The Dos and Don’ts of Having a Rush Crush

Don’t lie.  You’ve had one.  The girl you see volunteering in class that always looks put together and has a smile on her face.  The freshman you met during orientation that you just clicked with and is getting involved on campus.  Your partner for a class project that you always get along with.  However you know her and whoever she may be, you don’t just want to be her friend…you want to call her your sister!  As school is starting and we all start thinking about recruitment, it’s great to keep your eyes open for girls you want in your chapter, but there is a good way and a bad way to go about having a rush crush.

Here are some of my Dos and Don’ts…

DO creep on her. Yes, it is okay to creep on this girl and get some information about her!  Before you throw her a lettered sweatshirt, make sure that she actually is someone you want wearing your letters and representing you and your organization on campus.  Look through her Facebook and see what kind of things she is interested and involved in.  Keep your ears open for stories.  Just because someone makes a great first impression in class doesn’t always mean she has her life together.  At the same time, though, remember that freshman year is a learning time.  Don’t judge her to quickly for a messy night or some questionable pictures.  Many of your sisters probably had some too before they grew into college life.  Make sure that she has a good heart and the potential to be a productive chapter member.

but DON’T be creepy. Asking this girl invasive questions, randomly showing up and watching her from around the corner in her classes, or staring at her from across the room are not good ways to make an impression on your rush crush.  Actually create a friendship with her so you know who she is!  If she sees you as a crazy person who is creepily obsessed with her, she might think twice before joining your chapter.

DO recruit her. Put you and your chapter’s best face forward!  Wear your letters often and really be an example of what your organization is all about.  Don’t complain about going to sorority meetings or functions.  Talk up all the wonderful things that come with being Greek!  When you start conversations about your sisters, things you do together, and how much your relationships with them and your involvement in your sorority life has impacted you, it starts a positive relationship between her and your chapter.

but DON’T dirty rush her.  Always stay Panhellenic!  Do not threaten her to join your chapter instead of another one or break any Panhellenic guidelines for interacting with potential new members.  (If you are questioning whether something is appropriate, be safe and don’t do it).  Do not talk badly about other chapters or members of other chapters with her.  That just makes you look petty.  Talk about the benefits of Greek life, your campus’s philanthropic contributions, how you collaborate with other chapters, and the connections that come with being Greek.  Focus on enticing her to go through recruitment, not just to join your chapter.  You and your sisters will take care of that during the week of recruitment.

DO talk her up to your sisters. Make sure your sisters know who this girl is and why you think she is wonderful!  While you don’t need to have a group Facebook-creeping session (while it does have some benefits…), let your sisters know who to keep an eye out for.  Be specific in why you think she would be a great member of your chapter.  Saying, “I love this girl, she’s so sweet!” doesn’t mean as much as saying, “I think she would be a great asset to our chapter.  She gets involved in class, is put together and classy, and always has a positive attitude.”  Try and use adjectives to succinctly explain why she would be a great sister.

DON’T overreact on Preference Night/Bid Day. If you get the chance to talk to this girl on Preference Night, try not to overreact.  While it is great to tell her why you think she is so wonderful and why you want her to join your sisterhood, there is a line between being complimentary and fawning all over her.  Again, please don’t be creepy.  Whether or not your rush crush becomes your sister, behave yourself on Bid Day!  If she joins another chapter, congratulate her on becoming Greek and finding a place where she feels comfortable.  That is really what recruitment is about.  If she is your sister, congratulations!  However, don’t monopolize her time on Bid Day.  That is a time for her to get to know all of her new sisters, not just you.  Try not to talk about how you were in love with her all the time.  Tell her you’re so glad to be sisters, but going on and on about it can get annoying and makes you overlook your other new sisters!  You have a fantastic new pledge class, make sure they all know it!

As my sisters can attest, I have had at least one rush crush in every recruitment that I have been through.  Some of them have become my sisters, and some of them have not, but it is exciting to see what happens throughout the week of recruitment!  While I have not always been a prime example of how to not be creepy and weird about my rush crushes, those girls know I love them and I am so happy they went through recruitment.  Focus on being a good friend or even just a friendly face on campus to girls you want to call your sisters, and the rest of it will fall into place.

Happy recruiting!

Karen Woods is a recent graduate of Millikin University and a proud member of Delta Delta Delta.  She is so sad that she be missing the most wonderful time of the year, recruitment!, but is so excited to see the new fall additions to the Delta Epsilon chapter!

The Power of a Post-It: Operation Beautiful

Have you ever gotten an encouraging note from someone at just the right time?  Whether it was a note from a best friend after you failed a test or a sweet text message someone sent you after you broke up with your boyfriend, encouraging words, no matter how short, can turn your outlook on the whole day around.

What if there was a way to spread the joy from a sweet note to people you don’t even know?  This was how Caitlin, a young woman from Florida, started the Operation Beautiful blog about a year ago.

