Leah of the Pack

Of  course high school and college are on complete different levels. While high school was a good time, nothing compares to what awaits you at college. Here's a quick break down of some of the reasons you won't find yourself wishing to go back in time to high school.


Classes
In high school class was mandatory. You couldn't take a personal day or just flat out skip it when you overslept. I mean, you could but if you missed class too often there could be dire consequences. The beauty of college is if you don't want to go then you don't go. Although the professors do care about you, if you skip one... or 10 classes they probably won't do anything about it. Also, you're never stuck with that mundane  everyday schedule. Not having a science class five days a week rocks.

Second, for the most part no one cares if you're on your laptop or phone. If you're gonna be a huge distraction be polite and sit in the back row . But otherwise if you want to waste your time and money by sitting on Pinterest during the entire lecture then you may! In HS it seemed like the second a teacher saw a phone you got a warning or worse- your phone was held hostage by the teacher for the rest of the day. Guess what, you're in college now so suddenly you're an adult able to make capable decisions such as when it is the correct time to bust out the technology.

Class selection in college is the bomb.com. While there are certain Gen Eds you are required to take you are offered a multitude of classes to fulfill the requirements. After that all your classes pertain to your interests and your degrees. Honestly, I look forward to going to classes that are for my degree. Mainly because Communications/Public Relations/Journalism is the greatest major in the world but also because there are classes such as Social Media Strategies- school and twitter? Count me in.

Clothes
*Before I say anything, let me make it known that I will almost always dress to impress because it makes me feel good. With that being said, in college no one really cares what you wear. Sweats and yogas are the norm so you don't need to spend hours planning out an outfit. Sweatpants and a tee are fantastic because chances are once class is over you're gonna roll back into bed and take a much deserved nap and now you don't even have to change your clothes. If you want to dress up (which for some reason in college means jeans...) go for it. People will probably assume you have a presentation.

Food
College cafeteria food is better than high school food, easily. Is it as good as home cooking? Of course not but you do have a much wider variety. Most people that I know did not have the option of off campus lunch in HS. In college you can leave campus whenever. If you're campus is located around some amazing restaurants.. erhm.. Chipotle... then you are so very lucky.

Rumors
In high school, rumors can spread like wildfire. Of course rumors might get out in college but no one really care because chances are you won't even know the person the rumor is about.

The Past
The kids you went to high school with have known you for awhile. They might remember all the stupid mistakes of your past and won't let you forget. The best part of college is that no one knows about that embarrassing time when you fell down the stairs in front of the whole sophomore class or whatever dumb things you have done previously. Embrace this new start. If you want to redefine yourself then now is the time.

From loathing your 8 am, to late nights with some of the greatest people you'll ever meet, enjoy every second of college.

My personal PSA for today: Put your phone down when driving. Too many people that I know feel the need to be on their phone while driving. Regardless of your driving skill level, being on your phone while driving is a huge hazard not only to you but everyone else you encounter on the road. It's hard to believe that you can't go twenty minutes, or however long it takes for you to drive somewhere, without texting, tweeting or snapchating.  Here are some guidelines that you should have for your phone while operating a vehicle. 

• Don’t stress over everything. It wouldn’t be college if you didn’t have at least three papers and a group project all due within the same week. It’s stressful, there’s no doubt about it. It’s easy to find ourselves crumpled in a ball, lying in our beds, near in tears thinking about all we have to accomplish in such short time. Instead of worrying over everything, it’s best to take a step back, take some deep breaths and focus. Makes lists and you will conquer. Write down all that needs to be done and rank it by order of importance or what is due first. Blare your favorite focus music and just get it done. The less time you spend worrying and the more time you spending doing, the happier you will become.
•  The power of a good workout goes a long way. When you do find yourself stressed to no end, take an hour to go to the gym. Hop on the elliptical or run out your frustrations. With power music blasting through your headphones, only focus on the now. Let your mind and body be encompassed in the workout. When you’re done you will feel dead tired, yet rejuvenated and less stressed out.
• We all make stupid mistake but realize it is ok, it happens. Learn from these mistakes so that they don’t happen again. They can be the most important lessons.
• Surround yourself with the best people for you. If you are a negative person, don’t hang out with people that are only going to bring you down. You need friends that will show you positivity and bring out the best in you.
• Realize you are your own source of happiness. Stop with the negative thoughts. It can be really hard, but a positive outlook goes such a long way. If someone is dragging you down, let go of them. You don’t need negativity in your life.
•  It’s okay to want to drink away your sorrows. Sometimes it feels like the best escape seems to be forgetting the world by sharing more than a few shots with your friends.  It’s ok to escape stress by drinking your problems away with your friends as long you as remain responsible. Don’t be afraid to have fun as long as you know when to quit while you’re ahead.
• Be independent. Go out and join new clubs or activities by yourself. You don’t need to be with your friends 24/7. You would be amazed at all the people you can meet when you’re not constantly with your friends. Don’t be afraid to meet new people. A potential new friend is always near. 

