Judith Ohikuare

Characters in shows such as Gossip Girl and Skins get approximately 10 times as much action in high school as almost anyone I knew in grades 8 to 12 combined, but I’d bet that most people still consider their college years to be the ultimate time for self-discovery and sexual experimentation. College students may not be falling into a vortex of sex, drugs and indie-rock worthy of CW programming, but they are often questioning what it means to be a sexually competent, confident and comfortable person. For some students, this process entails throwing oneself into physically intimate relationships à la Spring Awakening, while for others it involves far less peeking between the sheets—or none at all.
 
While little research has been done on asexual orientation, increasing numbers of adults now identify as asexual and proud. A commonly cited study published in the Journal of Sex Research in 2004 reports that 1% of individuals self identify as asexual—a figure that seems unimpressive until you enter smaller communities such as Internet havens or college campuses. Since “coming out” as asexual may seem improbable at best to the uninitiated or to anyone who has never met an “ace” (slang for an asexual person), Her Campus decided to investigate how people define asexuality and what it means to be asexual in college.
 
What is asexuality, anyway?
 

Procrastination—you know how it goes. You tell yourself to spend only 15 minutes on Facebook, but 40 minutes later you’ve gone through your “Recently Updated Friends” list three times, have seen all of the new photos your 750+ BFFs have uploaded in the past few days, have Facebook stalked every guy you’ve ever hooked up with, and have refreshed your homepage at least five times in hopes of seeing something new. Meanwhile, the problem set that’s due tomorrow afternoon leers at you, half-finished, on your computer screen; and your English essay for the end of the week barely has an introduction. You might feel better about having whittled away nearly an hour of prime homework time if you had done something even slightly worthwhile—Facebook stalking, however, hardly counts as productive.

Procrastination is inevitable. Whether your distraction of choice involves “Law & Order: SVU” marathons or Spider Solitaire, it is pretty much set in stone that you’ll find a way to not do what you’re supposed to: your homework. So instead of freaking out about how much time you wasted (and making empty promises never to do it again), procrastinate in a way that’s useful. Here are 15 ways to get work done in multiple areas of your life without opening up a textbook.

Talking about my second year at college brings up the same sensations that reading old diary entries from middle school does—except the former recollections are still mortifying and have yet to become something to laugh about. During that gloomy sophomore year, I often went for walks in the park when I was frustrated and had no one to talk to. It seemed easier to stomp along a dirt path with my cell phone turned off and my iPod blasting than to talk to a person, because I didn’t want to complain to others. I spent a lot of time being stressed out and feeling isolated and dwelled on my problems with a single-minded, almost self-absorbed focus.

The thing was, I did want to mull things over with someone else, but felt that I’d be burdening another person with my issues. I entertained the thought of speaking to a counselor, but decided against it for reasons that are probably familiar to many people: I didn’t want to get too personal with someone over a seemingly trivial issue; I worried about confidentiality and whether I’d get along with my prospective therapist, and I stressed about the idea of being seen as someone who needed to sort through mental health issues. It turns out that many college women feel the same way.

In a recent survey conducted by Her Campus, 42.6% of 94 college women had spoken to a counselor on campus. More than 90% of this group did so of their own volition, and the majority of these women reported having a “somewhat positive” experience on their first visit. Out of the 90% of respondents who went of their own accord, 66% claimed to have a “somewhat positive” or “very positive” experience during subsequent meetings with the same counselor.

There are loads of things to love about the changing seasons. In my Autumn-loving, layer-happy, snuggle-adoring opinion, there isn’t a single aspect of our lives that isn’t enriched, somehow, by longer evenings and lower temperatures. Think about it—chillier weather means you end up spending more time indoors bundled up in a soft blanket, watching movies with friends and, perhaps, studying. You get to break out your sweaters, ankle boots, long scarves, and warm jacket. Best of all, cold weather is pretty much food’s fairy godmother. With an easy “bippity-boppity-boo,” strawberries become apples, grilled turkey burgers are replaced by roasted Thanksgiving turkey, and a tall glass of sweet tea from grandma magically morphs into a tall Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks.
 
Starbucks’s ever-expanding menu of hot beverages is one of the franchise’s best attractions. Many of the chain’s most popular selections are offered all year, and a few of Starbucks’s seasonal drinks have already debuted, but several more options will appear from November 16 until January 3, 2011. As it is almost inevitable that you or someone you love will soon find herself heeding the siren call of Starbucks’s slightly creepy, smiling mascot, feel free to check out this guide to which cold beverages might be a sweet escape for you or a nightmare for a nutritionist.
 
Where to start?
 
If you’re a Starbucks newbie or are just looking for a new signature drink, you may feel overwhelmed by your options. Here’s a brief look at what you can expect to find in terms of calories and flavors: