Branching Out To Other Organizations

Do it. It will do you some good.

While joining a sorority will look great on a resume with the ever-lasting commitment you display, good character traits, your ability to lead -- it should not be the only thing that shows what you are capable of doing.

As it is still the beginning of the school year, try to look into other organization to not only build up your resume, but to also build up your networking. It will create a lot of connections to a field of interest.

All college campuses varies by what clubs are offered but each has a consensus for an enjoyable student life.

Look into an academic or business fraternity. It will show that you are goal oriented to prove your own leadership potential and your LinkedIn profile will be blasted with so many connections from your peers and current business employers who will be impressed with your endorsements.

Community service clubs are a great way to connect with something bigger. It can be for a national community service organization like Circle K International or Habitat for Humanity, where you vie for the same type of services for a common goal. Each organization not only provides their services to the community with something small like trash pick up or big like building a new home, but they also fundraise money for their counterparts! You'll get that heart warming feeling when you see so many smiling faces from a job well done.

Get cultural with culture clubs, even if you aren't born into it! You'll get a whole new perspective on an exciting lifestyle for people who are eager to show you! You'll learn something new every time and there will also be an abundance of food from all of the potlucks that will ensue. Yes, please.

Step out of your chapter to develop a better college experience. This will create many memories with different people who, too, share the same interests as you!

Being in the Wrong Major

Let’s face it- junior year of high school is arguably the most stressful year of high school. You start to think about what college(s) to apply for, the hundreds of scholarship apps you’ll need to fill out in order to even go to college, and what major you’ll decide to be. Year after year, your teachers and guidance counselors told you to not only major in something you “like” but also major in something that is practical and will make you money; so majors like professional writing or psychology always raised the question “what are you gonna do with that after you graduate?”  But by my second year of college, I realized that I had inadvertently gone along with that same mindset. I was also more miserable in my major and felt it would only get worse.

My first two years of college, I was a biology major. My ultimate dream was to be a doctor and I was never going to give up on that dream, even though biology is one of the hardest majors out there. Don’t get me wrong, I still want to be a doctor more than anything else in this world, but I found that majoring in biology just wasn’t for me. I have a special love and appreciation for science, but I also love more artistic things such as playing the piano and writing poetry. While being a biology major, I found that my major was taking so much out of me in every way possible that I actually started to hate it. I hated going to class, I hated the material, and I especially hated how expensive all those books were getting. I felt so trapped! Then it dawned on me- I came to college not only for a degree, but to grow and expand my way of thinking and I wasn’t getting that. So I decided to make a change.

I took a sociology class last year and I instantly fell in love with it. I realized that I was more excited about going to class more so than I ever was while in college. The work for that class didn’t seem like work to me; it was enjoyable and extremely fulfilling. And while I was searching through a long list of majors to choose from, I thought to myself-“why am I making this so hard?!” In that moment, I knew sociology was for me.

Once I told my advisors, friends, and family about my change, I was bombarded with questions, comments, and a whole lot of concerns. I felt I had to give them more than just “because it just feels right” but I realized, that’s all I really needed. (Plus, if I’m gonna be spending thousands of dollars and 4+ years on a degree, I sure better enjoy every penny I’m spending and every hour of work I’m gonna be putting in.) But once I also explained that I can still go to med school and take the necessary prereqs while studying something I didn’t realize I always loved, everyone started to realize why I made the change in the first place. Now, this fall, I will officially be declaring my major as Sociology with a concentration in Medical Sociology and I may even add a minor in Chemistry! And even though I have a long road of ahead of me, at least I know I’ll be happy. I’ll have time to get back to the things I love such as playing the piano and having the opportunity to write for an amazing blog such as this one!

So if you’re having legitimate thoughts of changing your major (because let’s be real, we all have those thoughts at some point during college), talk to your advisor. Really do some soul searching and do what you feel is right in your heart. Who cares if no one else sees the vision that you do?! You only go through this kind of college experience once, so why waste it on being in a major you hate? Do what you love and have a passion for. If that ends up being a major that’ll make great money, then good for you. If not, you’ll always figure out a way to make it work. Trust yourself and trust in your instincts and you can’t go wrong.  

