Yesterday afternoon I wrapped up volunteering as a victor guide (small group leader) at my college's 3-day freshmen orientation, and all I can think about is being able to do it again next year.

Since I listed volunteering as a must-do on myguide to having the best summer ever, and my summer technically doesn't end until tomorrow, I thought I'd share my experience with helping out at freshmen orientation this year.

I'm going to break things up by day, so things don't get too overwhelming.

Thursday

Thursday was a long and very sweaty day.

I woke up at 6:30 a.m. to report for my assignment at 7:00. I was put on move-in duty from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Those six hours were probably the greatest workout I've had my whole life. To get to most of the dorms you had to climbflights of stairs, so we were all immediately sweaty. One girl who had been volunteering with me had worn a fit bit all day and told me that we had climbed almost 70 flights of stairs.

Honestly, I think during those six hours I was the sweatiest I have ever been. Kentucky summers are hot, but that day there was also the looming threat of a thunderstorm, so it was even more humid than normal (thank God it didn't actually rain though).

Despite the humidity, being drenched in sweat, and not having been fed for six hours, I felt absolutely amazing the whole time. I tried to move as quickly as possible, so I could help as many freshmen move in as possible, and get them moved in as fast as possible. (That was a lot of possibles. Oops.)

At the specific dorm I was assigned to we had about 50 volunteers and I think we absolutely killed it. I'm not sure exactly how many students we helped move in, but I would guess we helped somewhere around 100  freshmen.

After I was released from move-in duty I took a much needed shower, and then I headed over to the arena to help out with convocation. I volunteered to swipe students into the event because I thought it meant I would be able to sit down......I was wrong.

I spent the next hour helping swipe in over 2000 freshmen and directing parents through the lines into the arena. During that hour I realized how fun it is to swipe cards through a reader, and thought maybe that's why I have a shopping addiction; I love swiping my card in the machines.

I was free to go after convocation, making Thursday almost a 12 hour day of volunteering. Plus I also went to the Victor Fest event (basically a welcome week event) that night and played glow-in-the dark ping pong, foosball and mini golf.

Friday

This was the most important day of the weekend, so we were all up bright and early to prepare. My alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. so I had time to get ready and actually wake up before reporting for duty at 6:30.

After meeting up with my victor guide partner and getting our materials, it was off to our assigned location to await our 14 freshmen we'd be guiding around the next two days.

We were given a balloon to carry around and mark where our group was just incase anyone got lost, and so the freshmen could always know where we were. We also got a clipboard with the days' schedules and a roster of the kids to keep attendance at the presentations. I asked to be in charge of the clipboard because they make me feel official. For real, I wish I could carry around a clipboard every day, just like I wish I could wear a nametag everyday.

While we waited for the freshmen to start trickling in I asked Jordan (my partner) to take photos of me with our balloon (we named him Cooper), but it did not want to cooperate. I swear our balloon was broken. There was no wind, but it refused to stand up straight. I'm just confused about it as you are.

Jordan and I are both math majors so we were assigned freshmen who are also math majors, which was why our group was so small and (sadly) male dominated. I was so happy to see that we did have two girls though!

At first the group seemed very hesitant to interact with each other, and us, but as soon as we forced them to start playing ice breakers they didn't want to stop. Unfortunately, we had very little free time to play though.

After leading them through four different rotations, plus lunch and dinner, we took them to an event hosted by the math department: a scavenger hunt.

My partner and I were assigned to wait at one of the locations on the hunt: a statue of the university's old mascot. There, the students had to answer a question and pose with the statue with mustache props while I took their picture. Some of them took the game really seriously and were hardcore sprinting all over campus trying to win. It filled my heart with joy to see them having fun and being competitive with each other.

I thought I'd include some of the photos from the hunt below because I found them adorable.

This was one of my favorite photos of the day, because while I took the picture the boy on the right yelled out, "Sorority squat!"If you look closely you can also see that he's making the duck face!

This was another one of my favorites because one of the freshman boys justdroppedinto the splits ready for the photo. Like holy cow! That's crazy!

Also, while stationed at the statue, a lost freshmen wandered up to us and asked for help. Her group hadn't really explained to her what was going on and sort of just left her. Soon we were deep in conversation and giving her advice about the dorms, getting involved and Greek life. I remember telling her that I'm an introvert but I didn't find it very difficult to get involved on campus, and in the moment I felt overwhelmed with a sense of pride. There I was talking to a girl I had never met, just like I had been doing all day, when normally I find to awkward to just wave at someone I know when I pass them on campus. Helping her out and giving her advice made me feel like I was helping a past me.

After finishing up the scavenger hunt, my volunteer hours for the day totaled up to being around 13. That doesn't include the hour I was up before reporting for duty, or the time I spent trying to win a $50 Target gift card playing bingo at the Victor Fest event that night. (I swear everyone cheats in bingo!)

Saturday

The most chill day of the bunch, and the day we had to say goodbye....for now.

I actually got to sleep in yesterday, and I am forever grateful because if not I would have literally been a walking zombie. Running on five to six hours of sleep, and running around for 12 hours every day is not something I would recommend for a long term schedule.

I got up at 8:00 a.m. so I could get ready and just kind of relax before meeting my small group at 10:00 to get brunch in the student union. Before I left my room that morning, I drank a cup of coffee that was literally the size of a bowl of cereal. Needless to say, I was hyped up and ready to go all day long.

We put like five tables together so we could all sit together to eat, and it made me feel like I was at a family meal. It was then that I realized how attached I had grown to these freshmen and how excited I was to see them around campus all semester. I'm obsessed with them, and can't wait to see them grow and flourish here. For real though, they're my new favorite people.

After we finished eating we took some photos, played some more games and then attended our final two presentations of orientation. Then, I showed I helped a couple of students find their classes so that they would be ready come Monday morning.

I ended the night at the "beach" party the campus threw, where I got a caricature drawn and watched Jaws while floating in the pool on a giant duck float. No better way to end a day, and no better way to end a weekend of fun.

In the end...

I feel like I'm walking on air writing about all the fun I had these past three days. I honestly couldn't think of a better way to ring in my sophomore year of college.

I do find this a tad strange though, because I never really used to like volunteering. I thought it was kind of boring and not really worth my time, but now I know that's because I wasn't volunteering for the right things. I was offering up my services for causes and events that I wasn't passionate about, therefore I didn't really enjoy what I was doing. Now I know that I am passionate about helping other students, and easing the transition from into college for them so they don't feel lost like I did last year. I guess I should have made that connection a long time ago considering what I blog about. (Sometimes I'm not the brightest.)

Volunteering while you're in college can more beneficial than just make you feel good about yourself;it can help expand your network, get you more involved, improve your resume and make you new friends.

I 100% recommend volunteering at least once through your college.

I mean I did, and I fell in love. Who knows, maybe you'll be next.

Have you ever volunteered at a college before? Is volunteering something you do regularly? What do you enjoy volunteering for? How was your freshmen orientation? How did you spend your weekend? Let me know in the comments below!

I'm just going to be really blunt:

Making friends in college takes a lot more effort than it did in high school.

At least that's what I think from my own experiences and from the people I've asked.

In high school you see the same kids for five days in a row every week. You share the same exact schedule for seven hours of the day, five days a week, with about 2000 or less students. This makes it normal to know almost everyone by name, or at least by face.

In college your classes aren't the same every day (if they are then your college has some freaky class schedules man). You most likely have Tuesday/Thursday and Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes, so you're either seeing the same people only two or three times a week - not five.

Plus, class sizes are usually much larger in college. Instead of 20-30ish kids in a class, you'll have about 50-300ish. That means it's a possibility you'll share a class with someone and not even know about it if your classes are in huge lecture halls! Luckily, my school doesn't really have any of those kinds of classes.

So if you see people less often, how are you going to become close to anyone? Don't fret, it really isn't that much more difficult than it is in college. I promise. But if you are worried about connecting with new people, then here is the advice I picked up on my freshman year.

1) Take advantage of orientation.

That's how I met my main friend group here at NKU. We were all in the same orientation group and really hit it off. Not right away though, it still took some effort.You just have to remember that every other new student is in the same boat as you: they want to make new friends!So give them a friend to make!

It's no doubt they are going to make you play ice breakers, and some of them are going to be extremely silly and possibly way outside of your comfort zone, but those are the ones you need to participate in! The more absurd the game, the closer you feel to the people you played with afterwards.

No matter how crazy a game seems, don't give into the urge to sit off to the side and just watch. I did this for some of my group's games and really regret it, so please learn from my mistake.

Also, don't act like you're too good for the games or complain about them, because it's not going to get you anywhere except on people's "that kid is annoying" list. Not exactly where you want to be when you're trying to make friends.

If your school hosts welcome week events alongside orientation, take advantage of those too!

Ask people from your orientation group to go with you or just ask if they plan on going and if you can tag along. It's a great way to get closer to your group members, met new people and feel like a part of your school's community. I got some of the girls from my group to go to a mixer with me and they ended up having a photobooth and we took this photo. I love looking back at this photo and thinking about how we may have barely even knew each other then, but we're so close now.

2) Join organizations!

This is a biggie. Not only does joining clubs and such introduce you to a wider range of people, but it also makes you feel closer to your college.

That doesn't mean join everything your school offers though; however, I do recommend you try out a bunch of different things. You can also drop what you aren't truly feeling.

Last year I was a part of a freshman leadership committee that focused on volunteer work and participating in on-campus events; I was an editor for the Honors' journal; I played intramurals (be on the lookout for a more in depth post on this coming soon!); and I attended meetings for a violence prevention organization, but decided it wasn't for me and dropped it.

3) Get a job on campus

Not only will that help you make some extra change and save gas money, but you'll forge some great relationships as well.

I started working at an office on campus just before winter break, and by spring break look at all the new friends I had made! We even all went to an amusement park together just last Monday!

Making friends in the workplace is also a great life hack to making work less boring. Just saying.

4) Work with classmates on assignments

In my calc class last semester I got really close with two guys because we would all end up in tutoring at the same time every week. It was not planned at all. (I would say it was kind of freaky but that class was hard man.)

We were there together so often that eventually we were all working together and only asking the tutor for help when all three of us were stuck. That would have never happened if one of us hadn't of had the guts to say, "Hey you're in my class, do you know how to do this problem?"Bonding over how hard a class is is a great way to make new friends!

If you need help in class don't be scared to ask the person next to you. Maybe they'll end up being your new class buddy! This goes both ways too; if someone asks you for help don't blow them off. Help as much as you can, even if that's just saying you don't know the answer right now, but if you figure it out then you'll let them know. It's perfect because that gives you a reason to talk to them later!

Last thing about in class: don't be that one group project member that everyone loathes working with. Be present when you're supposed to be, do your work and be friendly. No one wants to be grouped with someone who's rude.

5) Just be you!

This is my number one piece of advice, and my biggest secret to making as great of friends as I did last year. I can be really crazy and weird sometimes (okay everyday), and not hiding that part of me allowed me to get real close, real fast with these ladies right here.

We're always forgetting that we've only been friends for a year! That's because we showed our true selves in the beginning, so we skipped the whole "figuring out the real you" step. Because of that we were able to get closer a lot faster, and feel like we've known each other for years, not just one.

Don't hold back your true personality. Putting it all out there allows people to see the real you, and everyone will always be drawn to authenticity over falsehood.

Pretending to be someone other than your true self is hard, and college is already hard enough, so just be you.

If you think no one is going to like the real you then not only are you lying to yourself, but you're holding yourself back. You attract what you put out, and if you're pretending to be someone else then you're going to attract friends like the person you're pretending to be. I doubt those friendship will go much beyond the surface or last very long, so don't put up a front.

Another thing: release your inner goofball.People love that. College is stressful, so everyone is always looking for a good laugh to help them unwind. Plus, think about all the hilarious people you've ever seen and immediately wanted to be friends with! If you let loose and show your funny side then other people may be thinking the same thing about you!

I'm so grateful for all the friends I made my freshman year, and I'm excited to make even more this coming school year. The more the merrier right?

Here's to new friendships and stay true to ourselves.

