College Partying

The college party is an iconic part of the college experience; it absorbs the weekends of students everywhere. Here is a little beginners guide on how to go about the life of partying…

Lesson 1:

You'll need to travel off-campus to find most parties because the confined living space and regulations of dorms aren't really helpful for partying. Some of the biggest parties at any college are those hosted by fraternities and sororities, but usually you're going to need an invitation to get in. The best way to find out about parties is to keep a wide circle of friends and keep an ear open for the latest news. Some college students walk around student neighborhoods until they find a party, and then they just go right in. Others start out at one party they're invited to, and ask everyone there where the big parties are that night. Be careful you don't get so worried about where to find the next party, though, you never take the time to enjoy the one you're currently attending.

College parties vary from school to school, but typically range from crowded basements, huge entire house parties (in a fraternity house) or huge outside blow-outs. College parties can be off campus, in frat houses, or any student’s house. Some college party’s choose one of the many college party themes to make the party a little more interesting, which is always fun.

As college students get older, it gets easier to get into college parties. Experience is the key, if you like to party find other people who like to party as well, and you stay in the loop. Good-looking freshman girls usually know where all the parties are, because upper classmen guys love to tell them where the party is.

If you are a large group of guys with few or no girls, chances are you wont get in, especially later in the night. Break up into smaller groups, and guys should try to always roll to parties with girls anyway. As it gets later in the semester, college students should have a good feel of where they like to go, and where they know they can get in.

Being involved in things at school will help you meet people and find out what college parties people are going to. Be friendly to everyone, because you never know whom you will run into. If fraternities and sororities are big at your school, join one. If that’s not your thing join a club or organization. Do something to get out there and meet people. The more people you know the better your college experience will be .

Lesson 2:

Every college party is different, but there are usually some standard things across most college parties. Typically one or many kegs are involved, drinking games are being played, and college students are enjoying sharing cold refreshing beer, he most common drink at a college party. A keg is usually the easiest way to provide beer to a large group of people. Kegs are pretty much a must for a college party (especially if you want to do keg stands). They are useful because they are the cheapest way to buy large quantities of beer. Kegs are also helpful for cleanup; plastic cups are a lot easier to clean up then broken bottles. Liquor and mixed drinks can get expensive, but they're certainly a popular option (don’t ever leave your drink unattended).

Random Tips:

*Unless there is a blizzard, leave the jacket at home, carrying it is a pain, and so is trying to find it in a locked room later on that night.

* If you go to a school where you have to pay to drink, don't complain about paying $5 to drink all night.

*Pre-game a lot before you go out and you will have your "beer jacket" on (the alcohol will keep you warm).

*Don't argue or fight with the people running the party. It does not matter how right or wrong you are, it’s their party, they make the final decision of weather or not you are getting in. Chances are they have a lot of friends inside who are all liquored up and just waiting to get into a fight.

*If your college has parties in dirty basements, choose your foot ware accordingly. It's usually a good idea to designate a few pair of shoes as “party shoes" to be sure you don't ruin good ones. If you decide to wear sandals be prepared to have your feet look like you're a homeless person.

* Get together with your friends at least a half hour before you head out to the party, so you can get your drink on (pre-gaming).

*Power hour is a big favorite, but make sure you use beer, not liquor or else you won't make it out.

 

HAVE FUN BUT BE SAFE ALWAYS (:

Nutrition

     Eating healthy is a very important factor in life.  Some college students take an overwhelming amount of classes, others take the minimum full time schedule with a part time job or full time job, and some outgoing students take both an overwhelming amount of classes and work part time or full time.  Whatever the case may be, students need to learn to nutrition themselves the correct way.  Students need to have well balanced diets.  Everyone, especially college students, neet to have their three meals a day with a weekly exercise routine and have healthy snacks instead of junk food.  Having healthy foods comes in handy in anyone's future lives; so start while you are still young.