Look at the great job Charisse did on her first article!

My Monday Morning Ritual

Happy Monday! I've decided it's time everyone stops beating up on Monday - just because it's the first day of the week and the end of the weekend doesn't mean it's all bad! It also means a fresh start and an opportunity to get ahead of all your work for the week!

In order to show you how awesome Monday's can be, I'm going to share my Monday Morning Ritual with you (:

Step 1: Wake Up! Every Monday I try to wake up around 8 AM. I know it sounds early but rarely do I go to bed super late on Sunday and if I wake up early, I feel less rushed getting ready.

Step 2: Caffinate! I get up and make myself a cup of coffee. Another perk of my 8 AM wake up call is that I can actually sit down and enjoy my cup of coffee in a real mug and listen to Spotify's Morning Acoustic. There is no better way to start your week! 

Check out the playlist here!

Step 3: Get ready! By 8:45, I try to be up and in the shower. I always put together a decent outfit for Mondays. Ditch the yoga pants (or running shorts) and put on a pair of jeans if nothing else! You'll feel so much more productive. 

Step 4: Plan your week! After I'm ready (and usually while on my second cup of coffee), I sit down and look at my planner and map out my week. What nights do I have meetings? When am I going to the gym? What tests do I have? Once I know the big things I have to get done in the week, I make a list of all the little things that have to be done by Friday. Then I know what to work on when I have some free time. 

Step 5: Make lunch! Shame on me but I'm not a breakfast eater but I always take my lunch to campus on Mondays. I have a long (3 and a half hour) break between my classes and I try to always go to the library to get started on the small tasks that I have to do. When I take my lunch, I don't feel tempted to procrastinate and go find food else where in places I know I'll run into sisters. 

Step 6: Go to class! Your first class on Monday is always the hardest class to get to because it marks the official end to the weekend but once you make it, your other ones are easier to get to. 

How do you do Monday mornings? We'd love to hear in the comments! 

The Midsemester Revival

Spring Break is over and you are back to having a test and a project due every week. Congratulations. For a lucky few, you are only a few weeks from being done with the rest of your education! By now, I'm sure you all have calculated exactly what grades you need to get on the remainder of your assignments to pass all of your classes to walk in May. I'm so jealous. 

I've officially hit the point where I don't care about random assignments so long as I maintain my grades enough to make it into Law School (my newest post-grade plan - god help me). I have reached out to some of my friends in order to find some advice on getting back on track (and over the midsemester slump).

One guy friend suggested that exercise is the best way to regain focus. Endorphins aren't just to make people happy so they don't commit homicide (please tell me you got the reference). 

Eating well was another suggestion. Fish is relatively easy to cook and with a side of broccoli or spinach and pasta you have a perfect meal! 

One of my sisters suggested that I get some sunshine! I have to admit that this is probably the best suggestion I got for me. I thrive after a little bit of sun and I love reading outside!

If all else fails, take a break and grab a cup of tea and a good book to settle into proper procrastination mode. Sometimes taking a little bit of time for yourself is the best way to clear your mind. 

I hope you can get over your Midsemester Slump and please send your suggestions my way! I can use all the help I can get! 

YIPS

Sonia 

4 Apps Every College Girl Needs

The one thing we keep on us at all times is our smart phone. We try to live without it but let's be real it's attached to our hand pretty much 80% of the time. We may as well make good use of the 15 GB in our lives.

1. Pocket Expense - This is an app that I use to track my finances. It's amazing to use for budget management, tracking your bills and keeping your accounts organized. I love it because it allows me to see where my money is being spent and where I'm going over budget. It enables me to adjust monthly and see a month in a review that shows me when I am spending more money than I have. 

