All I can hear is my cousin telling me how college is going to be the best four years of my life. I didn’t believe him. Two months in I was lonely. Struggling to find my people. On the brink of being depressed. The one thing in my life that was bringing me joy was looking forward to going to the Kernodle Center every day to do my job. People really listened to me there and I always had Nicole’s shoulder to cry on. All I wanted to have was a solid friend group. I kept on going on lunch dates with people I would meet in the hopes that we would click but it never really worked. I was still determined to put myself out there. I was patiently waiting to rush a sorority but it didn’t turn out as planned and could not handle the responsibilities. I was ready to transfer to Marist. Then my parents paid for me to go to Disney World for a spring break class. I met Julia. She was my first real, genuine friend. She wanted to be my friend as bad as I wanted to be hers. She invited me out to places and I felt so included. I finally had someone to party with. Julia helped me realize how important relationships are and that they are a two-way street. Then at the end of freshman year I took a chance and went up to Taylor in the dining hall because I knew that if I didn’t I would never see her again. 

Sophomore year came and this would be the test to see if I was going to stay at Elon. I took a chance and went random and it finally paid off. I had Nicole as a roommate and Abby as a suitemate. Abby and Nicole were the light in my Elon experience that I needed. They appreciated my craziness and my kindness. Nicole taught me the importance of working really hard and to challenge myself. At this point, I knew that Public Relations was for me. Professor Doorley told me I should consider applying to PRWeek Student Competition and so I did and I received an award for being in the top 5 in the country. This is really what made me a competitive candidate when I applied for internships. On the other hand, Abby taught me how important it is to let loose. We were the three musketeers. I also started getting closer to Taylor, Erin and Kaylie and would often spend my Saturday’s pregaming with y’all. I also joined Kappa Delta. I knew I wanted to be part of this organization because they stressed the power of confidence and that is something that I had and wanted to share it with my sisters. Although I wasn’t as involved as I hoped I really met some amazing girls that I will always be friends forever.

Junior year, I took a chance and lived with Anna and Pam. Really a kickass living situation. We were constantly partying that whole semester. We were wild. This was the first semester that my parents never visited. That is how good it was. I really came out of my shell and formed great relationships with the boys in Pikap. I was thriving so much that I almost considered not going abroad. But thank god I did. Florence brought the greatest group of people together and is what really made the experience so special to me. I had a great apartment and loved hosting our Duomo parties.  Hospitable right? Seems fitting. Getting my internship at Hilton was the icing on top. After spending two years acquiring amazing internships with the help of Danielle and Amber I finally got my dream internship that ended in an offer.

Now we are in senior year. I was going to be under the same roof with some of my closest friends who I would only be getting closer to. This year was unimaginable. Of course, I wish we met sooner but I have to remember that all my hardships led me to where I am. Being a part of Mill Point 451 and being in the 'Bestest Friends' group was the crew that I needed. I have people within our community who I can cry with. Laugh with. Get drunk with and be me. That is all I ever wanted and I finally found it. 

This year I really learned the importance of making the most of every moment. Never stay in. Take advantage of every night. And spend time with those who deserve your attention. Friendships will always be important to me and nothing will ever change that. 

In my Elon 101 class freshman year our TA shared this story with me that I always had on the back of my mind which really shaped my college experience. She told me that one day her friend was crying but she had an upcoming exam and she shared that she decided to not study and to help her friend. My TA failed the exam. But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that her friend was okay.  That is who I wanted to be for the next four years and I feel like it's safe to say that I would do anything for any of my friends. 

Now, looking back. College was not the best four years of my life but it was the most exciting roller coaster I have been on.

Constantly getting emails from your favorite stores tempting you to check out their websites? I don’t know about you but I always feel the urge to click and scroll on the websites for hours. I get caught up in the moment and next thing I know boxes are arriving at my door. I know it can be difficult to stop yourself from buying things but I have come up with questions and suggestions to think about before possibly buying items.

The first thing you should ask yourself is if you need the item. Then you begin to think, “well…. I don’t necessarily need this item I just want it.” Make sure you know the difference between wanting something and needing something. You may want another sweater even though you have three just like it at home in your closet. Or you may need the sweater because all your other ones ripped.

Another thing to think about is how often you will be wearing the item and if you will get good use out of it. Will you be wearing the item multiple times or just once? Could you wear the item with multiple outfits? You don’t want to spend your money on one thing and only wear it once. Make sure the item fits with other outfits you may own. If you need inspiration just check out Pinterest to help you!

Next, you need to ask yourself, “Is it worth the money?” The more expensive the item is the better quality it should be, so it can last you a long time. You might want to splurge on getting something more pricy so it can last you in the long run. Also, make sure that the material the item is made out of is of good quality. You don’t want to buy something that will rip in a month. 

That brings to me to something else you should consider: “Is the item following a trend?” If you are buying a trendy sweater or something you think will go out of style, consider opting for the cheaper sweater. In the end, you might not end up wearing it that often so it will be better for your wallet to opt for something less pricey.

Lastly, consider when shopping if the item is on sale or if you have a coupon for it. Most things that you shop for can get discounted whether you use your student ID or use a coupon. Look into ways of getting coupons. You can sign up for emails or go onto retailmenot.com to receive coupon codes. Maybe you might consider getting the credit card for your favorite store where you can earn great discounts. Any coupon you find can make a difference! Personally, I rarely buy things full price because I like the challenge of getting a good deal on an item. Who knows, maybe you will too.

Make sure to consider these things before you add items to your shopping cart! In the end, your credit card will thank you!

After a long week of working hard in class and writing essays, all I want to do is enjoy a quiet night either by myself or with friends. Here are some suggestions for you to try out for your next Friday or Saturday night in:

1. Watch a good movie. You can either watch it off your Netflix or an Amazon prime account. If you don’t have these accounts then go to your local library because I am sure that they have a selection of DVDS. My go to movies are Endless Love and The Proposal. The classics are always the best. If you are not into movies, start a television series with you and all your friends. My favorites are Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. Next thing you should do is pop in a bag of popcorn or kettle corn and sit back and relax! 
2. Have a spa night. Have all your friends each bring something to contribute. You should have nail supplies including nail polish and cuticle cutters. Also, someone should pick up a face mask at the drugstore for all of you to put on your faces. If you don’t want to buy it, you can make your own mask. You can find plenty ideas on Pinterest. If you really want to go crazy you could also make a lip scrub to soften your lips. Now, you all are on your way to a relaxing night but just don’t forget the candles!
3. Gather a bunch of your friends and make desserts! Have each person bring an ingredient and get together to bake! You could bake something easy from rice crispy treats to apply pie. 
4. Listen to music and gather all your friends around to play Cards Against Humanity. This game is good for a laugh.
5. Order takeout! All of you and your friends should order from different places around your area and see which food you like the most. Don’t forget the pizza or lo mein!
6. Do some arts and crafts! Travel to a craft store and pick up something random to work on. Your could scrapbook or paint on a canvas or make yourself a necklace. Try something different! It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece.
7. Do home workout exercises and then prepare yourself a nice healthy protein filled dinner!
8. Do online shopping! Sometimes traveling to your local mall can be exhausting so why not sit in bed and shop? There are so many coupon codes for you to use online. If you can’t find any then call customer service and they might be able to help you and while you are at it, ask for free shipping too. 
9. Read a book. When was the last time you picked up a book to read for enjoyment? Never (I am assuming). Go to your local library and take out a book. If you get tired of reading easily then get the book on audio and listen to it, that way, you can close your eyes.
10. The last thing you could do is be productive! Get stuff done so you don’t have to worry about it the next day.