A Brand New Year, A Brand New You

We are all at different places as this new school year begins.  You might be a senior in college, ready to reunite with friends for your final year of school, or you could be an incoming freshman, nervously anticipating what your college experience will be like.  Whatever stage of life you find yourself in, all of us classy co-eds can be sure to have one thing in common: we want to make the most of this year. 

Take some time and write down the goals that you want to accomplish.  Write down anything that you want to do, whether it is being involved in more clubs and societies on campus or making more time to study.  Invest in a planner for your school year- this will be essential in your journey to make this year count.  Continue reading for some ideas to on how to accomplish all that you hope for this year!

Study Time

If you want to strike the perfect work/play balance, planning is key.  Use your college timetable to your advantage- instead of grabbing a coffee to fill the awkward breaks between classes, head on over to the library.  Once you start making library trips a part of your routine you will find it easy to continue.  Another idea?  Figure out when you have a little downtime- if your sorority sisters or roommates tend to be in classes until the evening, use the quiet during this time to your advantage.  By studying for the few hours when your roommates are away, you can be free to hang out with them at night!

Get Involved

It is often said that college is the time to explore your personal interests and to meet the friends that you will have for life.  Becoming involved in clubs and societies on campus is the best way to do this.  Every college has many different ways to get involved, from joining sports teams and journalism societies to political organisations.  Take some time to think about what you want to do and what you would like to be involved in, and bring a friend along or go by yourself.  Meeting new people who love what you love can be a lot of fun!  It is also a great way to open doors that you never knew existed!

Reconnect with Friends

Being away in college can often mean that you are separated from your best friends.  Worrying about losing touch with these far-away friends is completely normal, whether you’re a freshman or a senior in college.  Why not make a point of handwriting a letter or a postcard to a friend every Saturday morning?  It won’t take long, and it would mean so much to your friends.  Of course, don’t forget to utilize social media tools like Skype and Facebook- set up “dates” for yourself and a friend to chat!

Get Fit

Being healthy is even more important now that we’re on our own in college.  Meal plans or not, making healthy food choices and including fitness as a regular part of your routine is essential.  Check out Stephanie’s fantastic article on fitness routines to try this fall, and don’t miss Leslie’s great article about healthy and simple college eating.  Just remember that the little changes can make a big difference, like swapping out your usual can of soda for a healthy water alternative!

We hope you have your best year yet, classy College Lifestyles co-eds! 

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and she is a third year law student at University College Cork.  She wants to make the most out of her last two years in college, and her goals include meeting new friends, keeping up with her long-distance besties and making the most out of every experience she has!

How to be Budget Savvy in College

A guaranteed way to find out that summer is coming to an end is the sudden emergence of back-to-school gear in stores.  With the excitement of picking out bedding, new fall clothes and schoolbooks comes lots of bills.  Unfortunately, the money spending only continues as we ease back into or begin our college lives.  What’s a budget-conscious co-ed to do?  Read on to score some of my tips!

Say NO to Plastic

This saying applies to both the environment and watching your budget.  Many of us have credit cards, and it is so easy to be fooled into thinking that this means we have the money to pay for certain things.  Sadly, it’s not that simple- there are only a few times when credit cards are necessary to make a purchase (ordering something online is an example).  Using a credit card to make a purchase can affect your credit score if your purchase isn’t paid off immediately, which opens you up to a whole host of problems later.  If you want to be budget savvy, try only using your credit card when you need to, and otherwise pay for things with the cash in your wallet.  You won’t be fooled when your credit card statement comes in the mail.

Make a Plan

Divide your budget planning into a weekly affair.  Take a sheet of paper and map out how much income you make or receive each week.  Then consider what money you regularly spend each week.  Maybe a coffee date is set in stone each Monday with a friend- that’s perfectly fine.   Just copy down how much money you spend on your coffee and subtract that from the total.  Map out the essentials that you just can’t live without, including bus fares, the average amount that you spend on groceries and any social events that are attended consistently each week.  Be firm with yourself- while the coffee date with your friend is a must, are the other three that you end up having each week?  Once you have subtracted your weekly necessities from your weekly income, you have the net amount that you can spend each week.

