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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Riverside chapter.

1. Anyone who doesn’t benefit you, whether that be personally of professionally, should be cut out of your life. I knew a guy from my freshmen dorm who every time he posted on Facebook it put me in an instant bad mood. Simply by deleting him from my friends list and sparing myself the unnecessary small talk when we cross paths on campus I am much happier (and calmer). We’re 20, not 12, not everyone has to be friends. 

2. Spend less time in front of a screen whether it be the television, a phone or your laptop, and instead spend time with your living breathing friends. College is only four years, we have our entire lives to be in bed alone with our computers. And if you’re like me and traveled far for school, most likely after graduation, you won’t be seeing your college friends for a very long time. 
 
3. Think before you Tweet, Facebook or Instagram something. While I love posting photos about how angry that woman in line made me and how cute my hamster looks while sleeping, maybe my future employers aren’t quite as interested. And with graduation getting closer and closer, maybe it’s time to clean up my photos albums too. I don’t think I want people seeing my senior prom pictures anymore.

4. Carrie Bradshaw taught us an important lesson, back up! And I don’t mean the kind of backing up that is necessary when you are too close to someone in line. Save all those papers you worked hard on and photographs online for free! I use Google Docs for my documents and SkyDrive for my photographs. It’s cheap and easy, but most of all, saves me the stress in case I one day lose my laptop. 

5. Start thinking about spring break/summer vacation early. There is nothing worse than traveling back home for break and having nothing to do. You don’t have to do anything extravagant, something as simple as a camping trip with all your girlfriends is what can keep you motivated throughout the quarter. 

6. Physically sort through every item of clothing you own and decide whether you love it or not. Keep nothing you kind of like it or that maybe one day will come back in style, you need to love it! If you dont love something, there is no point in owning it. I did this two years ago and now every morning when I get dressed I have a closet full off options I love, no so-sos here. Plus, life is too short to dress plainly. 

Even Carrie had to clean out her closet from time to time. Every 20 years to be exact…
 
7. If anything feels weird in your relationship, bring it up. Our 20s are for discovering ourselves and the world around us, and if you have a strange feeling about your significant other, most likely that’s your gut telling you to get out! I’m not saying dump the person, but definitely don’t ignore it. There’s no sense in spending the best years of your life with someone you later won’t even want to think about.
 

8. Make plans to travel somewhere for an extended period of time, anywhere! Before settling down you want to know you’ve seen at least a tiny chunk of this world. Plus, living on your own in a new city can really make a person learn a lot about themselves. Take that internship in that city you’ve never been to or apply for schools you never thought to because of the distance. 

9. Learn to cook your favorite meal. Our moms sadly wont be around forever.

10. Set a huge goal this year that has nothing to do with your body/looks or academics. Something fun and just for you. Avoid making a big resolution with friends because as soon as one person bails it’s easy for everyone else to quit too. This year I made the resolution to do everything in my power to study abroad. Without the burden of checking up on anyone, I was able to apply and be accepted to a six month program in England. It took me all year long but I did it! I leave January 2nd for London, which proves if you want it bad enough, any resolution is possible. 

 
Don’t you worry, I will be chronicling my awkward encounters while abroad. The adorable British boys and total lack of coordination combined with cobble stone roads should make for some interesting stories…

 

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Rubi Mancilla

UC Riverside

Rubi Mancilla is a fourth year studying Psychology and Women's Studies at UC Riverside. She decided to double major because at the time it seemed like she was getting two degrees for the price of one, the ultimate sale! She writes about relationships, how to spend a Friday night at home, being a confused twenty-something and never having enough money in her bank account. Her column 'Midweek Study Break' is published every Wednesday but you can read more of her work in her new project, When Life Gives You Rubi. Until Disney decides to make a movie about how hard it is to be a recent (single) college graduate, we can try to figure out this whole being a grown up thing together.   
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UC Riverside

UC Riverside