Which tip is your favorite? How do you make new friends? Do you agree with me that it's harder to make friends in college that it is in high school? Let me know in the comments below!

Making plans with people can be so difficult sometimes. I mean you either can't agree on anything to do or you can't come up with anything appealing to do. Been there done that.

But I think I found a creative solution to all those plan crushers out there: exploring the city. I mean think about it, there's no way you've been down every street, eaten at every corner bakery or gotten a coffee from every cute cafe. You'll never run out of things to do.

Now I've never been a city girl. As I've mentioned before, I want to live in the suburbs when I grow up. No big cities for this girl. They're dirty, crowded, overwhelming and downright scary, but scary can be fun sometimes right? Right. So I ventured into Cincinnati to see what fun it had to offer for me.

Findlay Market

Just like I've never liked cities, I've never liked markets. I'm that person who scurries past every booth avoiding eye contact at all costs and ignoring vendors' calls to me. Sorry man. I'm not interested in whatever it is you're selling and if I was then I would have stopped to look.

But if you're one who wants to feel the hustle and bustle of the city (and everyone visiting) and loves finding custom pieces and trying local foods, then a local market is the perfect place for you to check out. While I don't like all the people and pushy vendors at markets, I do love discovering local brands.

the best chocolate company everWhile I was there I did findthough. Like no joke. I wish I had a lifetime supply. Their white chocolate with cocoa nibs is to die for!

Sawyer Point Park

Now this park was way more style. Chill, quiet and by the river. I've actually been here multiple times and really love it because it's on the outskirts of the city and not all up in the city's business.

If you're looking for a chill day, and don't mind being outside, then try visiting a city park. You get a gorgeous view of all the buildings, they are always clean and kept up with and you get to play on the swings. (Best childhood past time am I right?)

Now going to a park may seem boring on the surface, but I promise it's not. They're the perfect place to go on a walk and talk, waste time and enjoy nature, release your inner 5 year old or even have a photoshoot.

Aquarium

If there's water you can bet I'll be there. #RealLifeMermaid

Real talk though, the aquarium is the perfect place to go with friends and spend a couple hours. Plus it's educational so that's a bonus. It's like watching a Netflix documentary on the ocean, but in real life.

The weekend I went, they even had the Weeki Wachee mermaids visiting! They had a bunch of mermaid decor and the mermaids swam around in some of the tanks and I think it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. I mean not everyone can say they've seen a real life mermaid now can they?

An aquarium is perfect for people like me who get anxiety from walking through a city and for any day date with friends, family or a partner. Be warned though, the tickets are usually on the pricier side.

Freedom Center Museum

Another educational city exploration option are museums. The one I visited specializes in the Underground Railroad, so it has exhibits to do with slavery and racial relations.

It was crazy to read all the placards, because it brought back how prominent slavery was only a little over 100 years ago right in my own backyard. I was so moved by the artwork and all the artifacts that I was almost brought to tears when I entered an actual house used for slave quarters they had on display.

Serious museums are not for everyone, so if they're not your thing maybe check out an art gallery, children's museum or science center on your day in the city. Some are free and others charge fees, so keep that in mind. I got into the Freedom Center free through a program with my college, so be on the lookout for opportunities like that!

Reds Game

Honestly, I couldn't care less about major league sports. However, it is a great experience to sit in the stands and immerse yourself in the sports culture (even if it is like 90 degrees outside and you swear you're sitting a a pool of sweat.) It also felt very American for going to a baseball game, so that was a pretty great feeling.

Obviously this isn't somethingto do every weekend (unless you're really into it), because tickets can get super pricey. Especially if you go to something like a NFL game in your city. I'd save something like this for a special occasion if money is an issue.

Going to something like this also makes you feel like you're actually a part of the city, so it really embodies the whole exploring a city idea I've got going on.

Bow Tie Cafe

Cities, especially downtown areas, are the perfect places to find small chains with stuff that is locally grown and homemade. That's why it can be super fun to try out new restaurants on your day out.

I found this little coffee shop that was way too cute to pass up. I mean coffee and bow ties? Those are two of my favorite things, so yes please. And oh my gosh you guys, they hadthe bestcoffee I have ever had in my life. Like I didn't need to add any sugar or anything.

I ordered an iced coffee and the barista got me a cup of ice, a pitcher of cold brew and a carton of almond milk and I got to measure everything out myself. (Although I wish I could have put the ice in myself because she gave me way too much.) It was so cool to pour the milk over the coffee and watch it all swirl together. I was mesmerized. It got me excited to use my own cold brew coffee maker when I move back into the dorms this week.

The cafe was also situated in the most picturesque part of town: Mount Adams. All the buildings were colorful and I felt like I was in a small waterfront vacation town walking around. I'm definitely going to have to go back there to have a mini photoshoot and get some more of the amazing coffee. I'm obsessed guys.

See? Taking a chance and trying a new place could led you to finding your new favorite coffee shop.

Don't be afraid to look like a tourist.

It'll make you feel like you're on vacation.

It took me six visits into the city to go to all of these places, and I still have barely scratched the surface of places I want to check out. See I told you that you'll never run out of things to do when exploring a city!

Other places that are worth checking out are a zoo, monuments and bridges, thrift shops, antique shops and free events put on by the city.

I hope I gave you some inspiration on what to do in your own city. I really did have a lot of fun and made some good memories going to all the places for this, and will definitely be going to back to some of them. (Can't wait to go back to the cafe!)

Are you a city person? What city do you live closest to? What's your favorite thing to do on a day in the city? Have you ever been to Cincinnati? Let me know in the comments below! Reading them makes me day, so don't feel shy.

I'm so excited!! Because 1) today is my 19th birthday, and 2) I'm finally starting to share my style on here! I literally cannot contain my excitement (see photo below for literal proof).

Seriously though I'm so excited to finally share this side of me on here. For those of you who follow me onInstagram,or evenSnapchat, then you know how big a role fashion plays in my life. And now I finally have a bigger medium to share it on!

I'm thinking about starting a Fashion Friday series, any thoughts??

Anyway, on to the actual outfit stuff:

This outfit was inspired by Amy'sWearing Booties in the Summerpost from earlier this week. Thank you for the birthday outfit inspiration!