Operation Beautiful is a blog, but more importantly, it is a movement to make people feel beautiful and better about themselves all over the world through simple tools: a paper and pen.  People post positive messages for others in public places from public restrooms to 100 Calorie Packs at the grocery store to remind people the good things about themselves.

I interviewed Caitlin recently to get more information about the movement to share with CL readers.  She says Operation Beautiful started after she had a hard day with work and night classes, and she wanted to do something for someone else.  She posted a simple note with a positive message, took a picture of it, and posted it on her personal healthy living blog. Through her incredibly responsive readers, what she thought would be a short-lived project turned into a worldwide effort.  She had to start a second blog for Operation Beautiful posts.

Caitlin says that the purpose of Operation Beautiful is to promote “positive body image and outlook and an end to negativity.”  She says her favorite post on an Operation Beautiful note is: “Scales measure weight, not worth.”  From her experiences as a healthy living blogger, she says that many things determine a number on a scale that may have nothing to do with overall health or how we look.

I also asked Caitlin for tips for CL readers on maintaining a positive body image, healthy lifestyle, and overall healthy outlook as college students.  She’s an especially good resource, because she is not far removed from us as college students at all.

Caitlin’s tips on healthy living as a college student: While it certainly is difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a college student, don’t wait until graduation to get serious about being healthy.  Look for healthy choices in dining halls.  You have access to a free gym—use it!

Caitlin’s tips on maintaining a positive outlook: Don’t work out to be skinny; be active for pleasure and to build your confidence.  Getting involved can also help build your confidence.  Keep the positive things about yourself in mind!

Caitlin’s Tips on a balanced lifestyle as a young professional: Don’t settle for a job you hate just because you’re making good money.  When all you care about is money, it eventually wears on you.  Find something you love, and give it time and effort.  Also, what you study in college doesn’t necessarily have to be what you end up doing.  Caitlin’s degree is in political science and English writing!

Caitlin’s book Operation Beautiful, based on the blog comes out Tuesday, August 3!  It is based on the site, including 125 notes and tips on how to maintain a positive body image.  Check it out!

Also, check out Operation Beautiful and Caitlin’s personal blog: Healthy Tipping Point.

Want to get involved in the Operation Beautiful movement?  Write your own note, take a picture of it, and email it to Caitlin!  Get creative!  Posts have been on the sidewalk, on stop signs, in library books, in car windows, even on the back of people’s shirts during a half marathon!

You can also help the positive body image movement by participating in Change the Way You See Not the Way You Look this week or by celebrating Fat Talk Free Week, October 18-22, 2010.  Check with your local Tri Delta chapter for more information. 

Karen Woods is a recent graduate of Millikin University and a proud member of Delta Delta Delta.  She loves Operation Beautiful because it combines two of her favorite things: positive body image and Post-Its.  Her favorite quote from a Post-It is: “Life is better when you are yourself, without compromise or guilt.”

Road Trip Tips for the Savvy Co-Ed

Now that we’re in the last half of summer, it’s just the right time for a summer road trip!  Whether you’re going to see friends, a summer concert, or just travelling back to school, road trips are an excellent part of your summer.  Whether you’re traveling alone or with friends, here are some tips for making this summer’s road trip the best ever.

• Make sure you have good directions! This might sound obvious, but it’s a good idea to go through all your directions before you start out going where you want to go.  (This is especially true if you’re like me and have little to no sense of direction!)  I recently took a long road trip by myself, and I found that copying down directions and taping them to my dashboard was a great strategy.  It was easy to just glance down and look at where I was going and know where the next steps, instead of just taking one step at a time on my iPhone or throwing the directions in the passenger’s seat and not being able to find them when I needed them.  While it took a lot of thinking, I actually did not get lost, and I found it to be a great help to my journey.

• Investigate construction! Summer is the perfect time for road construction, but many times you won’t know it until you’re right in the middle of it.  Make sure you know where construction could be happening and how to navigate through or around it.  You can check on construction if you have AAA at their local office, or you can look online.

• Take some great tunes! No matter what kind of music device your vehicle has, you absolutely can not have a good road trip without music!  My personal choice for my most recent road trip included the latest Glee soundtrack, Kate Nash’s new album (My Best Friend Is You), and my favorite fierce diva Beyonce.  Check out Becky’s latest post for some other great ideas on summer music.  Whatever your favorites happen to be, making excellent mixes before you head out is half the fun of a road trip!

• Have a good companion.  Road trips with my friends are some of my very favorite memories.  They bring you and your friends so much closer and are the perfect time to make great memories.  If you’re going with your besties, make sure it’s someone you can stand to be around in close quarters for a long period of time.  Just because it’s your best friend, doesn’t mean she’s the best road trip companion.  If you’re going with someone you don’t know very well, get excited to have the time to get to know them on your adventure!

