Category Archives: Graduating

Graduating College… tips, suggestions & more

April 17, 2013

Staying Positive Before Graduation

Staying positive can be a challenge, especially in senior year right before graduation. For many, positivity may be elusive because your “real world” plans haven’t been finalized yet. Where will you work? Have you interviewed? Did the job offer come yet? Where will you live? Will you move back home?

These questions and concerns can easily overcome our days and stress you to a point where we become paralyzed from the countless decisions to be made. But what’s one to do? When real world situations, family issues, or relationship issues all seem to collide at the most inconvenient time, or sh*t hits the fan? That mixed in with the stress of upper division courses and grade/graduation requirements can make for a tough Spring quarter/semester.

Today’s post is inspired by a recent post titled “6 Simple Ways To Be A Positive Human” from Pickthebrain.com.

What are the tips? Our two favorites were:
Take Action, Don’t be a Talker – Taking action instead will always trump criticism. If you don’t like how something is done, go fix it or take a step to helping out. It’s not too late to help out your fraternity, sorority, or student organization. Don’t just sit on the sidelines and be a critic, but get in the trenches and help out.

Choosing the Right Friends – Choosing the right friends can go such a long way. Surround yourself around go getters and people who are motivated in life. They’ll lift you up, and you’ll lift them up. As the saying goes “The whiners, they keep on whining even in heaven.” – Don’t let these people bring you down.

Have tips to stay positive? Share them below!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lel4nd/5455224577/

January 28, 2013

A year from now or a year from today.

Today’s post was inspired by Seth Godin’s post, Do you remember?

“A year ago today, do you remember where you stood?” – It’s a question that many of us ask ourselves. As January comes to a close, it’s no doubt many people have made resolutions, many people have kept them, but more importantly many have lost track of them or fallen back into the hectic motions of school or work life.

For the seniors who will be graduating this year, and dawning their graduation caps and sashes, where do you want to be this time next year? Will it be moved back home, saving up for the next big thing, or striking it out in the big city, hundreds of miles away from home? Whatever that goal is, why not start planning now? As midterms begin approaching, and *gasp* the final quarter of your college life beguns, what’s next up? Where do you want to be when you look back and think… a year ago today, I was in college… setting goals for my life?

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lululemonathletica/4207563765/

January 23, 2013

What Motivates You?

What Motivates You? It’s such a simple question, but when asked to different people can be answered in so many ways. For the graduating seniors who will be dawning their graduation stoles and gowns, what motivated you to finish college? Was it the diploma? Or the love for your major? Was it pressure from parents? Or the drive to know you have it within yourself?

Well, regardless of what reason it is, or possibly if you’ve lost some of that motivation this year with senioritis, check out these amazing videos on motivation below. We’ve gathered them just for you. Hope you enjoy!

Dan Pink on The Puzzls of Motivation

RSA Animate on The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Motivation for Success: Uncomfortable vs Exhaustion

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeshlabotnik/2365420922/

January 11, 2013

The last time…. or the first time?

Today we came across this photo from a reddit post and while the safety of the invention can be questioned, it brought back nastalgic memories.

As many of us enter the final months of senior year of high school or college and are just about ready to dawn your graduation stoles and hop across stage, it’s thoughts of the last…
The last class our be taking
The last final I’ll be taking
The last paper I’ll have to write
The last time I eat cafeteria food… and more.

But what about firsts?
The first time you’ll be living on your own.
The first time you’ll be working full time?
The first time you’ll be independent from your parents?

Instead of thinking of lasts, how about in 2013 we think of firsts, and the first steps towards your future.

All the best to the Class of 2013!

May 29, 2012

I’m Fine, Thanks (A Documentary College Grads Should Check Out)

Today’s post highlights a video project called “I’m Fine, Thanks.” It’s definitely a must see for all college graduates. What’s the premise you ask? 5 filmmakers traveled across the US to document the story of many and their dreams.

Check out their kickstarter page if you’d like to support them or better yet, Like them and help them promote it on Facebook.

April 23, 2012

Is Business School Worth it for Entrepreneurs?

Today’s blog post highlights grad school (specific business school) and if it’s worth it for entrepreneurs. One of our favorite web sites, Inc.com takes a look into the pros and cons and more importantly provides some recommendations for those interested in an MBA after graduation.