What I'm wearing:

Top:TJ MAXX (got it last year, couldn't find a link)

Skirt: Forever 21 (similar, not exact)

Booties: Charlotte Russe (got them last year, so could only from on manufacturer's website)

Necklace: Personalized from Me to You I (this style is on sale right now!!)

(it's on sale right now!!)

I was looking for a nice, cheap dupe for thosefancy Celine bagsfor months, when I finally found this purse at Forever 21 and I had to have it. I got it on vacation in May, and haven't used any other purse since. It's my little baby.

My senior year of high school was when I started to notice booties become a really big trend. I always thought everyone looked super chic and put together wearing them, but they never really seemed my style. They all seemed too bohemian or boyish for me. Until I found these babies. They are right up my alley with the side zipper and ice skate like lace up in the front. Plus, they are actually super comfortable and easy to walk in. My grandma even tried them on and was amazed at how comfy they were, and grandmas arealwaysright. And they also make a loud clacking noise when I walk, which I love because it makes me feel powerful and in charge.

I know monograms are a huge thing (especially in the south), but I was in love with them first! Okay, maybe notfirst, but I have been a big fan for quite some years now. I only just got this necklace two years ago though as a 17th birthday present. I love the size of it, and I always get compliments when I wear it. I really recommend Personalize it From Me to You. They're products may seem a bit pricey, but they're worth it!

I just want to take a quick moment to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday, and made this year extra special.

Also, a huge shoutout to my amazing photographer (my little sister). I can always count on you to take photos for me, even when it's 90 degrees outside and your nose starts to bleed. I love you!

Are you big on fashion? What do you think of booties in the summer? Are you excited about my idea for a Fashion Friday series? Is that something you would want to see? Let me know in the comments below!

I wanna be the very best. The best there ever was.

Like all us 90s babies (and other people obsessed with the 90s) know, those are the opening lyrics to the theme song of Pokemon Indigo League. Otherwise known as the tv show we grew up on, and we are clearly still addicted to as the new Pokemon Go app proves.

If you follow me onSnapChat,InstagramorTwitterthen you know that last week was very Pokemon themed for me. I went to a Pokemon Go hosted event at my college, I heard people playing the theme music when I went out to dinner and I played for so long that I thought a Psyduck was actually going to jump out of the pond. This franchise is taking over my life all over again.

As a kid, I always begged for another pack of Pokemon cards anytime we were near the checkoutaisles in a store. To me, money wasn't money; it was the thing that gave me new Pokemon games and cards. I still own a whole binder full of trading cards and Pokemon Ruby (which is way harder than I remember btw!) and I've started rewatching the tv series as well.

While watching the show of my childhood I made some very striking parallels to my life that I thought were super interesting.

First of all, all the characters are super sarcastic and practically only speak in puns. Just like me. And my friends. And the internet.

I mean it makes sense: what you grow up around is more likely to be what you're going to incorporate into your life when you're older. So since I grew up watching this show and taking in all their sarcasm and puns, I grew up to be sarcastic and in love with puns. You can't tell me there isn't a parallel there.

But that's not the only connection I made. I'm about to blow your mind. Like seriously, this next one literally explains our whole generation. Are you ready?

The Pokemon franchise is why millennials are so freaking obsessed and worried and stressed about being perfect.

pshhkkoowww.

That was the sound of your mind being blown.

Okay, now let me explain this one. So you know how Ash's main (and literally only) goal in the whole series is to be the very best Pokemon trainer in the history of ever? He has given himself the burden of catching the biggest pokemon, the most pokemon, the strongest pokemon, the rarest pokemon, and defeating everyone who challenges him and keeping Team Rocket at bay and always one upping Gary.

That's one stressful life for a 10 year old. Not to mention he's completely living on his own (if you don't count Brock and Misty).

But wait. Aren't we doing the same thing to ourselves?

We're placing all these unnecessary burdens on our lives, and trying to live up the expectation of being the best student, employee, friend, partner or athlete in the history of ever.

We're pressured to keep a 4.0 GPA at all times and never get less than an A. I mean God forbid we get an A-. We're expected to be super involved and participate in sports and clubs and volunteer and have a job. We're pressured by colleges to have the highest SAT and ACT score with the threat of not being accepted otherwise. The media tells us we have to be the strongest, the skinniest, the curviest, the fastest, the most flexible, the prettiest, the smartest and the happiest. We have to have the whitest and straightest teeth. We have to have the most likes, retweets, views, subscribers, friends and followers.

We have to be the very best.....or we aren't good enough.

And it's not fun and it doesn't make us happy. So why do we keep trying to be the best at everything even when it's literally (I'm not using this sarcastically) not possible? Well, because as a kid, we were told we had to be the very best and that expectation has followed us from a children's television program to modern television, magazines, movies and all the photoshopped models and celebrities you see today.

It sounds a little far fetched, I know. But it's not just because of the Pokemon franchise; other toys we grew up with messed up our way of thinking too. Toys like Barbie and Bratz dolls were significant negative influencers for little girls' body confidence, and there are plenty other toys that ingrained not the best message into our little kid brains too.

I'm not placing blame on anyone, I just want to encourage you to really think about why you have the values you do and why you feel pressured to do certain things. Next time you feel like you aren't good enough ask yourself who is telling you that. It may just be a hidden message tucked away in the back of your brain that you picked up from a show you watched or a magazine you read or from yourself. We are our biggest critics afterall.

No matter your age, 10 years or 20 years, trying to be the best is damaging to your self esteem and mindset.

It's also not fair to play the compare game because most of the time we compare ourselves to people with more experience than us or to people's highlight reels. Just like Ash tended to compare himself to trainers who have years of experience, we also tend to compare ourselves to people who have been working longer or harder at something than us.

So let it go. And instead of trying to bethevery best, all you have to do is beyourvery best. The only person you need to compare yourself with is the person you were yesterday. Not your best friend. Not your sister. Not the girl you always see at the gym. Not your favorite celebrity. Not who you were a year ago. Just who you were yesterday. Your mental health with thank you.

I'm done trying to be the very best. Instead I'm going to focus on being my very best.