Divide Your Spending

This is sounding a lot like math class, isn’t it?  It gets easier, I promise.  Once you’ve decided what your essentials are each week, put the money that is left over to good use.  Put half of it into a jar for unexpected expenses- these expenses might be in the form of a taxi ride that you have to pay for or a birthday cake for a friend.  The other half goes into another jar for fun.  Use this money to buy a ticket to a holiday ball or for a trip to the movies with some college friends.  If you continue separating out this money you will soon find that you can put the overflow into your personal bank account.  Win, win!

Start Saving

It might be difficult to imagine saving money while you’re spending money on textbooks, accommodation and tuition for college in the first place.  However, it’s not impossible.  Utilize a savings account if you have one, and start one if you don’t have one already.  Most banks offer a savings account specifically for students, one which doesn’t charge for holding the money in the account.  Be clear about your intentions when you speak to the customer service representative at your bank- if the bank is going to charge you anyway for holding your money, it isn’t worth your time.  Whenever you have an overflow from your budget- I’m talking just a few dollars here- pop it into your savings account instead of into your purse.  Out of sight, out of mind!  Another idea is to set up a Direct Debit to take five dollars from your checking account and put it into your savings once every week or every two weeks.  Little amounts like these will build up, and you can put it towards the summertime or an apartment after college.

Stay Savvy

It’s understandable if some days you veer off your budget and snap up the pair of boots that you’re been eyeing up, or you decide to road trip to visit your friend.  Some of the best times you will have during college are unexpected.  Take a little time to think about the price and whether what you want to buy or do is worth it. If it is, go for it!  Just remember to keep your impulse spending to a minimum and enjoy yourself!

Are there any additional tips that you have for being budget savvy while in college?  We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section! 

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a third year law student at University College  Cork.  She is always looking for new ways to save money while still having fun in college.  Her favorite tip is to put any spare change into a savings account- if it’s not there, you just won’t spend it!

Beat the Heat: TV Shows You Should Watch

Right now it is the middle of July, and most of us co-eds are suffering through the summer heat.  If you’ve exhausted your tolerance of heat-filled activities and want to have a break with some cool air conditioning, check out some TV series that are well worth a watch in your downtime!

Rent This:

My So-Called Life

My So-Called Life was a teen drama that revolved around the lives of a group of teenagers, specifically the life of a young Claire Danes.  For years I had been hearing about this show and how its six month run was the beginning of teen dramas as we know them.  After a bit of research I found out that this was true, and that at the time that My So Called Life aired (August 1994-January 1995) there was no other show that catered to an audience of teenaged and young adult girls.  Why not check out this show which paved the way for shows like The OC, Gossip Girl and Everwood?  A box set of the season can be found for a good price in stores or on iTunes, but the savvy co-ed can view all the episodes on Hulu.com for free!

Freaks and Geeks

Another show that was cancelled too soon was Freaks and Geeks, produced by Judd Apatow.  A teen drama which starred such well-known actors as James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and Busy Phillips, the 18 episode show earned a spot on Time magazine’s 100 Greatest Shows of All Time list.  The show revolves around a brother and a sister whose friends are considered to be “freaks” and “geeks”.  The show was award winning and Emmy nominiated.  Co-eds can watch this show the Independent Film Channel (IFC) starting this month!

Record This:

Dog the Bounty Hunter

If you’ve ever loved the idea of a high speed chase, Dog the Bounty Hunter is the show for you.  The lives of Dog Chapman and his family revolve around catching people who skip on their bonds for various crimes and try to evade capture.  The chases never fail to be completely thrilling!  Curl up and tune into A&E every Wednesday at 8:30 EST to catch this show!

Soap operas

Do you have a soap opera?  I’m biased about this- my mother has watched General Hospital since she was ten years old, so I grew up knowing a lot of the characters (ever heard of Luke and Laura?).  If you’ve never watched a soap opera before, ask a friend to tell you a bit about one that they watch so you have a background on the show.  Otherwise just tune in and you’ll pick up the gist quite quickly, I promise.  Summertime is the best time to get involved, because new storylines develop specifically for new summer viewers.  An example?  General Hospital brought in the special guest star James Franco- and James Franco’s mother- for the second time to play a serial killer who develops his crime scenes into art.  Picking a soap opera to tune into each weekday is a fun way to beat the heat!