2. Adobe Reader - I don't know about you but almost all of my professors send me articles, assignments and syllabuses in pdf format. When I use the Adobe Reader app, I can access all of these pdfs whenever I want. My favorite feature is being able to sort and save all of my pdfs. 

3. Quizlet - Flashcards are the easiest way to study on the go, but who wants to put up with all of the paper, I know I sure don't. Using the Quizlet app, you have access to all of the online flashcards from the Quizlet site as well as the ability to make you own! 

4. Your Chapter's Website Made into an App - So this isn't an app that you can find in the app store but it's certainly one you'll use daily. Both Apple and Android give you the ability to bookmark frequently used websites into apps on your home screen. Auto save your login information and have all of your chapter information at the click of a button! 

What apps do you use daily? 

Start the Semester Strong

Well first semester has come and gone and we are officially done with those classes - thank goodness! I know one of the biggest goals for this semester for many people is to maintain grades better than we did last semester. I have a few tips for to help kick off the semester!

During the first week of classes, go ahead a print off your syllabi for the semester and mark all of the important dates that your teacher gives you or really any dates your teacher gives you into your planner. Don't have a calendar? Utilize the calendar associated with your school's email address.

Bookmark the websites you will use most in the semester for completing school work and un-bookmark sites like Pinterest and Facebook. If nothing else, this helps you stop procrastinating by reminding you of homework regardless of the temptation of other internet sites.

Look at your class schedule and figure out where you have breaks to make it to the library to study. When you make the habit of heading to the library now, it makes it so much easier to wander that way when you feel unmotivated to get there.

Good luck in your classes! What are you taking this semester?

Sisters Helping Sisters: Academics

“Which professor is better?” “Did you enjoy this class?” Ah, yes. It’s registration time on college campuses all across the country. This is one of those times that makes me glad I joined a sorority. If it wasn’t for the advice of one of my sisters I never would have taken the economics class that made me declare a double major. Registration advice is just one of the many ways we can help our sisters succeed academically.

Setting up a mentor/mentee program within the house can help younger members connect to older members as well as help everyone with school. This can be a formal system or just informal pairings that people make themselves. My chapter assigns each new member to an upperclassman who has the same major as them. That way you have a go to person for academic help.

Listening to your sisters talk about their work load can help you find out if someone is struggling. Most people have a hard time admitting when they are in over their head. If you notice that a sister is constantly stressed and disappointed when she gets assignments back, it might be time to talk to her. You don’t want to make her feel attacked or reprimanded. Make sure she knows you care about her and that you just want the best for her. Suggest some on-campus resources or study dates to let her know you support her. And if you are the one in over your head, don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s from a sister or your teacher.

As college women, we are here first and foremost to get an education. There’s a delicate balance between work and play that even many seniors still haven’t quite mastered. When you notice that you or one of yours sisters is dabbling a little too much in the play realm and not enough in the library, it might be time to intervene. Some people might just need a little warning to get back on track. Occasionally, though, you’ll come across a sister that needs a little more help. Some suggested ways to help are to increase their required study hours or to ban them from certain sorority social events until they can figure out their academic life.  

Academics can be a very personal issue for some people, so tread with respect and love when confronting someone you think is struggling. Every sorority values academics. Let your sisters know you do too by preforming to your fullest potential and helping your sisters to do the same. 

Power Through the Mid-Semester Slump

I don’t know about you, but I’ve already had two midterms. School is finally in full swing. The excitement of bid day and seeing old friends has been replaced with the stress of midterms and the anxiety of turning in parts of my thesis. Usually at this point in the school year I find myself in a slump, though. The work is piling up with no break in sight. If you’re going through something similar, here are some tips to help you power through your mid-semester slump.

