you're just jamming out in your room to the newest song by your fave band. Working out and dancing relieves a lot of stress, so give it a try! Here are some songs to get your feet going to, as well as your heart rate!

Here's the list in no particular order, click on it for the link:
1. Over You (Going Out Remix) - Honor Society
2. Gangam Style - Psy
3. Live In This City - Dragonette
4. I Like It Like That - Hot Chelle Rae
5. Glad You Came - The Wanted
6. Some Nights - Fun. 
7. I Cry - Flo Rida
8. Desperate Measures - Marianas Trench
9. La La - The Cab
10. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
11. Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
12. Bangarang - Skrillex
13. Here It Goes - OK Go
14. Highway To Hell - AC/DC
15. Lonely Boy - The Black Keys
16. Firework - Katy Perry
17. Pump It - Black Eyed Peas
18. Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C+C Music Factory
19. Just Dance - Lady Gaga
20. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
21. Shake It Out - Florence and the Machine
22. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
23. Titanium - David Guetta
24. It's Time - Imagine Dragons
25. Starships - Nicki Minaj

Hopefully there's something in there that works for you! :)
Have fun with your workout or dance party! Don't be afraid to show the world (or your mirror) your moves!

Getting Back Into Routine

Welcome back, students! It's time to get back into the groove of things and actually start hitting the books again for the new semester/term! Now it's time to put your last term behind you (and those exam marks... what's in the past should stay there) and start fresh! After being off of school for almost 2 weeks, I'm finding it a bit hard to get back into routine again. Here are some things that could help you start acting like the star student we know you are!

Set Up Your Calendar
I have a really big wall calendar in my room, and it's really helpful! If you have one of these, or even just a normal calendar (Because seriously, how many people got calendars for Christmas?) fill it out and put your schedule on it! Today I woke up and couldn't even remember what classes I had and when... Let's not miss the first class of the new year, shall we?

Check Your Meal Plan
If you're on a meal plan, then now is a good time to check how much money you have left - you could be surprised! In my case, I have an extra $300 at the moment on mine... But there are the people that are about $500 over their budget! So, check to make sure you're on the right track so you don't have the awkward moment when you go to buy an apply and you don't even have enough for that. We really don't want that to happen.

Check Ahead
If your syllabus' are posted online, give them a look to make sure you don't have anything to do in the near future... If you do happen to have an assignment due at the end of the week well, 1. not cool on your prof's side for making an assignment due so soon and 2. you better hope that you have money on your meal plan because you might need 5 cups of coffee to help for this one. If you plan ahead, you're less likely to forget about important dates and assignments! Hopefully this year we'll all keep up with our assignments and endless readings.

Plan To Go To Class With Friends
Plan to meet up with some friends in your class, that way you're more inclined to go! ...Especially if one of those people happen to be that cute guy/girl from your science class! Going to class is always a good start, and if there's a group of you all heading to class then you probably won't skip.

Get Some Sleep
It's probably not a good thing to hit the parties your first night back - especially if you have class tomorrow morning. Let yourself as well as your bodies adjust to school life again, then you can have your fun! Sleep is important. There's always those people that are so sure they can run on 10 hours of sleep... 10 hours for the whole week, that is. Then it all backfires when you see them knocked out in seminar whilst drooling on themselves... that's attractive. Moral of the story? If you don't want to be the person curled up in the corner of the library, get some sleep! While the whole 8 hours a night thing might not be working out for you, try to get as much sleep as you can - no one want's a cranky student!

Hopefully these will help you get back into shape for school... Good luck for all of you that are back at school, and have a great year! :)

Applying and Getting Accepted To Schools

We've all seen the movie/tv show that shows the eager high school senior waiting by the mailbox for the mailman to appear with their university/college acceptance letter. While it doesn't happen exactly like that, it's actually not too far off. I remember checking the mail every day (sometimes twice a day, just in case I thought I had missed it) to see if I had any acceptance letters.
The season for applying and getting acceptances is upon us, and this can be a stressful time of the year.
Here's a few tips I have for those of you who are going through this process!

Make Sure You Apply On Time
Seriously, guys. You're not going to get accepted if you don't apply on time, so make sure to know the deadlines for whatever you're applying to!

Check To See If They Require Any Extra Documents or Essays
Each school is different, some just need you to fill out a form, and some of them want you to write a whole essay for them. Check to make sure that you've provided all the necessary documentation that they want - you don't want to get declined because you missed that 200 word response that they were asking for!

Read The Instructions When You Apply
Please, whatever you do, read the instructions! I, myself am one of those people that thinks they can figure anything out by them self without having to read the directions. DO IT. READ THEM. If you miss a step, you don't want to be responsible for not being accepted! Taking 5 minutes to read what they're asking of you is going to save you a lot of trouble and tears if you find out you didn't get into your dream school just because you did something wrong when applying.

Research, Research, Research!
Make sure you look into the schools that you're applying to! Many schools have open houses or days that you can go to tour the school - take advantage of these opportunities! Look at the campus, because that can really change the way you see a school - remember you're going to be there for the next 4 or so years, so you might as well like the place! Find out as much about the school that you can, it'll come in handy when it comes down to deciding what school to accept. If you have a question about the school or your program - ASK IT! The more you know the better.

Don't Get Discouraged If People Are Getting Accepted And You Aren't
Each school has different admission steps that they have to go through, and many schools do different 'rounds' of acceptances. Some schools accept you the day after you applied (They're probably desperate for students) and some schools wait until the month that you have to accept an offer. Don't stress if your friends are getting letters are you aren't, okay? Just keep waiting, and it'll come! Just because yours comes later, it doesn't mean that you're their last pick... Some schools are just slow with these things. So take a chill pill, and stop harassing the mail man.