[Tweet this quote]

So take the pledge with me, and tweet out the above quote. Let's show the world we don't have to be perfect, we just have to be ourselves to be happy.

What are your thoughts on the parallels I drew from the show to modern day life? Did you play the games, watch the show or collect the cards as a kid? Do you play Pokemon Go? Do you feel like any of the toys you played with or shows you watched when you were younger influenced your life? Let me know in the comments below!

Wanderlust. It's everywhere these days. The internet is plastered with quotes like "Not all who wander are lost," guides to travel anywhere and stories of people who quit their job to explore the world. I think it's safe to say there are quite a lot of people who feel this call to travel.

I never used to be one of those people. I thought I had seen enough of the world due to all the moving I did as a military brat, but my recent vacation to California changed all that.

Related:What I Learned on Vacation

That trip awakened the wanderer in me, and one of the biggest things on my travel and summer bucket list was to go on a road trip.

So I did. Well kind of.

One of my best friends from college lives about two hours north of me, and she invited me and another friend up for the weekend. Ensue the (mini) road trip.

Between driving on my own, sitting shot gun next to my friend and riding on the floor in the back of my other friend's van, I felt total bliss. I felt everything people want to feel when they go on a road trip. (Except the almost 100 degree weather. I'm sure no one wants to feel that.)

Recreating a movie scene.

Television and movie scenes and other media likeJames Corden's Carpool Karaoke(if you haven't checked these out you have to do it now!) set the bar for our road trip goals. We want to jam out to good songs and laugh and have such a good time that we forget every bad thing in the world.

Well I can say I definitely exceeded that bar. My throat started to hurt from all the singing, and I'm sure we got at least a few stares from passing cars for our over the top dance moves. Needless to say, I definitely felt like I was in the movie the whole trip.

The feeling of forever.

I saw this quote once saying something along the lines that some people are more excited for the trip than they are the endpoints, because it's in the in-betweens that you get the best feeling ever.

When you're in that car, you're no longer at point A and you're certainly not at point B yet. You're stuck there, just floating along, not where you were and not where you are headed, but you will be one day. It's a great feeling; being on the road towards where you've always wanted to go. So great that you feel like it'll never end, and you almost don't want it to, but you can't experience all you've ever wanted if you stay in-between now can you?

Change is coming.

Every experience in life changes us, and road trips are no exception. Who are are before you leave, when you reach your destination, and when you get home are all going to be different versions of you.

Travel is a biggie with changes in us. Being in new, different places opens our eyes to different styles of life. We may see things we had never known existed, and learn things we never thought we'd have to.

I've never been a country girl or a city girl. I want to live smack dab in the suburbs when I grow up, and I've always lived in or on the edge of them. I know family who live in rural areas, but I haven't spent too much time there. Where I went this weekend was basically in the middle of nowhere, I mean the towns were about three blocks long and that was it. I got a little sneak peak into small town living and the normality of people around you having their own farm.

It was just more I could add into my head to help me better understand other people's lives and their thoughts. I became a more rounded person, more conscious of other people's upbringings and appreciative of the memories I get to make with my friends because of my little weekend getaway.

So don't fight the changes you feel inside of you. Let your experiences and surroundings shape you into your best you. There was a reason you had a desire to go somewhere in the first place, so let the universe show you what it was trying to tell you, and don't fight it.

Be sure to check out the rest of theBest Summer Everposts!

Have you ever been on a road trip? Where did you go? What's your dream road trip? How does road tripping make you feel? Share below!

College is a big choice. At the young age of 18 we're forced to choose a school that will shape us into a civilized and educated person. A place we have to spend about four years of our lives, and it's not cheap. So out of the thousands of universities in the country, how are we expected to find the one for us?

I mean what if my perfect school were in some state I had never been to and none of my friends or family had ever heard of? Well, no worries there because there is no such thing asthe oneperfect college for you. Everyone has multiple "perfect" colleges for them. I promise. So don't get too hung up about finding the school that checks off every box on your "must have" list. It's just not going to happen and it'll only stress you out.

Instead of trying to find the holy grail best college on the planet for you just focus on finding a school that feels right to you. That's it. It just has to feel like home or like you belong there. If not, you're going to be walking around campus wishing you were somewhere else, and there's not much that is more draining than that.

This is why so many guides and people recommend you to always tour colleges before applying or making your final decision.Pictures, videos and stats are nothing compared to the atmosphere of the campus.

When I was little I had always been dead-set on attending University of Kentucky. I have no idea why, but I was so into it that I had sweatshirts from there and even a UK watch. But then I toured the campus my junior year of high school and I just felt so out of place and my gut was telling me this wasn't the place for me.(Little tip of advice: your gut instinct is always right.)

After I had given up on UK, I only had two colleges left on my radar.

At the top of that list of The Ohio State University. Again, my reasons for going here really weren't all that tangible except for the fact my dad is obsessed with their football team, a lot of people know the college, their gym is ha-uge, and they have so many cool shops and food places right next to campus.

Those arenotgood reasons to go to a college by the way.

Eventually I knocked out OSU as a choice for me when I realized thatI had gotten too caught up in what other people were going to think about the college I chose and what the campus and surrounding city looked like that I had forgotten to listen to my gut.

My number one advice when choosing a college is to forget about how the campus looks, and just focus on how it makes you feel.

I'm glad I figured this out, otherwise I never would have ended up where I go to school now. The first time I stepped foot on Northern Kentucky University something just felt right. The campus may be a concrete jungle, and there may always be annoying construction going on, but I truly believe NKU is the place for me. It's not perfect, but it's perfect enough and that's all the matters.

I'm proud to walk across campus, tell people where I go and even try to convince what little amount of people I know to consider going here as well.

Now I understand that visiting every college on your list is not always possible, but there are still ways to figure out how the atmosphere of the campus feels. If you can't tour the school, you can always talk to people you know have had the chance to visit or use online forums/reviews from trusted websites likecappex.com. I learned about this website through my eleventh grade English teacher and have been using it ever since. It was one of the biggest tools I used in my college search, and as a bonus it even has a scholarship database!