Don’t Miss This:

The Office

If you haven’t yet tuned into this fantastic show, now is your chance.  All of the seasons of The Office are available to buy on amazon.com, but you can try to tune into some reruns on TBS and NBC.  It was recently announced that the seventh season this coming September would be the last with hilarious boss Steve Carell as Michael Scott, so catch up now to make the most of it!

Criminal Minds

The best crime drama on the air (in my honest opinion), Criminal Minds revolves around the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI.  The fictional BAU team is called in by local police departments to catch serial killers in various cities throughout the USA, and through their profiles on the serial killers they solve crimes.  Each show focuses on a particular case, with the lives of the team being a backdrop to the series.  A spin-off of Criminal Minds, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, which includes Forest Whitaker as part of the cast, is set to debut in fall 2010.  Don’t miss it!

Just a tip:  Check out your local library for the all of the series mentioned above before you make a purchase!

Finally, don’t forget how important it is to stay hydrated and healthy during the summer.  Check out my post on healthy water alternatives and Kelsey’s post on smart summer late-night snacking!  Also, Briana’s post on new summer TV series is a must-read for all you TV-watching co-eds!

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a third year law student at University College Cork, Ireland.  She is excited to go visit the USA this week, even if she will have to endure the heatwave!

The CL Guide to Making Your Summer Worthwhile

Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

Put in some time at your local animal shelter or at a wildlife refuge.  Call the center or drop by to ask about their volunteer procedures and how you can fit in to their practice.  Depending on their particular operation, you could be dealing with animals directly after some training or they may prefer you to work on a fundraising or marketing project.  Whatever your role, it all goes towards a good cause.

Go Green

Learn more about what you can do to protect the environment.  Check a Go Green book out of your local library and spend the afternoon bookmarking pages that especially pertain to you.  For example, we co-eds might not be in the market for a brand new Hybrid car, but we can purchase lower wattage light bulbs for our homes and our dorm rooms.  Check out Hillary’s post on a greener bag of groceries, too!

Learn a Language

Spend part of your summer learning a new language, or get reacquainted with a language that you learned in high school.  Drop by a language school in your area and ask about any adult learning classes that they might offer, or buy a novel in a language that you would like to reintroduce yourself to.  In addition, Rosetta Stone software caters to 31 languages- it could be a birthday or holiday present!

Expand your Reading

When you’ve finished up one of your favorite books, or you’re waiting impatiently for the release of a summer must-read, why not enjoy a classic book that you have yet to read?  You can pick a few books off of the Summer Reading List section of your nearest bookshop, or you could even sign up at dailylit.com to get classic novels emailed to you by chapter daily- for free!

Catch up on Current Events

In college it is very easy to live in a bubble of social events, studying and sleeping, so turning on the news might seem like a foreign concept to you.  However it is so important to understand what is going on in the world around us, and now that we’re on summer vacation there is no excuse not to brush up on current events.  Start a subscription to Time magazine (or something similar) or make it a point to catch the news each day.

Revisit a Favorite Hobby

Spend some time practicing an old hobby that you have abandoned in recent years.  Was art class your favorite in high school, or did you always love writing short stories?  Spend a few hours every week or more doing something that you really used to enjoy.  You will be feeling so much more accomplished by the end of the summer!

So, savvy CL co-eds, is there anything that you would like to add to the list?  Please let us know in the comments!

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a third year law student at University College Cork, Ireland.  She is volunteering at a charity shop and is reading regularly again (currently The Help by Kathryn Stockett), and she loves looking for more ways to make the most of her summer break!

The CL Guide to Classic Summer Blockbusters

When you think of summertime, lots of things probably come to mind:  beach trips, laying by the pool, barbeques and summer shopping.  Another summer staple?  Summer movie blockbusters.  Check out Briana’s great guide to June 2010’s summer blockbusters here.  If you’ve already seen all of the newest movies, or you’re looking to save money, that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out.  Why not revisit some old summer blockbusters that were hits back in the day? 

Star Wars

Star Wars is the highest grossing summer blockbuster ever.  The original Star Wars movie was released on May 25, 1977, and its success led to two sequels and three prequels.  No one can deny the effect that the Star Wars movies had on pop culture- lightsabers are a staple for Halloween props, and Weird Al Yankovic has two Star Wars parody songs.  Have a few friends over, rent all six Star Wars films, and enjoy a Star Wars marathon!

