7 Things I Learned in 2014

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2014 has been a big year for me. I am continuously changing as I try and figure out who I am. I have learned a lot along the way so far.

1.) Get rid of toxic relationships. If a relationship is holding you back it is time to let it go. Holding on to toxic relationships will only hurt you.

Who Are You?: The Return of Shannon!

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Hi!

College 101: Saving Money

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If you have met a college student, you know the saying: "I can't. I don't have the money. I'm a broke college student." All college students are guilty of saying this, even myself. So, I came up with ways to save money.

-Do not order food often. Many of my friends and I became guilty of ordering food more than once a week for a late night snack. We could easily save $10-$20 per week if we stocked up on snack food at Walmart at the beginning of each month.

-Don't drive. Save gas money by taking the shuttle around campus. At my college, the shuttle can also take you to the mall.

-Stay in. Watch a movie on Netflix instead of going to the theater to see a new movie. You can see new movies in a matter of months once they come out at the Redbox. Avoid walking around the mall. You will go into a shop and buy something that you think you need.

- Do not buy coffee. The cafeteria has coffee. If you have a meal plan for the cafeteria, use it. Go get breakfast and coffee in the morning there instead of spending money on a coffee in the student center.
(Or bring a coffee maker even though it is frowned upon by the campus staff.)

Shannon

College 101: Organization & Study Habits

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I like to keep my school work extremely organized. I have methods that work for me to keep notes, study guides, and graded work in place. I also keep my schedule organized, so I have time to complete my homework, study, and stay active on campus.

Planner

The first thing I do is keep my planner updated. For the monthly overview, I keep due dates that are farther away, as well as campus activities. I write down when my upcoming quizzes/tests are and when papers are due. I write down when sorority events are as well as club meetings.

For the weekly pages, I write down my every day homework assignments. In order to avoid confusion, I keep each class separate by labeling them. I try to check off each assignment once I have completed it, but sometimes I forget. In this section, I also try and squeeze in any club meetings or sorority events for each day. If I cannot fit them all, I know that they are on the monthly calendar, so it is not too big of a deal.

Binders

The number one thing I recommend for classes is to keep each class in a separate 1" binder. This approach may not work for everyone, but from personal experience, I can tell you that it will be highly effective.

For each class, I label the front and spine with a piece of paper. I write the class name as well as my name on the bigger piece of paper and slide it in the front pocket. I cut out a smaller piece of paper for the spine and write the class name. This makes it easy to keep classes separate and know that you are bringing the correct binder to class.

I keep dividers in each binder. My dividers are usually labeled: notes, study guides, Powerpoints, and graded work, depending on the class. This helps keep me organized because everything has its own place.

I recommend investing in a hole puncher, so you hole punch handouts and printed Powerpoints to fit into your binder.

Notecards

For studying, I like to use notecards. I write the main idea on the front and write the definition as well as any other key points on the back of the card. I make my notecards a week in advance. I study for quizzes and tests in-between classes, before bed, in the library, etc. With notecards, it is so easy to pull them out and read them. The "I didn't have time to study" excuse is not an excuse with this method.

If notecards do not work for you, you can always read the Powerpoints out loud or silently, make a song about the material, or act the material out. There are so many study options out there. You just have to find the ones that work best for you.

Shannon

College 101: Making Friends

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I think one of all of our concerns when starting up at a new school is: How am I going to make friends?

When I transferred to a four year college, I honestly had no idea where to start looking for friends. I had been shy my entire life. I did not like putting myself out there. But I knew that this was a fresh start for me, and I could change.

Here are some things I did to put myself out there and make some of my best friends:
-If people in my dorm had their doors open, I would walk in and start up a conversation.
-I joined a sorority. (ASA for life!)
-If my dormmates were hanging out in the lounge, I would sit down and join them.
-I said hi to the people I sat next to in class.
-If I liked an outfit someone was wearing, I would tell them. (You run into the same people every day when walking around in-between classes. You can make friends this way.)
-Join a club for your major. (I joined the English club at my college.)
-Go to the free events your school throws. Colleges offer beginning of the year events, end of the semester events, free food events, etc.
-If you have a roommate, hangout with him or her. After all, you are going to be living with this person for nine months.

Hope this helps some of you starting off at college. If anyone has more ideas, comment down below so everyone can see them!