In review: try to visit the colleges you're considering and focus on what your gut is telling you. Don't let all the shiny new buildings or beautiful foliage or famous sports teams or the closest city distract you from what your gut is trying to get through to you. Always ask yourself how the campus makes you feel.

So how did you choose your college? Is there anything you wish you had or hadn't accounted for in your search? Did you tour your school before you enrolled? Anything I didn't touch on that you want to share? Leave a comment and tell me all about it! Maybe you'll end up helping someone out in the process.

Everywhere I look it seems like all us kids do anymore is just sit around on our phones or computers. Like I'll go hang out with friends and we'll just end up sitting around in a circle all in our own little cyber space worlds! How absurd is that?

What ever happened to talking in person, and playing outside, and writing notes in class? I miss those good old days. (Aka elementary school.)

Ever since I was forced to take a month long break from social media back when I was writing for my high school newspaper, I've been a humongous advocate for tech breaks. I even gave a speech about it in my Intro to Communication class in the fall, and took a month long break on my own accord back in March.

I was able to convince everyone in my Comm class that using screens less often is important, so let's see if I can convince you too. Here are my top seven reasons why you should consider taking a break from your smartphone/social media:

1. It gives your eyes a break.

You know how your eyes start to ache or burn after staring at a screen for like two hours or more? Why do we continue to put our bodies into such torture? When your eyes start to hurt is a great signal that you should put your phone down, close the laptop and do something thatdoesn'tinvolve a screen.

2. Nothing can replace talking in person.

One of the biggest reasons I'm on my phone so much is because I'm talking to my friends. Whether it's through text, Snapchat or video chat, none of it beats actually talking in person. I do have to say though, I'm a much bigger fan of Snapchat and video chat than texting, because I like being able to see and/or actually hear the person I'm talking to.

Talking through text is so indirect and I am just not a fan.

3. Helps ease the pressure to be perfect.

Let's get real for a second. How many times have you been watching a YouTube video, or scrolling through Instagram or browsing through tumblr and felt jealous of the person depicted? How many times have you seen an image of someone else that makes you feel lesser or not good enough?

It's okay, it happens to the best of us.

In today's world it feels like we're all expected to always take the hardest classes, work as many hours as possible, take the coolest photos, have the perfect outfit, hair or makeup and just be perfect in general. So give yourself a break from the pressure. Plus, not looking at your Instagram feed as often will help you realize how awesome you already are. Just remember, don't compare yourself to others because people put their highlight reels online, not their breakdowns and lonely nights.

4. Makes it easier to fall asleep.

You've probably already heard this, but I'm going to say it again just to reiterate how important it really is. The screens from our phones and computers use blue light, and staring at this blue light keeps our brain from secreting melatonin; the hormone that makes you sleepy. Because your brain won't secrete melatonin, now you will no longer be tired so you'll just end up staying on your phone ever longer.

Which means less sleep, and that is never fun. Especially not if you have to work or go to class in the morning. Basically laying in bed on your phone is not a smart idea because it's just a never ending slippery slope that keeps you up at night and tired all day long.

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5. Allows you to slow down.

Everything these days moves so fast. Our cars, our thoughts, our text messages. We're pressured into being busy 24/7 and doing nothing for more than 15 minutes is frowned upon. Let's face it, we're a work, move, work, move society, and I'm not so sure that's a good thing.

Sometimes it's nice to just sit down and enjoy some peace you know? If you ever feel overwhelmed or like your life is about to fall to pieces, put your phone down and take a few moments to just breathe and to hear your own thoughts. I mean how are we supposed to hear our own inner thoughts, needs and desires if all day long we're just taking in everyone else's?

6. Can make you more productive.

Phones and the internet are literally the most distracting thing ever. I can never bring my laptop with me to class because somehow I end up online shopping and browsing plane tickets. So obviously I leave class with no idea what happened. Not good. Learn from my mistakes and keep distractions at bay.

While you're doing your homework, keep your phone on the other side of the room, or off, or at least in do not disturb mode. When in class, just turn your phone off. Trust me. I know it sounds dumb, and turning off your phone seems like the end of the world, but it's the only way I can pay attention in class because my attention span is awful.

Plus, it's been proven that people who multitask, or get on social media while doing school work, get 20% lower grades than people who don't. That's a two letter grade difference.

7. You get real you time.

I'm a big proponent of you time. I mean how else am I supposed to relax, unwind and learn my inner self? But I've found that it can be difficult when I have any form of the internet lying around me. It's like my brain doesn't want me to relax or sort through my thoughts, and would rather take in what someone else thinks.

Powering down electronics really helps me feel more alone. I'm so used to talking to people on my phone that sometimes I feel like my phone is a person on it's own. (That may also have something to do with Siri though.)

Now this all sounds great in theory, and while these are some pretty convincing reasons if I do say so myself, I know it takes more than thought to start something. You have to take action. Separating yourself from your phone or laptop or tablet can seem scary (how sad is that?), but you don't have to go cold-turkey or anything.

Here are a few small actions you can take to get yourself into less of a tech driven lifestyle:

To see the rest of the Best Summer Ever posts clickhere!

So, did I convince you? What do you do to keep yourself off your phone? Or what problems do you have with social media? Would you ever go a month without social media like I did? Let me know in the comments!

I used to play outside everyday as a kid, until something called video games took over my life towards the end of elementary school. I remember my mom used to tell me to go play outside and I would just sit in a lawn chair at the end of our driveway and play Pokemon on my DS. I don't think that what she had in mind.

But somehow I went from begging to go outside to being forced to do something out of the house.

I never noticed how little time I actually spend outdoors until I'm actually outside and asking myself why I don't do this more often. Sometimes we all have those days when it's a struggle to get out of bed, let alone get out of the house, so I rounded up some incentive to get you out in nature.

1. Gotta get that Vitamin D, right?

While yes, you can get vitamins D from food sources, it's easier to get the amounts you need from just a little bit of daily sunshine. Just don't forget to wear your sunscreen! Even if it's cloud outside.