 Jaws

Here’s a little trivia for you- the first Jaws movie originated the idea of summer blockbusters.  Released in 1975, the Spielberg-directed thriller about great white shark attacks is considered one of the best films ever made.  While the special effects of the shark may be admittedly less impressive than what we are used to today, Jaws paved the way for future films in the thriller genre.  A side-note:  this movie might be best watched after a trip to the beach.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park, the first movie in a trilogy about an island where dinosaurs have been cloned for human amusement, was released in June of 1993.  At the time it was released, Jurassic Park was the highest grossing film of all time.  The film was such a phenomenon that it earned its own section in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, featuring a complete reconstruction of the Jurassic Park as shown in the movies.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

The first film in the Indiana Jones franchise, Raiders of the Lost Ark was nominated for nine Academy Awards when it was released.  Produced by George Lucas and directed by Stephen Spielberg, it is no wonder that this Indiana Jones film is one of the biggest summer blockbusters of all time.  Three additional films followed Raiders of the Lost Ark, including the 2008 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (with Shia LaBoeuf), so it is a great saga to watch on a movie day with friends!

E.T. the Extra Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra Terrestrial is another majorly successful summer blockbuster.  Upon its release it beat out Star Wars to become the highest grossing blockbuster up to that point.  The movie revolves around a young boy who befriends an extra terrestrial and it was based on an imaginary friend that Stephen Spielberg had as a young child.  Check out the 20^th anniversary version of E.T., which was released in 2002, as it includes CGI altering of some scenes which had bothered Spielberg since the original release of E.T.

Have fun with past and present summer blockbusters, CL co-eds!

 

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a third year law student in University College Cork.  She is thrilled to revisit the original Star Wars movie this summer, as well as watch Toy Story 3 once it is released in Ireland!

Five Healthy Water Alternatives!

We all know that H₂O is one of the healthiest drinks for us, right?  If you’re bored by plain old water each day, here are some tasty almost-water alternatives to check out!

Vitamin Water

With flavors like fruit punch, kiwi-strawberry and lemonade, this vitamin-infused water really is a tasty alternative to your regular tap water.  Averaging 100-125 calories per bottle, Vitamin Water is a refreshing treat to add to your summer beach bag!

Smart Water

Smart Water is a “pure water” drink, which means that the water has gone through a process of distillation to make it pure, and then it has been infused with electrolytes to add potassium, calcium and magnesium.  Apart from being enhanced with these healthy minerals, the bottles are hilarious: “May induce sudden and inexplicable aversion to all less intelligent forms of water.  Apply liberally and frequently to dry people”.

Crystal Light

With only 5 calories per serving, this water soluble flavoring is one of my personal favorites.  Crystal Light can be purchased in packets for individual preparation in a water bottle, or it can be added to a pitcher for the perfect barbeque accompaniment.  Flavors include Pink Lemonade, Raspberry Ice and Fruit Punch!

SoBe Life Water

Similar to Vitamin Water, SoBe Life Water is a flavored water infused with antioxidants.  The Life Water range has yummy flavors like Yumberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Dragonfruit and Orange Tangerine, and it has 0 calories and 0 artificial sweeteners.  Talk about a refreshing treat!

Aquafina FlavorSplash

You have probably heard of the Aquafina water company, but have you tried their FlavorSplash range?  Each serving is calorie and sugar-free, the drinks come in a variety of flavors such as Grape, Lemon and Wild Berry.

All of the listed drinks are available for purchase at your local Target or WalMart store.  Keep in mind that while these drinks are a great way to mix up your usual water consumption each day, regular H₂O is #1!  If you have anything to add or maybe a favorite flavor, please let us know in the comments section!

Deirdre Cunnane is an intern for College Lifestyles™ and is a third year law student in University College Cork.  She loves flavored water, and can’t wait to pick up a supply when she visits the USA this summer!

Study Etiquette: The Dos and Don’ts of Studying for Finals

It is that time of year again- classes are finished, but that means that finals are coming up.  Before you start stressing out, read this list of dos and don’ts of studying for finals.   

Do

Take breaks:  There is no rule anywhere which says that you should keep your head in the books for hours upon hours.  You need a little fresh air every now and then to keep your mind alert and your ideas flowing.  Go for a walk, take a quick trip to the shop, do something that doesn’t involve the library for a few minutes. 