                                                                   

Tip #1:  Breakfast
College students can choose and organize their own schedules to their likings, but some are more outgoing and can handle more than others; food is a big factor in their everyday routine.  Students need plenty of energy to last their entire day and schedule.  They need enough energy to get through their classes and their work shift.  One way to have enough energy to last is by having a healthy and well-balanced breakfast.  When eating breakfast:  juices, milk, and plenty of different varieties of fruit should be included; hence, plenty of energy until the next meal in the day.


Tip #2:  Three Meals a Day
College students spend a lot of their own time studying, reviewing, or doing homework for their classes throughout the week.  Students will tend to sleep late and wake up early for their classes or work, so they also need plenty of energy for this reason.  College students need to have their three meals a day so they can last with all they have with either school, job, or both.


Tip #3:  Healthy Snacking
Healthy eating comes into play with nutrition.  Every college student loves to binge on snacks while they do their homework or while studying for midterm.  Instead of running out to the closest fast food restaurant it's better to have healthy snacks handy, like nutritional cereal bars, fiber bars, low-fat bars, etc.  Eating out in fast food restaurants all the time is not good, it's better to make food from home because it's always healthier for the body and saves money.

Tip #4:  Exercising
Another factor that goes hand in hand with nutrition is an exercise routine.  Exercising and staying fit builds resistance to energy and stores energy in bodies.  Instead of taking protein shakes, protein supplement pills, and/or energy drinks it's always better and healthier to exercise on a regular basis.  Exercising can consist of:  slow jogs, intense runs, weight lifting, or a combination of either or.  Exercising will help with energy gaining, looking fit, and allow your body to do things you want it to do.

                                                                       

     Nutrition and college go hand in had with students' performance in their classes and/or work.  All students must nutrition themselves to be able to last the entire day, and to allow their bodies to do what they want them to do.  Anything from eating healthy, eating every meal of the day, snacking healthy, or exercising will always help students out with energy and becoming well-balanced healthy students.

Greek Life

Greek Organizations have many reputations on campuses around the nation.But usually they have negative reputations. They are said to haze, party, and do only negative things. A lot of people say that a lot of people who join these organizations are “paying for their friends” and just come to college for the social aspect. But in all reality Greek organizations are a lot more then what most people assume. They are places for people to grow intellectually, emotionally, and morally, meanwhile making Friends that are going to last a lifetime...

Community Service and Philanthropy
Greek organizations are very philanthropic and do a lot of community service each semester. Each organization has a philanthropy that they support and they spend a lot of their time planning for events that raise money for them to donate. There is also a a minimum amount of community service hours they have to do in order to stay in good standing with their fraternity or sorority. Greek organizations give a lot back to the community and help support many good causes nationwide.

Academic Interest
Academics are also an important aspect of any Greek organization. Every chapter has a minimum GPA requirement that their members must meet in order to be an active member. Chapters also have different ways that they acknowledge and praise their members who excel in school. Academics are extremely important within the Greek system. Students who get involved in on campus organizations are also said to graduate on time and with high GPA.

Standards and Traditions
Being apart of a Greek organization helps instill values and tradition into everyone who becomes a member. All sororities and fraternities have standards and values that they uphold in order to be the best person that they can be. They also celebrate their traditions and rituals who also try to instill life lessons and help them succeed in their lives. These rituals and traditions are what make members feels bonded and like a family

Friendship
By being apart of a Greek organization you meet many new people, and become instant friends with them. You have a bond within a brotherhood or sisterhood, that lasts a lifetime. You also make bonds with other fraternities or sororities on campus because you all have something in common, you are Greek. You always have someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, and someone to call your brother or sister.

Being a Greek has bad stereotypes but the benefits you receive from it are drastically greater, so why not join?

The Stress of Academics

       If you attend college or have attended college I am sure that by now you have experienced the stress that academics come with. According to the article, “Predictors of Academic-Related Stress in College Students: An Examination of Coping, Social Support, Parenting, and Anxiety” (Smith and Renk) Blimling and Miltenberger (1981) have determined that there are many factors contributing to the academic stress “planning for the future, struggling with exams and assignments, meeting the demands of challenging professors, deciding on a major, and transitioning into financial and emotional independence, can be an overwhelming experience for many students.”  (2). Margaret Keys, Instructional Services Department in University Library at Sacramento State, has several tips that could help lower your stress level in academics. 

