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Now that the pope is gone, Philadelphia has become the quiet city we know and love, setting the stage for a beautiful fall season. Then Hurricane Joaquin came up the coast and we were bombarded with rain, wind, and more rain. Let’s face it Dragons, this fall isn’t kicking off in the best way—especially since midterms season has already started. To try and ease the pain of the sky getting darker earlier and the temperature plummeting, we’ve created a simple step-by-step guide to help the next few weeks be a little less painful. Hey, we’re pretty amazing but we’re not miracle workers. You still need to study for your midterms.
Step 1: Don’t neglect the important things.So what if you need a cup of coffee every morning to be fully functional? Don’t let others tell you what you can or cannot do based solely on their opinion. Try adding Zing Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener to your morning cup of joe for a low-calorie option instead of your usual sugar packet.
Step 2: Take pride in your appearance.We’re not saying you need to look like a perfect 10 every time you leave your room, but spending five minutes on your hair in the morning can leave you in a positive mood all day. Use TRESemme’s Perfectly (un)Done Sea Salt Spray for some relaxed waves that look amazing but only took you a minute to create. We are huge fans of style shortcuts, so this one is a must-have.
Step 3: Give yourself a pep talk.You are your biggest cheerleader (besides your mom) so have some faith in yourself! Drexel believes in you, otherwise you wouldn’t have been admitted to this amazing school. Remind yourself that you can do anything you put your mind to! Thanks to the Her Campus Shop, hanging an awesome pennant in your room can remind you why you do what you do and that you are, in fact, a truly amazing person.
Step 4: Feed your brain something beside classwork.Hitting the books is an important part of going to college but it shouldn’t be the only thing you do to feed your mind. Instead of your usual Netflix study break, pick up a book and remember why you loved reading as a kid or why a certain character helped you become the person you are today. Random House has two great new books out: We Were Liars and Every Day. They come highly recommended so visit your school or local library to check them out.
Step 5: Stand up for yourself and your gender.We do attend an engineering school so it makes sense to think our campus is overrun with male students, but that is slowly starting to fade away. We have some amazing female students studying engineering, business, computer science, and biology with a goal to change the world one day. Participate in the #NoCeilings challenge with the Clinton Foundation by promoting full, equal participation in your classes. There is no better feeling than knowing you helped take a stand against gender inequality.
Step 6: Eat well to keep your body happy.Go ahead, order a Chipotle burrito bowl for the third time this week. It’s sustainable, fresh, and simple, making it the perfect fuel for a day of hard work.
Step 7: Support your peers in their adventures.Our student body is full of amazing and inspiring entrepreneurs, like the creators of Scholly and Chocamo. Take some time out of your day to brainstorm and discuss possible business ideas and inventions with your friends that could give back to the community. My Social Canvas, an enterprise in NYC, works with student designers to help them see their designs come to life and they donate the profits to a specific cause.
Step 8: Stray from your normal path.If you ever feel stuck in a rut, drained from your daily activities, or you don’t want to run into your not-over-the-breakup-yet ex-boyfriend on your way home, grab your bag and find a new place to decompress. Haven’t tried OCF underneath Evo? Grab your laptop and scoot on down to 30th Street to escape the usual Drexel crowd. Haven’t explored LOFT’s new space on 34th? Buy yourself a new scarf for winter as a reward for working so hard. MZ Wallace has the perfect bag collection for those who want to stray from their usual activities but need to bring some essential items along.
Step 9: Get creative.Fall is in the air (sort of) so decorate your dorm with some easy decorations while you watch a few episodes of Wet, Hot, American Summer on Netflix. Whether you go with a leaf garland or jack-o-lantern theme, Pinterest has the inspiration and Martha Stewart has the supplies. Check out her craft line at Michaels or this website for some great deals and activities.
Step 10: Be thankful for what you have.You are so lucky to be at Drexel University and have the opportunity to earn a diploma without extensive strain being placed on your family, community, or country. There are many, many girls who are not afforded the same opportunity, which is why She’s the First stepped in to provide scholarships to girls in low-income countries to cultivate the next generation of global leaders. Check out their website and see how you can help be a part of this amazing cause.
Step 11: Go out and have a good time.This guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the importance of taking time off to have fun with your girlfriends. Whether it’s a chick-flick marathon in your dorm room or a night of dancing in Old City, make sure your social life gets some attention this fall. With NYC New York Color’s new 24-hour waterproof eyeshadow pens, you can create an awesome look so your #squadselfies look #onpoint.
Step 12: Don’t lose faith in yourself!You are a Dragon. That’s a freakin’ BAMF mascot. #YOUGOTDIS.