CL’s Guide to College Graduation

Graduation has come for so many of us! Having just gone through, I can tell you it is an experience you will never forget. If you’re considering not walking, I highly encourage you to do so. You’ve worked so hard and come so far, so celebrate it! Here are some tips on how to prepare for the big day, and what comes next!

Make sure everything is in order. Moving out? Double check that you have EVERYTHING. Still have some library books? Make sure to return them. Parking ticket? Pay it off!

Send out invitations. Invite family and friends! This is a time to celebrate! Send out invites to commencement, diploma ceremonies, graduation parties, etc. with the dates, times and locations clearly written.

Spend time with college friends. You may not see them for a while (but not ever again!). Have fun, relax, and figure out how you would like to stay in touch, whether it is through letters, email, texting, annual reunions, LinkedIn or Facebook.

Plan your outfit. You want to look your best for the occasion, so dress in style – it’s your day! With warmer months coming (and the amount of people likely to be filling the room at your graduation) wear something light and summery, but formal. Also, plan to wear comfy shoes, as you could be standing for quite a while.

CL Quick Tip: Consider decorating your mortar board so your folks can find you in the crowd.

Plan your make-up and hair. Again, with the summer months upon us, too much make-up will look fussy and could melt down your face. Try a lighter look. For hair, wear it down under you cap, but put it up when you can to keep cool. If your hair tends to frizz, be prepared with product.

Charge your camera. And make sure you have extra batteries! Take as many pictures as you, and have you family take pictures, too, can so you can add them to a scrapbook later.

Mingle and network. Colleges sometimes have receptions after graduation, so use it as an opportunity to speak with professors and advisors, thanking them for their guidance and support and asking them to remember you when career opportunities in your field pop up.

Send thank you emails or cards. We all have favorite professors, mentors, advisors and supervisors. Let them know how much they mean to you and the impact they have had on your college life.

Look for a job. If you haven’t started looking, or haven’t found one yet, search, search, search! Make sure your resume is up to date and apply like crazy, and keep track of when and where you apply. Some good places to start are the College Lifestyles job bank, careerbuilder.com and LinkedIn.

Be proud! You’ve earned this. Congratulations! This is a big step, but you can do it!

Debra Schreiber is a Senior Writing Intern with College Lifestyles and a recent graduate from Duquesne University with a B.A. in Journalism and a B.A. in Spanish. She loved participating in graduation, and while she will miss her Duquesne family terribly, she is excited for what comes next!

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3 Reasons You Should Say “Yes” To Summer Romance

Warm weather-induced endorphins (the stuff that makes you happy) mixed with the rush of college students coming home for vacation makes summer lovin’ sound so appealing. Unless you’re just getting out of a messy situation (that makes romance sound less appealing), turning down the chance of being swept off your feet is nonsense! You’ll soak up three life lessons by riding the wave of summer love slowly and carefully.

1. Learn To Seize Opportunities

Passing up the potential for a rewarding relationship equals denying yourself of something fun on purpose. How boring! Go to a carnival with your next door neighbor who did a bit of growing up since last summer. Take a chance by starting up conversation with the cute lifeguard at your local pool. In other words, as Cher Horowitz (“Clueless,” anybody!) would say: “Carpe diem!” Translation: Seize the day!

2. Learn To Live

Sometimes your girlfriends don’t always know best. They’ll steer you in the wrong direction to protect you from the inevitable—getting hurt. But guess what? You get nothing out of dodging heartbreak-bullets. Instead of attempting to avoid problems before they even arise, let life transpire.

3. Learn About The Art Of Storytelling

Post-summer storytelling is the cliché part about flings that makes it all worthwhile.  Don’t let August creep up on you without having a few juicy chronicles to show for it. Just look at how far Nicholas Sparks got with The Notebook! Jot down details of your fling and who knows, you just might conjure up a bestselling novel.

Tiana Blue is a senior writer and editor for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

 

 

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Intern Kitchen: Chicken Flatbread – Just Like Olive Garden’s!

While I am not actually Italian, my stomach thinks it is. I absolutely love the Olive Garden. Currently, my favorite dish there is the chicken flatbread. So, improvising, I attempted to recreate it. The results were delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pillsbury pizza crust
• 1 container Alfredo sauce
• Grilled chicken, thinly sliced
• Basil, thinly chopped
• Red pepper, thinly sliced

Procedure:

1. Grill chicken, but not too crispy.
2. Heat Alfredo sauce until warm.
3. Pour over Pillsbury pizza crust.
4. Put chicken, basil and red pepper on top.
5. Heat in oven according to Pillsbury pizza crust instructions.
6. Enjoy!

Debra Schreiber is a senior journalism and Spanish major at Duquesne University, and a Senior Writing Intern for College Lifestyles. She loves to cook Italian food, and she loves to bake.

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Job Challenge Day 9: What Was Your Favorite Internship and Why?

With so many individuals looking for internships, give us a little taste of your favorite internship!  This will help others in searching for the good (and bad) on internship opportunities!

Day 9:  What was your favorite internship and why?

 

 

Remember to RSVP for our Job Search Twitter Party on 4/18 9pm EST/8pm CST using the hashtag #CLchat.  On 4/19, you will be able to upload your resume to our site to aid us in your job search!

Job Challenge Day 8: What’s the Toughest Question You Were Asked on a Job Interview?

You have researched the company and practiced interview questions in the mirror.  You look polished and professional.  You arrive 10 minutes early.  You are called into the interview room.  You shake hands and take a seat.  And the first question is….well…..difficult and one you did not practice in the mirror.  What was that question?

Day 8:  What’s the toughest question you were asked on a job interview?

Job Challenge Day 4: Where Do You ‘Look’ for Job Oppurtunities?

Career centers, calling companies, career fairs, websites, instructors?  College Lifestyles is incredibly excited to start listing both job and internship openings to our website starting 4/19; but where do you find out about job opportunities?

Our CEO was pretty bold when looking for jobs, ‘I called the HR department at local hospitals, wellness centers, and any where else.  I was pretty desperate for a job.  Sure, I got hung up on and told no, but one call did lead to a job!’

Day 4:  Where do you ‘look’ for job opportunities?

 

Remember to RSVP for our Job Search Twitter Party on 4/18 9pm EST/8pm CST using the hashtag #CLchat.  On 4/19, you will be able to upload your resume to our site to aid us in your job search!

Job Challenge Day 3: Interview Day Superstitions?

While this question may seem a little odd, think about it.  Do you do something before a huge exam – listening to a favorite song, yoga – to relax you?  If so, we want to know!

Day 2:  Will you have an interview day superstition?

Top 4 XY Board Accessories for Students.

Dorm, apartment, study group, library, coffee shop, sorority/organization meetings, car, class, gym.  let’s face it, college co-eds follow a very busy agenda.  With coffee in hand and phone/tablet in other, students are constantly on the move.  In between our agendas, we are skyping family, texting BFFs, and organizing emails using our phone/tablet.

The folks at Verizon Wireless asked us ‘What are wish list accessories for your Droid XY Board?’  As a proud Verizon ambassador, we have been testing great Verizon products, the Droid RAZR and Droid XY Board which you will read future reviews.

We in the College Lifestyles home office would be quite lost without our Droid RAZR and Droid XY Board.  Texting one another, checking our emails, developing AND delivering presentations and posting to our Facebook/Twitter are a part of our daily activities.  We are quite attached to our technology.

We thought about it and came up with our ‘Wish List:  Top 4 Droid XY Board Accessories for Students.’

 (1)  CAMERA CONNECTION KIT FOR MOTOROLA TABLETS ($19.99)

 The Camera Connection Kit for MOTOROLA Tablets lets you easily and quickly transfer photos from your digital camera using USB.  

 Pictures play such a role in the college experience and in the College Lifestyles office.  Transfer your pictures to your XY Board in minutes with the camera connection kit!

(2) VGA TRAVEL ADAPTER ($49.99)

 

Motorola’s High Speed 1080p Cable ensures a fast and accurate transfer of information from your device to an HD TV or monitor.

 Presentations are huge in our office and in the lives of a co-ed.  Instead of lugging around a lap top and worrying about misplacing a USB drive, you can rest assure your presentation will be intact the this adapter connecting your tablet to a projector.

 (3)  P833 TRAVEL CHARGER FOR TABLETS AND PHONES ($29.99)

 

Great for spring break, running to the library, and back and forth trips home.

 (4)  VEHICLE POWER ADAPTER FOR TABLETS AND PHONES ($29.99)

 

With driving back and forth from home or a road trip with your sisters, stay charged (and safe) with this vehicle adapter.  Our CEO has a vehicle charger in her car at all times.

To view more accessories and/or to purchase any listed, visit the following link.

Disclaimer:  We’d like to thank Verizon Wireless for allowing us to participate in the Verizon Ambassador program.

 

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3 SIMPLE Ways to Beat Acne.

The change of season can spell big problems for our skin.  The warm weather brings us fun activities and workouts at the pool and outdoors, but can lead to nasty breakouts if we don’t properly care for our skin.  Follow this great Infographic on beating acne.

Via: Acne Treatment.net

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5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Date A Co-Worker

You can bet temptation may arise while working in close quarters with attractive colleagues. But whether you fold clothes at a boutique or bus tables at a restaurant, hooking up with a co-worker is a certified no-no.  Are you lusting over a new employee? Read these next five tips before taking it any further.

 

Productivity

Having a boyfriend or girlfriend in college is distracting, no? Picture that, but let it interfere with another top priority instead—where you make money. Particularly during the beginning fairytale stage (ah, puppy love), you’ll want to linger around your beau and see what they’re up to, thus neglecting your work. You’re supposed to be impressing your boss, not showing him that you’re needy.

Professionalism

Having a relationship with someone you work with is neither appealing to your fellow employees nor your superiors who will have to watch your PDA or any explosive arguments. You were hired for your strengths and abilities and with the hopes that you can make tough decisions, including choosing to not fall in love with the closest cashier.

Also, some businesses have laws to abide by that include a policy in which employees aren’t allowed to date or marry co-workers or supervisors. Make sure you’re aware of these stipulations prior to signing a contract.

Favoritism

Let’s face it, you’d likely choose to work on a task with your spouse or would be less likely to report something wrong that they’d done, which could, in turn, cost you your job. Making the love of your life your favorite can also be a foundation for fights, as your significant other may eventually (and jealously) wonder why you might’ve chosen to work with another guy or girl over them.

Office Talk

Having a relationship within a place of already-gossipy employment gives your colleagues all the more reason to spread a rumor or two. People are bored at work and will stir up anything juicy to get through the day. Avoid it all by keeping it classy and keeping your dating-life separate from your workplace!

Tiana Blue is a Senior Writer for College Lifestyles™. This fourth semester sophomore at Penn State is a print journalism major with a penchant for food, stilettos, and the city that never sleeps.

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