So many great things come along with the arrival of spring and one of those are cheerleading tryouts! There is nothing more nerve wracking or exciting as tryout time. I've been to my fair share of tryouts in my current 10 years as a cheerleader and I have picked up many tips along the way. These are in no particular order of importance!

1. Be Outgoing: As a cheerleader, you will be asked to volunteer at many different events, so having a good presence during face to face conversation is important. One way to show that you have a fabulous personality (which you do) is to make friends during tryouts. Don't stand in the corner, go out and get acquainted  with the other girls! Having a few friends during the tryout process will help calm your nerves and it also shows your potential new coach that you are super friendly and are great at getting along with others. And who knows, you might find your potential roommate or future best friend - I did!

2. Look The Part: The coaches and judges are not only judging you on your skills but also taking into consideration how you will reflect the university or school. Make sure to wear your school's colors or school's apparel! When it comes to hair and makeup, don't go overboard with makeup. You want game day makeup: a little mascara, natural eye shadow or a natural smokey eye, a little blush and a touch of lipstick is a must! Nude lip gloss always looks nice but I always get a little added boost of confidence from wearing some pink or sometimes red lipstick.

3. SMILE: A smile goes a very long way. You want to look like you're happy to be there. Always smile, even when just reviewing the material. A good, enthusiastic expression will set you apart from all the other cheer hopefuls. Also, during the actual tryout in front of the judges if you mess up just smile! My freshman year of college cheerleading tryouts I messed up the fight song so badly. I forgot half of it and ended up just standing there, smiling and clapped it out. The smile on my face showed that I was able to stay calm in case I ever messed up in front of a crowd. If anything fails, remember to keep smiling.

4. A Positive Attitude: Tryouts are always stressful because you are learning new material, some of it may be things you have never done before. Remember to stay positive if you find yourself getting frustrated. No one expects you to be perfect when you're learning. And if someone does offer you pointers, always be polite, never snippy!

5. Show That You Are Coach-able: The coaches and judges know that some of this may be new to you but they want to see how you learn the material. Be open to suggestions such as trying a new stunting position. When someone gives you constructive criticism remember they are only saying it to benefit you so reply with respect. Don't have a boatload of excuses such as "but I've always been a top girl" or "I only tumble on a spring floor."

6. Throw Skills You Know You Can Hit: This is so important. Even if every single girl is throwing a standing tuck, but you can only do two standing back handsprings, or a back tuck where you touch down 80% of the time, always throw the skill you can to without error. Now is not the time to throw a skill you just first landed a week ago or to try something new. Throw what you are 100% confident in. Also, whatever skills you demonstrate at tryouts you will be expected to have for the rest of the year. If you don't plan on keeping a skill then it might not be the best idea to showcase it at tryouts.

The main things: be confident, smile and have fun!

The end of the school year is easily the most stressful time of the year. There are group meetings to be had, presentations and speeches to be given, and endless note cards to be made. I'll be the first to admit that I lose my mind with all the stuff I have to do before the semester ends. Here are my suggestions on how to survive finals. 

Tis the season to be interviewed! With summer jobs and internships looming many people are setting out on interviews- including myself! Here are some tips and things I have thought of that can help with the interview season.

1. Dress to impress: You want to be taken seriously, so it's important that you dress the part. Dress, skirt or dress pants for the ladies, and always a tie for the men! With such weird spring weather we are having choosing an outfit can be difficult. One thing to always remember- wear tights. Another thing to consider is dress for the position you are applying for. For most interviews business casual is what is expected but if you're applying for a store at the mall, dress in the style that they sell so that the interviewer can really see you in their brand, trying to sell their product. Remember the golden rule: look good, feel good, do great.

2. Don't be nervous: I know what you're thinking, easier said than done, right? But there is no real reason to be nervous, you're just talking to people, something you do every day. One thing I always tell myself before an interview if I'm feeling nervous is that I have done things scarier than this before.

3. Eye contact is key: When I'm talking to people, I always notice who makes eye contact or who looks away. Someone that can hold your gaze during a conversation always seems more engaged and confident. If you can keep eye contact during an interview is shows that you're not nervous and it sets you apart from other applicants.

4. Make a resume ahead of time: If you have to submit a resume before the interview or have to bring one with you, make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get the task done. The last thing you want is to turn in a resume filled with silly mistakes. Be sure to have multiple people check over your work to ensure that you've got it perfect.

5.Be yourself: Don't try and change you image just so you seem to fit the company better. Be yourself and they'll love you for that!  Remember, nobody does you better than you can.

Happy interviewing!