2. It helps to calm the mind.

So this may just be a me thing, but being outside helps to clear and soothe my mind. This can be especially helpful if you're stressed, feeling down or just have a lot of things running through your head. I think what helps me most is thinking about how big this earth is, and realizing how small I am in turn. This helps me come to terms with my problems because if I'm small, then my problems have to be even smaller because they are only a fraction of me. Realizing how small and significant my problems actually are makes it a whole lot easier to deal with them or just let them go.

Related:What to do if You're Having a Bad Day

3. It gets you off your phone.

You have to admit that we all get too caught up in what other people are doing that we don't do anything ourselves. We spend so much time scrolling through feeds that we could be using to do something a little bit more productive or good for you. Set aside your phone for 10 minutes and just sit outside and breathe in that fresh air. Or better yet, watch the sunset (yes you have permission to take photos) to keep you off your phone before bed so that it's easier for you to fall asleep.

4. It can provide inspiration or motivation.

Great things have always come from me spending time outdoors. I've found inspiration in the strangest of things and learned life lessons from things that can't speak. (Mostly because I like to deeply analyze everything like life is an AP Literature test.)

Being in nature can really help to boost your creative side as well. If you're feeling stuck on a project or just want ideas for new art or writing, then try and get yourself outside more often. It's also a great place to journal or read because you are in a more open space than if you were inside, which allows your thoughts to wander more freely.

To see the rest of the Best Summer Ever posts clickhere!

5. It makes you happy.

Duh, this one is a no-brainer. But really, stop and think about this one.How does being outside, rather than cooped up in your house for hours on end make you feel?Freeing right? When I spend a whole 24 hours without going outside I feel like I'm going to go insane. Something as little as just taking the garbage out, or walking to my car or driving with the windows down makes me feel less restrained and keeps me from going crazy.

Life is such a hectic blur these days. We're always keeping ourselves busy and not allowing anytime for rest, so spending a few spare moments just standing outside of your car before going back into your house can make all the difference.

6. It's nostalgic.

Remember days when you played outside as a kid? Same, and I miss those days too. But they don't have to be gone. Who says you have to stop playing like a kid even when you aren't one anymore?

Go run through the sprinkler, have a water balloon fight, play with chalk, go swinging, jump rope, hula hoop -- do whatever you want.

Or you could go exploring, but for real this time. As kids, all the exploring we could do was in our heads. It might have magically come to life in front of us, but we all know it wasn't real. Now we have the freedom to actually explore the world and find things that make our inner child come to life.

Like yesterday, I set out for an adventure and found this beauty. The ruins of an old ship once sailed as a luxury yacht, a naval ship in both world wars, a fishing boat, a ferry and even supposedly made a cameo in Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" music video (not sure if I believe that one though). Now she's overgrown with weeds and spiders, but she's still the perfect playground for my imagination with all the history she has.

So get out there and explore, because you never know what you'll find.

Well here it is: the first follow-up to myBest Summer Ever postfrom three weeks ago. Are you excited? Because I am.

This is a topic that I feel many people overlook, even myself. You see I chose to go the college where I did for the sole purpose of being close to my extended family, but then somehow during the school year I gradually seemed to forget just how close I lived to them that it didn't even cross my mind that I could visit them, or even just call them anytime I wanted. It's not because I didn't want to spend time with them or talk to them, I just got too caught up and overwhelmed by my classes, work and my new friends - like is expected of any college freshman.

So this is a reminder to all of you:don't let anything distract you from spending time with those who mean the world to you and who have always been there for you.

Just like it's easy to make family less of a priority during the school year because of all the homework, classes, work hours and other college things you have to keep up with, it's also easy to convince yourself that you have other things of higher importance than hang out with your family even when there's absolutely nothing on your calendar. Somehow we convince ourselves that we have a really busy day when all we're really doing is watching Netflix or reading a book and sending random people Snapchats because we just really want to use the new filter they put up today.

If you ever find yourself pushing back family time, or even dreading it, then here are five reasons to convince you to stop being antisocial and  actually leave your room this summer.

1. You don't see your family as much during the school year.

Maybe you live on campus, or maybe you still live at home, either way we both know you're spending less time with your parents, siblings and extended family than if you weren't enrolled in school. So take advantage of the few days where you don't have to worry about when your paper is due and if you studied enough for that chem test, and do something with your family. Go visit your grandparents, play board games with your siblings, play cards with your grandma or just sit down for dinner with the whole family. You won't regret it. I promise.

2. They make unfun things bearable.

Maybe your excuse to keep your distance from family is because they are always busy, or only want to do things you don't enjoy doing. If I can promise you one thing it'd be that doing something you can't stand with your family makes it about 1,000 times more bearable, and possibly even fun.

Let me tell you a story. I've always loathed doing yardwork. Ask anyone in my family and they'll all be able to tell you about I used to always mope and groan and complain every time I was told I had to go pull weeds or rake leaves or pick up fallen branches. But then I realized I could use that chore to bond with my brother and sister. Just like two weeks ago I spent about a half hour pulling weeds in the rain with my sister because we were enjoying our talk too much to go inside even though our mom told us we should get out of the rain.

3. You could learn something you never knew before.

Now this could go two ways: either you'll learn something new about their life or they'll teach you something about gardening, sewing, cooking or the world. Both will be invaluable though. I don't know about you, but I absolutely love learning more about my family lineage and what life was like when my grandparents were kids. The world has changed so much, but I wouldn't have really understood and believed that if I had never questioned my grandparents about their childhood.

Also, your family is a great big wikipedia (only more accurate) that can teach you more than you might think. Everyone has experienced something different and unique and learned something from it, and could certainly teach you at least one thing you didn't know.

4. Choosing to spend time with them will make their day.

Now this one I know it always true. Even something as simple as sending a text message or a quick phone call is enough to show your family how much you love and care about them. I mean just imagine someone who you don't talk to daily randomly called you just to see how life was treating you? How happy would you be? I know I'd be extremely happy.

These people literally birthed you and watched you grow up, so don't let them feel unappreciated. Think how you'd feel if when you're 60 years old and your children or grand children don't give you the light of day.