One of the most interesting tips was
“Base all your electives and classes around a startup idea or thesis. Every course or elective you take should help you launch a company.” – I couldn’t agree with this more. Even in undergrad, when you were able to apply your learnings to student organizations, your job, or a start-up, it made the course that much more rewarding.  And in the fraternity and sorority setting, when you were given the opportunities to do things that excited you, didn’t that real world experience translate even more to your positive memories?

Go check out the full post here and let us know what you think:

http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/entrepreneurs-make-business-school-pay-off.html

Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/buenosairesprensa/5738441386/

April 13, 2012

Video Game Breaks

I remember when growing up, video games was the best way to destress. Back then, at most there were GameBoys that you could bring around, or you’d be locked down to your home TV and the SNES, N64, or Sega.

Now, it seems as if games are everywhere. But if anything, many games are less engaging. It’s about completing a quick Angry Birds level, or a Draw Something phrase… if you have a smartphone, you have a mobile game.

But when was the last time you sat back and just unwinded and played some video games?

LifeHacker has an interesting article about blowing off the dust on your game console or upgrading your computer so that you can play the most recent games.

So if it’s raining (like it is in LA today), maybe sitting back to some video games isn’t such a bad idea?

Full post here: http://lifehacker.com/5901898/take-a-break-and-play-some-video-games-this-weekend

*Disclaimer: Make sure you don’t play too many video games or get addicted where your grades start suffering in your last year in high school or college! Shameless plug: And order your graduation sashes if you haven’t already ;)

March 31, 2012

Stress Can Be A Bitch

Let’s admit it, stress can be a bitch. Whether you’re graduating high school or graduating college, or finishing up grad school this year, with change comes a lot of transition and planning for the next step in your journey.

In these times, it’s even often harder to find those moments where you can be at one with yourself when it feels like there are 1,000 things on your to do list to tackle before graduation.

Today’s post features an article on the PickThebrain.com blog. The best tip we came across was:

“When stress emerges it is often from time-pressure and being overworked. We all forget, or want to ignore the fact that we can’t do it all! We want to take on more without giving something up. Doing so will ultimately come back to burry us.
If we’re constantly on the go we need to eventually take a break for some R&R.”

We couldn’t have said this better. In the final year of your graduation, be sure not to bite off more than you can chew and over commit yourself. Go for quality and not quantity in the things and activities you pursue.

For more fantastic tips, you can check out the full post here. See you at graduation!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33909700@N02/3159761620/

March 26, 2012

Budgeting for Graduation

Budgeting for the graduating senior can be a tricky thing. With senior year comes a bunch of extra expenses. From end of the year banquets, to graduation parties, graduation stoles, moving expenses and more… it all adds up.

Another cost of senior year that often isn’t always factored in is food and entertainment. If you’re one who goes out with friends often, it’s very possible that you end up spending more than you want to when at bars.

Today’s post highlights a better post from wisebread.com on budgeting tips.

“Every good budget should have a section for entertainment and fun purchases (or else, what are you earning all of that money for?) but building a little splurge fund that rolls over from month to month gives you a way to treat yourself occasionally without wrecking the rest of your financial health.”

Read the full post here. (Wisebread)

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59937401@N07/5474168441/

March 21, 2012

The Joys of Reading & Graduation


“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
- Dr. Seuss

So true are the words of Dr. Seuss, especially during this time of year when 4th or 5th year seniors are getting ready for finals, their last semester at school and most importantly graduation!

For me, one of the things that helped me transition from undergrad life to moving home, and then the working world was reading. As strange as it might sound, I remember growing up and actively reading Goosebumps and Choose Your Own Adventure paperbacks, but then somewhere along that path to college, reading became uncool for me. I’m not sure if it was peer pressure to watch TV and sports, but I just didn’t pick up a book, unless it was assigned to me by a teacher.

In college, my thirst for knowledge returned, but in blog format. Often scouring the internet and Google to find tips on how to use a dslr camera, or recipes to cook to impress that one girl. But at the end, it was when I finished undergrad, and the thirst for knowledge, that brought me to Amazon and Starbucks to spend Saturday afternoons.

A few books I’d recommend?

Leaving Microsoft to Change The World
Delivering Happiness

And these ones recommended by the LiveYourLegend.com web site. I have yet to read The Alchemist, but it’s on my list!

http://liveyourlegend.net/the-5-books-i-reread-every-year/

So what are you waiting for to pick up a book?

Plug:
Lastly if you have not already, make sure to order your graduation sashes before it’s too late!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aheram/449353221/