Shannon

College 101: Picking A Major

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So, you've submitted your application and have been accepted at a college. Congratulations!...But now the real fun begins.

How in the world do you pick a major?

I switched my major around a couple of times and have added a minor and special program. I started off as a Secondary Education Major at my local community college. Then I decided that I wanted to learn more about writing, not teaching, so I switched to General Studies in order to graduate in two years while taking English (and Philosophy) classes. When I transferred to a four year college, I became an English Major. Recently, I added the Philosophy Minor as well as a Teaching Program.

So I guess the point I am making is, it is okay if you do not choose the major for you the first time. I know many of us (including myself) worry that we will be stuck in school forever and rack up that debt that we pay off for what seems like our entire lives. But we change over the course of our college education. Our interests will change. What we once thought we wanted to spend the rest of our lives doing might actually frustrate us and cause us to dislike where our lives are going.

This post is not to tell you '5 Steps To Finding The Right Major For You On The First Try.' This post is here to tell you that your major will most likely change at some point during your time in college and that it is okay to have a change of heart. What I can tell you to do is pick the major that best fits your aspirations now. If you want to be a teacher, become an education major. Maybe down the line you decide you want to be an accountant. Who knows. Worry about who you are now, and what you want now.

Shannon

Friday Movie Night: Divergent

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This week's Friday Movie Night pick is Divergent! I love this series. I think that the movie stays true to the books. Let me know in the comments if you agree!

In case you missed yesterday's post, I live tweeted while I watched Avatar last Friday night. It was a spur of the minute idea, so I know a lot of people did not know about it. I will be live tweeting tonight at 9PM EST while watching Divergent.

There will be no FMN next week. I will be doing five College 101 posts instead of my regularly scheduled posts. There will also be five more Back to School videos uploaded next week. Today's Back to School video will be linked here and on Twitter once it is uploaded.

I hope to see you guys later tonight for FMN!

Shannon

End of Summer 2014 Life Update

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I'm sitting here, and I honestly have no idea what to say. I did not write a blog post for today. I considered skipping today, because I have been working really hard to film and edit my Back to School videos. You can check out my playlist I made of those videos here.

So I guess for today I will make an update post.

-Next Friday (the 22nd) is my last day of work for the summer. I cannot believe that I am going back to school in 17 days. The summer flew by. I am going to miss work the most. I spent most of my summer working. I learned a lot about the industry as well as myself. I am going to miss my co-worker. If you would like to see a post on her (she is my best friend), let me know! I would be happy to write about her!

-I am planning a day trip to New York  City on I think the 27th. I have not given myself much of a vacation this summer. I miss going out and trying new things. So, even though NYC isn't unfamiliar to me, I still plan on doing things there that I have not done before or have not done in awhile. I want to go to Central Park and maybe the Statue of Liberty, depending on the cost. I want to try out a new place for dinner. I do not want to go to a chain place like TGI Friday's. I want to try out a local place. If you have any suggestions, please leave them down below or message me on Twitter (or you know, any of my other social media sites. I check them all every day.) I wish I had the money to stay overnight, because I really want to see a Broadway show.

-There is a bookstore in Baltimore called The Book Thing of Baltimore, where you can donate books and take books. You do not have to donate books to be able to take them, but I still have books from series I used to read when I was twelve. As much as I love the memory of them, there is no point in me holding onto them. Someone else can enjoy them like I used to. I plan on going here the 23rd or 24th, as they are open on Saturdays and Sundays.

-I also plan on going to the Hard Rock Café in Baltimore for lunch/dinner the day I go to the bookstore. Ever since I went to the Hard Rock Café in Orlando back when I was fourteen, I have made it a goal of mine to go to every single Hard Rock Café in the world. Since I will be in the area, I can knock one more off of my list.

-Can we talk about the fact that I hit 40,000 words on one of my stories last night? I cannot believe that I managed to write that many words for one particular story. I know it may not seem like a lot to authors out there, who crank out multiple 100,000+ word novels every year, but for me that means something.

-I am making progress in The Night Circus. The story is heating up. The descriptions are beautiful, but the characters are beginning to shine. When I start reading this book, I cannot stop. I plan on reading a couple chapters, and the next thing I know, I've finished five. I hope to finish the book before I go back to school.