Review your course:  Go through your notes from the year- did the professor make reference to a particular case or theorem that was of special importance?  Maybe there was an area of your course that you found particularly hard at the time that you learned it.  It is easy to forget about these things, but having a look through your notes will remind you about important information that you might miss otherwise.

Make a study plan:  Every night before you go to sleep, make an agenda for the day.  Maybe you need to have some extra sleep that day, and you’ll work longer into the night instead.  Or maybe some subject needs some more attention than others- give yourself more time to study that subject.  By making a new plan each night instead of a general one for your whole study period, you can give yourself a more realistic study plan.

Have free time:  After a full day of studying, make sure that you do something relaxing afterward.  My friends and I went to see Dear John two weeks ago after we studied for the day, and Glee nights are always fun in my apartment.  You could try something crafty or you could listen to a summer playlist.  It’s easy to let your world revolve around studying, but reward yourself for a successful day with some fun.

Don’t

 

Hang around stressors:  We all know them- the people who freak out over finals and list out just how hopeless this test will be, and how impossible a question this will be, making all of the other people around them feel nervous and worried, too.  If a “stressor” starts going through all of their anxieties around you, just politely say that you would rather not talk about the exams right now because it would make you more nervous than you should be, and walk away.

Eat or chat in the library:  Nothing is more frustrating for other students than someone who is munching on popcorn or having a conversation about last night’s drama in the seat next to them.  Other students might be a little more freaked out about finals than you are for whatever reason, so respect that they are there for the peace and quiet of the library.  If you’re starving or you have to chat to your friend right away, pop into the hallway of the library for a quick break.

Second-guess your answers:  Once your exam is finished, it is just that- finished.  You can’t go back and change your answers or add another few paragraphs to an essay question.  Trust that your first instinct is always the best, and leave it at that.  Rehashing the questions with your friends will stress you out unnecessarily, so instead relish in the fact that you are finished!

Good luck with your exams, College Lifestyles co-eds!

 

 

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a second year law student at University College Cork, Ireland.  She has lots to learn for finals but is staying calm, for the most part!

Life after College: Graduate School

My first installment in the Life after College series is the grad school option.  While some people might find an extra year or two of studies daunting, it is definitely an option worth considering.  Here is an overview of some considerations and information that you can use when you’re deciding whether or not to take the grad school pathway after college!

 

 

Decide your field:  Before you start applying to graduate schools, you should know what career path you want to go down.  Graduate schools are all about zoning in on a particular area that interests you, and the grad degree that you choose will reflect this interest.  You will be doing lots of studying and research in this area, so choose an area that you like!  It is best if you check out your career options as they may require a specific graduate degree- MBAs are ideal in the business arena, while a Juris Doctor is needed to become a practicing attorney. 

Pick your location:  Once you’ve decided what graduate program you are interested in pursuing, the next step is to decide where you want to go to graduate school.  There might be a city that you have always wanted to live in, or maybe you would prefer to stay closer to home- look at all of your options.  Often, a motivating factor is that a particular school has the best grad program in your specialty field.  That might solve your dilemma!  Check out this site if you are looking for more information about any college (it has a breakdown of the number of graduate students versus undergraduate students at each school!)  You can also find the US News and World Report rankings of graduate schools here.

Get informed:  Once you have your graduate school choices narrowed down, check out your options.  Take a tour of the campus and the town or city surrounding it.  Ask the career advisor at your current college for help with grad school applications- they will want to help you make the most of your application. Also, ask what programs they would recommend based on your major and your career goals for the future.  Additional information won’t hurt!

Make the hard choices:  There are no limits to the amount of graduate school programs you can apply to, so give yourself some leeway with your choices.  While you may have your heart set on one particular school, keep yourself open to other options.  You never know if you will find an even better opportunity!

Find your recommendations:  Most graduate schools require letters of recommendation as part of the application process.  This will give them a good attestation to your character and abilities, and your prospective schools will find this important.  It might be a professor who you are close to, an employer, or an internship advisor- someone that you have had experience with in a professional capacity.  Start thinking about who you will ask for a recommendation letter early!

Think about your admissions essay:  An admissions essay is another requirement when you are applying to graduate schools.  Use this opportunity to showcase the reasons why you are different from the other applicants (because you are), why you are interested in this subject and why you will succeed at this school.  Consider it ahead of time!

