Tag Archives: Graduation

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/

April 8, 2013

Frozen Grapes in Wine?

So with graduation and graduation parties coming up soon, for those that do choose drink and enjoy a glass of wine, have you heard of this trick?  The trick is adding frozen grapes to your wine and using them as ice cubes.

Why you ask? Because wine is often best served between 45-60 degrees. Adding in the frozen grapes will likely not dillute or throw off the flavor and would be a quick way to do it in case you forgot to chill your wine.

So wash a batch of grapes and throw it into the refrigerator as soon as you can so that when commencement comes and you’re decked out in your graduation gown and sash, if you do forget to chill the wine, you’ll have a solution!

Read the full tip here
Photo Credit: http://www.improvisedlife.com/2011/08/29/dept-of-chill-wine-friendly-grape-ice-cubes/

February 21, 2013

Homework Productivity

Productivity. It’s something we all strive for. In college, it’s getting through all of the readings and assignments without being distracted. In the real world, it might be hitting that deliverable deadline on time, and consistently.

But what does it really mean? Does productivity mean always being busy? Would a worker who is done with his or her work in 4 hours, and sits around the rest of the day be more or less productive than a worker who takes 8 hours to finish the same amount of work?

When thinking about this, but in the context of college, I’m sure we’ve all had our friends who were more “productive” in class. In that, they could read or study material once and just get it. And for others, including myself, sometimes we’d struggle to fully understand the concepts of discrete mathematics, or credits and debits, or a sociology topic.

So what are tips that can help you be more productive as you move one step closer to graduation and dawning those graduation sashes and stoles?

One tip is to use the rule of three and keep major decisions to three of fewer people. So when you’re trying to decide the course of your final project, or how to organize your chapter’s next event… consider going with the rule of three.

Looking for more productivity tips? Check out this great article on the globeandmail.com. While the tips pertain more to companies, you can see how this can easily apply to study groups, Greek chapters, and more.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toothrot/6965598661/

January 30, 2013

College Pantry: Stocking Up To Eat Healthier

It’s no doubt that eating healthy, cooking, and college don’t always go together.

From late days of studying, to grabbing the quickest/cheapest fast food option nearby, it’s easy to pack on many of those pounds before you dawn your graduation stole and gown.

So what are some tips to avoid eating out all the time?

MainStreet.com has a great (and short) article on 10 meal starters that you should always keep in your kitchen. Cooked correctly, these will keep you full, be nutritious options, and your spending low.

Check out the full article here.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/donaleen/7045604729/

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 16, 2013

Networking, Happy Hours & College

To some people, when you ask them what college was to them, they’ll remember the classes, or that one professor who was amazing. To others, it’ll be the friends and lifelong connections they built. And to many others, it might be the parties, and late nights out, or simply just graduation and being done.

We’ve all heard the term liquid courage when it comes to alcohol. In a recent research study done at the University of Pittsburgh, the research stated that that “moderate amounts of alcohol increase both positive emotions and social bonding and also relieve negative emotions.”

So what exactly does this mean? Well, you’ll want to read the full article before making your own judgment or conclusion, but from the 720 participant sample size, we would guess it means for those who drink, alcohol can help you approach that cute boy/girl from across the room and feel more connected to friends and strangers.

Check out more on this at neurosciencemarketing.com.

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.

May 21, 2012

Motivation & Working Out

Today’s post features an awesome post on the endomondo.com blog.

The post goes into a handful of different motivational tips to get you going and exercising after a long day.  While the post is somewhat tailored towards the 9-5 working men and women in the world, it can easily be translated to the busy schedule of students as well.

One of our favorite tips?

“Business Suit to Sweat Suit:
Get yourself in the mindset for working out by looking like you’re working out. It’s hard to talk yourself out of running once you’re dressed and ready to go. Bring your gear to work and change before leaving the office, it’s that easy.”

This is also true for those still in school. If you know you have that one class next to the gym and 1 or 2 hours before your next class, why not pack your sneakers and gym clothes?

Do you have workout tips to get in shape before graduation?  Share them with us!

Photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy/5568691112/

May 15, 2012

Dieting and Eating Well for Graduation Tips?

In life, there’s often a handful of days and occassions where we really try to eat healthy for. There’s your wedding (or your friend’s/family’s), that spring break Hawaii/Cabo trip, and then there’s graduation.

So if you’re looking for ways to trim down before graduation, check out this post on Syattfitness.com.

Our favorite tip from the post?
“My favorite fruits while dieting are strawberries, watermelon, and oranges. I usually end up freezing and making them into some type of dessert along with Greek Yogurt and a protein powder.”

Do you have dieting or nutrition tips? Share them with us!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whyisjake/2532544751/