Give yourself and your sisters a boost out of the mid-semester slump. (photo)

• Talk to your professors: Mid-semester is the perfect time to check in with each of your professors to see how you’re progressing in the class. You don’t want to get all the way to finals before you realize that your grades just aren’t where you want them. If you are struggling in a class, the professor can provide some tips on how to succeed in their class that might completely change how you are doing in the class.
• Form study groups: If you read my last article (find it here) you hopefully made a few friends in each of your classes. Now is the perfect time to get these people together for study parties. If you tend to be a lone wolf when it comes to studying, mixing it up with a group study session every now and then can really help your grades improve. Even classes that involve a lot of papers can benefit from group work. When you have a group of people to work with, you will all hold each other accountable to actually getting the work done.
• Realize that there is still time: If you’re grades aren’t where you want them to be, you still have an entire half of a semester. But make sure you are proactive about improving your grades. As don’t just fall out of the air. Meet with your professors, tutors, classmates, etc  or mix up your study routine. Don’t regret not working hard now when you’re struggling to get a passing grade at finals time.

How to Cope with a Terrible Schedule

It happens to the best of us...

We get excited to register for class and have the perfect schedule and then... Bam! The class is full before you even get a chance to sign up.

You wind up with 8 AM Chemistry followed by 9 AM Calculus and so on.

You have a terrible schedule and you just do not know how you will deal with it! Take it from us, it is do-able! [after 3 semesters of 8 AMs, I know what I am talking about] With these few tips you can survive the "semester schedule from Hell"

Tip 1: Take a deep breath and tell yourself it is going to be fine!

Tip 2: Create a rewards program for yourself! Each week you survive, treat yourself to a mini shopping spree or nice dinner!

Tip 3: Write out all your classes in an agenda and take note of all the free time you have! Take advantage of this free time by working out, meeting friends, or even catching up on some reading. You will soon feel grateful for the free time you have!

Tip 4: Find a person, notebook, wall that will listen to you complain. Then, take a few moments to just get all your complaints out. Having a few minutes of "pity-me" time can do wonders. Just make sure to limit your self pity to one thirty minute session a week and then follow with a self motivating session!

Tip 5: Remember, it is only 5 months and then you have a whole new schedule!

We promise that following these steps will help you cope with your schedule and if you need a little more help, just refer yourself to Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough Ice Cream!

A Girl in a Boys' World

One of my favorite things about being in a sorority is the sisterhood among all the women in the house. It’s not often that you can put 100 girls in one room and see so much happiness and love. In school, however, I face a very different reality. As a mathematics and economics double major I am surrounded mostly by boys. Sure, there are some other girls in my classes, but the majority of my classmates are boys. In my Econometrics class of 17 students, only 4 of them were girls. Going from a house of 100% girls to a class of less than 25% girls is quite the switch for me. Sometimes this is a struggle, but being in a sorority has prepared me to excel in the classroom.

Every day, my sisters remind me of my true worth and value through their words and actions. From compliments on my outfit to choosing me for leadership positions, my sisters have helped me to build up my confidence. This strong confidence enables me to speak up in class even when I fear looking stupid as one of only a handful of girls in a classroom full of boys. I get so much more out of my classes when I actively participate, so having the confidence to raise my hand has invaluable long-term effects for me.

Have you ever tried to make 100 unique and strong-headed girls agree on something? I bet you have if you’ve ever been in a sorority. Working in groups is not always easy, but it is often essential. Group projects have come up in many of my classes, but I feel better able to tackle the hurdles as a member of a sorority. I know when to take charge and when to step back. I also know how to listen to a variety of options as well as how to delegate tasks. These skills are preparing me for a very successful future where I will most definitely have to work in more groups.

When freshman year rolled around I was beyond nervous about going through sorority recruitment, but I have never regretted it since day one. Similarly, I am extremely nervous about entering the male-dominated economics field. But I now have the courage to take the leap. I don’t know where my career will lead, but I do know that I would regret never at least trying. Who knows, I could even be the first female economist to win the Nobel Prize in economics. Being a member of a sorority has helped me to realize my true potential. I’m not about to limit myself just because there’s a few more boys in the room.

Does anyone else plan on entering a male-dominated field after college? Do you ever get nervous?