 

Remember- you will shine, no matter where you end up going and what you end up doing after college.  You’re a classy College Lifestyles co-ed, after all!  J

 

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a second year law student at University College Cork, Ireland.  She loves college, daydreaming about life after college, and being a CL intern!

The CL Guide to Saint Patrick’s Day

As the College Lifestyles intern who lives in Ireland, I thought it would be fun to do a post on Ireland’s national holiday, Saint Patrick’s Day.  As the daughter of one Irish and one Irish-American parent, I was raised to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day to its fullest.  Whether or not you are Irish or of Irish descent, St. Patrick’s Day is always a fun celebration.  Here’s all you need to know about Ireland’s patron saint and the national holiday which honours him!

History

As the legend goes, Saint Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.  Patrick was born in Britain in around 385 AD, and at age sixteen he was captured and sold as a slave to Ireland.  In a dream, St. Patrick was told to go to Ireland’s west coast and board a boat to flee back to Britain.  He later returned with the purpose of bringing Christianity to Ireland.  Using a shamrock, Saint Patrick described the Holy Trinity, and succeeded in converting rich and poor alike.  He established monasteries, schools and churches throughout the country, and after thirty years on his mission he retired to County Down, where he was buried. 

In 1903 Saint Patrick’s Day was made a public holiday in Ireland, following a long standing tradition where shops closed and celebrations were had throughout the country, and the world.  In fact, the first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade was held in 1737 in Boston, where Irish immigrants organised a parade to march against their unequal status in the USA.  The parades have since evolved tremendously, with many countries around the world celebrating the holiday.

Saint Patrick’s Day Traditions

Parades are held in most towns in Ireland on the day, with local and international performers marching in celebration.  The largest parade in Ireland is held in Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, where the Saint Patrick’s Day festival lasts for days.  Street theatre, dance, comedy and traditional music are just some of the festivities that are enjoyed.

Enjoying a pint of Guinness and having the “craic” (a good time) typically follows the parade, where local pubs play traditional music and a good time is had by all.

How to Get the Luck of the Irish

If you were thinking about having a St. Paddy’s Day party or you just wanted to enjoy the day with the luck of the Irish, here are some tips for you:

·         Music:  Christy Moore, the Coors and the Chieftains are great Irish musicians with some traditional music that you can crank up!

·         Dress:  Bring out your green!  Check out Liz’s post on green for Saint Patrick’s Day!

·         Flag:  If you wanted to wave your Irish flags, the Irish flag is known as the tricolour.  It is green, white and orange.

·         Slang:  Check out this guide to Irish colloquialisms.  Hilarious!

·         Food and Drink:  Prepare Katy’s recipe for Shamrock Shakes on the day to add to the green festivities.  Liz also has a post on some food and drink to enjoy!  Whatever you choose to drink, make sure to say Slainte (cheers) to your guests!

 

Have a great day, College Lifestyles co-eds!

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a second year law student in University College Cork, Ireland.  She is looking forward to enjoying St. Paddy’s Day with her friends.  Eirinn go Brach!  (Ireland Forever!)

Life After College

The future…  I think it is pretty safe to say that all of us co-eds are wondering about what direction our lives will take after college.  Our time in college is usually only four years long, and during that time we have to make decisions that will affect us for the rest of our lives, both professionally and otherwise.  These questions, like what career area we want to work in, what city (even country!) we want to live in, how we will survive in the real world, are not easy, by any means.  However, we are all in the same boat here at College Lifestyles.  We all have to make these seemingly impossible choices- why not make them together and help each other out along the way?

That is why I am starting a new post series- Life After College.  I am going to focus on the options that are available to us right after we graduate, bachelor’s degree in hand, the world as our oyster (I had to say it, I always hear that line!):  graduate school, internships, volunteering, taking time to travel abroad, or jumping into the workforce.

Ladies, this post is all about finding out what is best for you, not what anyone else thinks should be best for you.  The future is all about fulfilling your dreams.  To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

 If there is any particular pathway that you would like me to write about, let me know in the comments!

 

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a second year law student in University College Cork, Ireland.  She is always thinking about life after college, and is looking forward to talking about the big “future” questions with the lovely CL co-eds. 

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