Tip #1 
Do not procrastinate. This could minimize stress and you will not have to worry about writing a paper or putting together a presentation last minute so you will have time to relax.
Tip #2
Study as you go. This will help so you do not have to cram all the information into study sessions later.
 
Tip #3Allow extra time for finals. These are very important and if you are short on time you may become stressed.

Tip #4
Get organized. When people are organized they tend to be less stressed because you do not have to worry about anything. Tip #5
Find a quiet place. When it comes to study time you do not want to be stressed because of the noise. Try the library or even a study room.

 Tip #6 
Power in numbers. Study in groups, that way you can receive others people’s point of views and can enough quiz each other. Tip #7
Arrive for exams on time. If you are late you have less time than originally and can make you feel like you are being rushed. Tip #8
Take care of your body. Exercise gives you energy, helps you sleep, and relieve stress. Nutrition helps with the development of your brain. Sleep helps with lowering stress hormones and helps you retain new information. Tip #9 
Just relax. Relaxing can reduce the level of stress hormone, cortical, so try reading, yoga, even chatting with a friend. Tip #10 
 PMA. This stands for positive mental attitude. Do not think negatively. Be optimistic.


                                If you start to think you are becoming stressed try some of these regimens, they may actually work for you. if you have any concerns try these websites: http://www.unco.edu/ssac/resources/Academic_stress.pdf or http://library.csus.edu/services/inst/10tips/Stress.pdf
By: Kelsey Dale

The College Student Responsibilities

     The day a person moves out and off to college is the day that they gain the responsibilities of an independent adult. Everyone knows that becoming a full-time college student is a huge responsibility in itself, but there are an endless amount of duties that are transferred from your parents to yourself that sometimes may not be recognized until you actually move out. You must do all that you can to prepare yourself for "the real world" before you move out, so today I am going to give you a few tips on surviving life on your own:

Household Responsibilities

One of the biggest changes for a newly self-sufficient college student is the everyday household responsibilities that are gained with the loss of their parents. Out of all the responsibilities you gain, the most difficult one that most college students must take into their own hands is doing their own laundry. Knowing how to do your laundry and how often to do it is vital in surviving on your own. You must learn not only how to cook for yourself, but how to make sure that you are eating healthy as well. Maintaining a clean home is also a major task that you will be held accountable of. Although these may seem like second nature to some, it may be really hard to get all of this done on top of the responsibilities of being a college student.

Schoolwork

The biggest responsibility gained from being independent is doing your schoolwork without the motivation of your parents. It is a lot different when you aren't being punished for not doing well in school, and when your grades are not sent home to your parents. In college, you are solely responsible for getting your schoolwork done. You are also responsible for maintaining good study habits while juggling all these new responsibilities that were usually taken care of by your parents.

Money Management

In order to live on your own, you need to learn how to spend your money wisely. The biggest financial changes that occur between living at home and living on your own is the fact that you have to start spending your money on what you need, rather than what you want. Even though you should save any of the extra money you have left over after paying your necessary bills, if you really feel the need to use your money for recreational purposes it should be limited and uncommon. It is very important to set a certain amount of money you will spend throughout this recreational activity, and even more important to not go over that amount. If you have always been the type of person to take their debit/credit card with them "just in case," I advise you to stop with this habit right when you move out on your own to prevent spending money unnecessarily.

     This is just a very small portion of the real experiences that go along with breaking free from our teenage life at home to transitioning into an independent adult. There are countless special duties that may pertain to one person and not the other, so it is important to recognize your personal situation and create a plan to be successful on your own. Whether you have already been independent or very dependent on your parents at home, you will go through  major changes once you move out and I cannot stress enough the importance of preparing yourself as best as possible!