Look Into Different Scholarships
Every school is going to have different scholarships that they offer their students. While some schools might be offering you a $500 entry scholarship, others could be offering you a $2000 entry scholarship (and a free ipad, my university rocks!). Look into those, because it could play a factor in where you choose. I mean, who doesn't love free money?!

I hope these help you! If any of you have any questions regarding this, don't be shy and ask a question!

Good Luck, and I hope you get into your top school!

Things I Wish I Had Known Going Into University

There are so many things that I worried about going into university, worrying is to be expected but I took it to a whole other level! Anyways, here's a list of a few things that I wish I had known prior to going to university:

1. You WILL Make Friends!
I was so worried that I wasn't going to be able to make friends in University. Granted, I did have a few friends going to the same university as me, but I was just so scared that I wasn't going to meet anyone! It doesn't matter what you're into, you WILL find someone that will either appreciate the same wacky things as you do, or someone who will at least tolerate them with a smile on their face. There are so many opportunities to make friends, don't stress it, it'll happen!

2. University Costs Way More Than You Think
Even with working a summer job every day all summer I still hadn't saved up enough money to help me that much for university. Remember to take into account things that you're going to need to buy, whether it's textbooks (those cost A LOT) bedding, decorations, or just personal items... It's inevitable  you probably will be in debt by the end of the year.

3. You Don't Have To Drink To Have A Good Time
Personally, I'm not someone that drinks. It's not because my parents are super strict or anything, it's just a personal choice that I've decided to make. I found a great group of friends, some of them drink, and some of them don't - and that's fine! But know that if you want to stay sober, you can still have an awesome time and university experience. You don't have to drink at a party - fill your cup with pop or whatever you want to drink, no one will care. And if they do make a big deal about drinking, well then are they really the people that you want to be hanging out with anyway? If you're not a party person, you can have fun too! My friends and I get together almost every Friday night and watch a movie and bake something! Not only is it fun, but we're also not left battling a rough hangover in the morning.

4. Cafeteria Food Sucks
Yep, I said it, caf food sucks. I was so excited at the beginning of the year that I wouldn't have to cook food for myself... Now I wish I had that opportunity! It's okay for about the first week, until you realize that you might have had a few too many chicken fingers for lunch. The solution to this is to keep some snacks and food in your room for those times where you just don't feel like going to the cafeteria. Another solution is to make friends with people who have a kitchen! While the cafeteria food isn't all bad, just be prepared to have a few hit and misses when trying the caf food!

5. You Will Be Pulling All-Nighters
It seems so typical, like something you would see in a movie. Just picture it, a university student, surrounded by 4 cups of coffee trying to finish their 10 page paper that's due in 4 hours. It happens. Just usually the movies make our dorm rooms look WAY better. I know very few people who haven't had to pull that caffeine induced all nigher, and they're few and far in between. Just be prepared, but make sure this doesn't become a habit!

6. Residence Can Be Noisy
I learned this one the hard way in my first two weeks living in residence. Living in a dorm room can get noisy, there's always going to be those people who don't respect others. People will be playing music at all hours of the day, even at 3am when you're trying to get to sleep for your 9am class. People will be partying on the weekend, and possibly on your floor. If you're a light sleeper, I'd say that you should invest in some ear plugs if you think the noise is going to bug you. Other than that, there's not much that you can do. You can always be the person to tell the people to quiet down - but usually you just suck it up and make up the sleep the next day... or during the summer.

7. There Will Be An Abundance of Free Stuff
Universities and colleges know that one of the things that motivates us students almost 100% of the time is FREE STUFF. Within the first week of school I somehow ended up with about 7 free shirts and a lot of condoms. Those are some of the go to 'swag' that schools give out, but don't forget the free pens! If I had known that I was going to get so much free stuff, then I probably wouldn't have packed as many pajama shirts as I did... Those free shirts work great for sleeping in, or even just wearing when it's laundry day!

8. Don't Over Pack
You know all of those fancy dresses that you brought and thought you would wear? Well, that's probably going to be a huge waste of space. Leave your closet at home and just bring the most important stuff! For me, living 45 minutes away from home came in handy whenever I forgot something, but for those of you who aren't as lucky - learn to pack the basics! Bring the stuff that you know you're going to wear, maybe a nice thing or two, an interview outfit (you never know when you'll need to look professional) and the basics. It's likely that you're going to be going shopping while you're at school - so save the space in your closet and hit the mall with your new friends!

9. Buy Your Textbooks Used
If it's possible, try to get your books used! I ended up having to buy all of mine new because I waited to long, this ended up not being a very pleasant surprise when I got to the register at the bookstore and saw what I had to pay. My bank account was not happy.

10. Bathroom Can Be Scary, But You Will Get Used To It
My residence building is quite odd in the way that it's set up. Generally, there are 12 people per floor - 6 girls and 6 guys, and there are 4 floors to a stairwell. On each floor, there is a girls washroom and a guys washroom - seems simple, right? Well about a week in 'we' decided that we were going to make our bathrooms coed, since our floor was made up of 3 guys and 8 girls. It was kind of terrifying at the beginning, honestly. It did take a while to get used to the fact that you were never sure who was going to walk into the bathroom. By now, I'm used to it, and the people on my floor are really respectful about the whole thing - if someone is in one bathroom, we just go to the other! I'm not really sure how other universities do it, but from what i've heard usually a bunch of people share a bathroom! While it appears scary, you will get used to it and it'll just become second nature to you!

I hope these were useful to you! Feel free to share things that you wish that you had known before going to school in the comments! :)