5. Hanging out with family is better than being alone and scrolling through the same things on Facebook for two hours.

Now this last one you really gotta trust me on. Yes I know it can be tempting to just sit at home and play on your phone and rally in the glory of being alone for once while everyone else goes to the family dinner, but I promise you it's not worth it. I mean let's be honest, all you're going to do is just sit and scroll through the same photos and statuses over and over again wishing someone would just post something new and more interesting than what song they're listening to right now. I mean maybe it's just me, but I actually enjoy just sitting in the same room with all my family, even if we're not actually talking. It's just reassuring to be close to people who you know love you and it's nostalgic to me as well, and we could all use a little feeling of youth couldn't we?

I hope you can take something away from this week's post, and that you enjoyed the first installment of my Best Summer Ever series. I'll be covering the other six soon as well, so stay tuned to find out which one I write about next!

Here's to family and all they do for us.

We all get them. Those days where we don't feel good enough, or we feel everything too much, or when every little thing annoys us. The days when all we want to do is be alone and cry or just yell into our pillows and then throw them across the room.

I've had plenty of those days. I used to get them really often actually. I'd wake up and could just tell that that day was going to suck, and that just made it even worse. Instead of trying to turn my attitude around, I wallowed in my own pity party and made my bad days turn into bad weeks and bad months.

I think it was last summer when my onslaught of bad days magically disappeared. But not completely. Instead of feeling down in the dumps all day long, the negative feelings had the courtesy of only visiting during the night once every couple days. Then gradually, during my first year of college, those bad nights came less often and almost never happen anymore. This is not due to actual magic, it's because I've learned how to combat them and prevent them from happening, and that's what I'm going to teach you how to do today.

First, when you're having a bad day, morning, night, hour or whatever it is, you have to fully believe and understand that these feelings won't last forever. I mean the sun sets and rises every day, but it shines through everything. It's totally okay if you have your ups and downs as well, just don't forget to keep up the positive mindset that I talked about in myHow to be Positivepost awhile back. It may take you longer than 24 hours to feel like yourself again, but that doesn't mean you're never going to get there again. Keeping the trend of nature analogies, think of the moon. It takes it a whole month to get back to shining bright and whole in the night sky, but it never gives up does it? Not even when it completely disappears during the new moon phase.

This is one of the biggest "tricks" I use when I start feeling really down. I just think to myself, "This won't last forever. I won't feel like this tomorrow. It's a one day thing." Personally, I think it works wonders. Admitting to yourself that what you're feeling is only temporary will help set that fact in stone. What you believe is true is what will become your reality. (But believing that you're a millionaire doesn't mean you actually are one. Ask my bank account.)

Besides reminding yourself that these negative feelings will pass, you also have to learn not to give into them too much. When I'm having an awful day all I want to do is sit alone, listen to sad music, eat too much dark chocolate, snap at anyone who comes too close to me, cry into a pillow and lay on the floor. And while these things can help unleash all the inner turmoil and sadness I'm experiencing, they aren't the most healthy way to take care of my emotions. If you give in and let yourself sink into pity and self-wallow, it's harder to pull yourself out and it's harder for other people to help you because you won't be as willing to accept it.

Instead of having a full on meltdown, try doing something productive, something that doesn't make you feel worthless. Some things I do are journal, read, work on a project/craft or call/text a friend or family member. Other things you could do are cook, go grocery shopping, go for a drive, workout and paint your nails, do your hair or do your make-up if that's something you're into.

Getting into nature is always something that helps to. I believe this is because these feelings come from a natural source, just like how trees, plants, animals and water are natural on this planet. Getting outside helps remind me that I'm only one small thing on the surface of this earth, and puts into perspective how small and insignificant my problems are and remind me that life is a short, fleeting thing and I should enjoy it as much as I can.

Now I know this isn't always possible, and some days you feel like your life is over. There's nothing wrong with giving yourself permission to continue to mope and fully embrace the sadness that is plaguing you,butyou have to be sure to set a time limit. Tell yourself that you'll allow yourself to continue your pity party only for the next hour, or the rest of the day or it ends after you drink your coffee tomorrow morning. You can't let yourself stay down in the dumps for too long, because as I said before, you'll never want to leave.

Now sometimes, it's not that I'm having a bad day, it's more so like I feel funky or just not in align with myself. Usually I confuse it for sadness, and I start racking my brain for reasons I would be so upset and come up empty, so I start to project those feelings onto other things. This happened to me just last week. I just felt felt off, like there was no other way to describe it. I mistook it for sadness or anger and invented reasons to be sad and angry. Then sometime that day I came across a post on Instagram that completely explained what I had been feeling and relieved me of my negative energy.

Basically Catie (@love_warrior), the girl who made thepost, explained that sometimes the things we feel aren't actually ours. We can easily pick up on other's emotions, and sometimes they engulf us and we begin to think they are our own. After reading through her caption I immediately felt relief. The sadness and anger I had been experiencing weren't my own, and reading that released them from me. I never did figure out who they had come from, but I hope whoever it was no longer feels the way they did that day.

So next time you're feeling a little funky, be sure to ask yourself if what you're feeling is your own, or someone else's emotions being projected onto you. If it isn't autogenous, you should feel these emotions detach from you, but if they do continue to cling I recommend washing them off. Like literally. Just take a bath or a shower or going swimming in a pool and focus on feeling the negative emotions you were carrying around wash off. Or if you're feeling a little more adventurous, try jumping in a lake, swimming in the ocean or standing under a waterfall to wash the negativity away. I think natural water like these options would work more efficiently since being outside in general helps cleanse my troubled mind. But any water will do just fine.

Before I go I have one more challenge for you: when you're done reading this make a list of five things that make you happy or that you are grateful for. Repeat this list to yourself on your bad days to turn them into good days filled with gratitude. Also, feel free to share your list in the comments! I'd love to hear what makes you smile.

I hope you learned something new from this that will benefit you in the days to come. I created this blog to help people, so if you have any ideas for future posts, or want to ask my a specific question feel free to leave a comment below or send me a message through mycontact page! I always love to hear from you guys.

Here's to having good days and turning the negative ones into positive ones.

Just a little heads up, this kind of leans on the more soapboxy, ranting style, so if that's not your thing you may want to close out of the tab now. I had seen this tweet this past week and I knew I had to write something about it even though I had something completely different planned out.