-Has anyone seen Chasing Life? Chasing Life is ABC's new show following April Carver, a budding reporter who finds out she has cancer. I love this show. The characters and plot are realistic. Towards the last couple of episodes, life and death become the focal points. The show has me contemplating what I would do in the situations April and the other cancer patients find themselves in. I don't know. I've just been doing a lot of mortality thinking lately. Maybe I will write a post on it.

-FRIDAY MOVIE NIGHT: This week's FMN is Divergent. I will be watching the movie and live tweeting during it on 8/15/14 at 9PM EST. I did this last week with Avatar as a spur of the moment idea, and I quite enjoyed it. So, I am giving you guys a heads up today. Grab a copy of the movie and join me on Twitter!

I think this sums it up. I really do not like writing spur of the minute posts, but we will all have to deal with it for today.

Have a lovely Thursday,

Shannon

Inspiration of the Week: Amanda Hocking

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My inspiration this week is author Amanda Hocking. If you haven't heard of her, check out the Switched series on her website.

Last night, I read through Hocking's article for the millionth time on how she became a self-published author. What I always find most fascinating is that she would write books in 1-4 weeks while maintaining a full time job. When I read this article, I often found myself wondering if she ever slept (is she a vampire?). I wanted to know all of her secrets for writing a book in a week.

Every time I read this article, I instantly feel inspired to write more. I can sleep when my stories are done. So thank you, Amanda Hocking, for inspiring me to want to write more. I appreciate it.

Who inspires you? Let me know in the comments below!

The Back to School video of the day will be found here and on Twitter once it is uploaded.

Shannon

Quote of the Week: Do What You Feel To Be Right- For You'll Be Criticized Anyway

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I love this quote. I think it is important that we live the life we dream of living, rather than a practical life that will gives us a decent salary (Unless that is your dream. If so, go for it!). I believe in doing the things we want to do and the things that make us happy.

It is important to do the things that make us happy, because there will be critics at every turn. There will always be someone trying to put us down. But is it better to have someone try and put us down for something we do not fully believe in?

Back to School video of the day can be found here.

Shannon

Writing 101: Flat Characters

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College 101: Dorm Life

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Oh, dorm life. Sharing a dorm with so many people can have its perks. But it also has its downsides.

Perks

-You have 50+ built in friends living down the hall from you. It is so easy to make friends while living in a dorm. You live together. You share a bathroom with these people. It is impossible not to become friends with them.

-If you need something, more than likely, someone will have it. If you need a hairtie, a pencil, something to read, etc, someone in your dorm is more than likely to have what you need. You just have to ask.

-Hangouts. We used to have movie nights in one of our friends rooms. Or we would hangout in the lounge until the early hours of morning talking. If you are bored at 3am, there will most likely be someone who is awake to hangout with.

-Food. You all can group up after class to get dinner at the cafeteria. Or, if you walk down by yourself, you are more than likely going to find someone from you dorm already chowing down.

Downsides

-You share a bathroom. Sometimes living with people has its downsides. You observe them leave toothpaste in the sink or leave clothing in the showers. They leave hair on the counter. Sometimes you just know too much.

-Their rooms are just unacceptable. They may not do their laundry more than once a month. They have food containers from the beginning of the semester lying around. You may wonder where the floor is. I am not saying all people are disorganized, but sometimes, you have seen too much.

-You may not get along. I got along with everyone in my dorm except my roommate. We did not hate each other or yell at each other. We just did not have anything in common. She is my complete opposite. It sucked sometimes, but it also had its perks. I was hardly ever in my room, so I made some great friendships by sticking my head in other rooms.

Shannon

Friday Movie Night: Avatar

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No, I am not recommending the Avatar: Last Airbender Movie. (I do recommend the show though.)  I am recommending the movie with the Na'vi.

Avatar is one of my absolute favorite movies. I am fascinated by the world James Cameron has created. Pandora is such a beautiful planet. The Na'vi's spiritual connection with the world around them never seizes to amaze and inspire me, no matter how many times I have seen this movie (which could quite possibly be one billion times.)

UPDATE: I will be live tweeting Avatar at 9PM EST tonight 8/8/14. Follow me on Twitter to join in!

Grab a bowl of popcorn and watch this movie! Let me know what you thought of it in the comments below!

Shannon

What Do I Believe In?

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