This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% from Her Campus.
Let’s be real: we are far from having our entire lives together, and that’s okay. But when your parents come to visit you on campus for the first time, you want to seem like you’re thriving in your new environment and not give them any reason to worry about you (or to call you every day for the next month to check-in). Try a few of our tips to make it seem like you’ve got everything under control for a weekend, when in reality you may be still working out some of the kinks.
First, we have to take care of your college look. Unfortunately, your parents probably won’t appreciate your unique fashion choices of sweatpants and Xavier sweatshirt that we have become so accustomed to going to class in. While they might not understand that you care more about your brain that your looks (I mean, hey, we’re going to class right?), brush some TRESemme Perfectly (un)Done sea salt products for that tousled but respectable look and swipe some instant color on your eyelids with the NYC City Proof Eyeshadow Stick.
While it may look like you got up early to look presentable for their visit, your parents will never know that this routine took you a minute to throw together. Complete the look with a great bag like the one we got from MZ Wallace. Follow us on all our social medias (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!) for a chance to win this $300 bag in November!
Now that you’re well groomed and looking fine, time to add some new decorations to your room.
Paint some new canvases or picture frames with paints and supplies from Martha Stewart Crafts or hang a Her Campus pennant on your wall to prove that you can put your own unique style on your room (even if your parents did pick out your bedspread). A good DIY can make you feel accomplished and independent as you find your own unique style.
During a typical parents visit, the topic of your diet may come into question. Are you eating enough? Do you have veggies with every meal? While some of the concern is understandable, it may not be best to share with them all your late night escapades for Spicy Balls from Dana’s or the copious amounts of pretzel bread that you consume every time you go to the caf. Instead mention the great Chipotle that’s down the street that now makes those addicting burrito bowls with non-GMO ingredients or how you found Zing packets for a zero calorie sugar substitute for all those late night coffees. (Helpful hint: follow Her Campus Xavier’s Instagram for BOGO Chipotle giveaways!)
Another way to really impress the rents is to mention all the great books you’ve been reading in your spare time. They’ll love that you’re filling your free time with a life-fulfilling hobby. Don’t feel like you have enough time to read?
Try a chapter sample for Penguin Random House: we guarantee that We Were Liars will have you so addicted that you’ll fly through it before parents’ weekend rolls around.
Even while staying on top of your classwork, social lives, and getting enough sleep, we all know that doing service and being men and women for others is something that we should make a priority. Prove to your parents that you’re getting everything out of your Jesuit education by doing some small service oriented projects to help educate yourself and others on world issues. Our favorites – NoCeilings and She’s the First – take a hard look at female education and the roles that it plays in their future or take a look at fashion oriented My Social Canvas, which lets students design their own apparel collections for charity. Check out our She’s the First tie-dye cupcake bake sale and Trend Tribe trunk show at the end of October for an easy way to support a great cause!
Even if these don’t end up tricking your parents into thinking you have your entire life together now that you’re at college, at least you’re better than you were before, all thanks to the Her Campus School Survival Kit! While all of our opinions are our own, big thanks to the companies and sponsors for sending us all your goodies that we can pass on to our Xavier collegiettes.
Want to win a grab bag full of all of these goodies that were mentioned above? Enter to win at our Rafflecopter page. Good luck!