• Be a good companion. If you are the driver or the passenger, make sure you are conscious of being a good road trip companion.  Things happen, people get lost, and sometimes the people in the car with you may not be the best at dealing with stress.  Make sure you take a deep breath and deal with things calmly and rationally.  Thinking before you speak can work wonders when you and your friends are stuck in a small space.  This can also apply when you are driving by yourself!  Solo roadtrips are a great time to get some good thinking done and enjoy spending time with yourself.  The hours I have spent driving by myself are where I have had some “Aha!” moments about life and myself.  Take the time to enjoy yourself if you’re braving the road with a party of one.

And of course…

• Take some sustenance! My road trip snacks of choice are an iced coffee, flavored water, and bite-sized fruit like blueberries or grapes are my favorite.  (Word to the wise: a large soda from the gas station is NOT good choice for a long road trip.  You’ll either be very uncomfortable for a good part of the trip or have to stop a lot!)  Check out Kelsey’s post for more healthy, portable snack ideas to take with you!

The keys to any good road trip are a spirit of adventure, a positive attitude, and some planning.  Enjoy your driving and your summer road trips!

Karen Woods is a recent graduate of Millikin University and a proud member of Delta Delta Delta.  She is still excited that she did not get lost her recent 4-hour solo road trip!

Glee Withdrawals? Movies to Help You Survive Until September 7

If you are a certifiable Gleek like I am, these months until new episodes are rough. There are only so many times you can watch old episodes on DVD or on Hulu before you are going through serious McKinley High withdrawals. Never fear, CL is here to bring you 6 movies that will help you make it through to the September 7 premiere.

CAMP
Chronicling life at a theatre camp, this movie follows the stories of high school misfits who love to perform (sound familiar?) However, everyone’s world is turned upside down when Vlad a (*gasp*) good-looking straight boy who knows how to play sports enters their world. Through romantic entanglements, forging friendships, multiple diva fights, plenty of musical theatre campiness, and of course, lots of singing and dancing, they make it through the summer, but not without plenty of drama. This is one of my favorites, and if you like Glee, I’m pretty sure it will end up on your list, too.

DREAMGIRLS
Divas, divas, and divas! If you love Mercedes (and who doesn’t?), this will surely be enjoyable for you. Not only is the cast simply stellar, the story of the Dreamettes and their rise to the top is sure to both inspire and entertain you. As three girls start from simple homemade costumes and choreography to one of the most recognizable music groups in the world amidst cultural and personal turmoil, you will laugh and cry, sing and dance. And of course, Jennifer Hudson’s version of “And I Am Telling You” is reason enough to go see it, if only to compare it to our girl Mercedes. Plus the costumes are simply beautiful, and my girl Beyonce is in it. Really, you can’t go wrong with Dreamgirls.

FAME (the old version)
While the new version is fun and flashy, nothing can beat the original movie of the story of the kids at the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. Ranked as one of Entertainment Weekly’s Top 50 High School Movies of All Time, Fame follows the lives of four gifted young artists from the time they audition for “the Fame school” to graduation. Plenty of dramatic situations, from doubting their dreams to coming into contact with hard drugs fill their time at the school, but the movie is a fascinating journey. Watching them survive to “sing the body electric” is just about as goosebump-inducing as the first time we saw the kids from Glee sing “Don’t Stop Believing.”

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
This is for the musical theatre nerd in me and my mother and my love of Donny Osmond and that beautiful smile…but truly, this movie great! The story of Joseph being pushed around by his brothers to eventually rise to a position of power has always been one of my favorites. It is almost all sung, but it is written by Andrew Lloyd Weber and has more of a poppy sound, so don’t get turned off if you’re not “into musicals.” The singing and choreography are top-notch, and the story is inspiring. No matter how much you’ve been pushed around, you too can end up on top. : )

SOUTH PACIFIC
Again with the musical theatre nerdiness, I know. This movie is significantly older (and longer) than those I have previously mentioned, but it’s a classic for a reason. It’s the story of American troops in the South Pacific and chronicles how people from different worlds can fall in love. Plus, there are lots of boys singing, which is always a plus.
Fun fact: Matthew Morrison (Mr. Schuester) played the young leading man in the recent Broadway revival. So you can get your dreaming of Mr. Schu in when you watch this movie, too!

WAITING FOR GUFFMAN
If you have ever done community theatre, you have probably met one of the characters in this film. When an off-off-off Broadway comes to direct an amateur production in Blaine, Missouri, the town goes into a frenzy, especially when talk of a Broadway theatre critic attending the production reaches the town. People with inflated egos and those who think they are super talented when in fact they are not populate Blaine, and the results are simply hilarious. Even if you haven’t experienced the drama of putting up a show in community theatre, you will definitely get a kick out of Waiting for Guffman.

Ready for a trip to the actual movie theatre? Check out Briana’s post about can’t-miss movies of summer!

Karen Woods is a recent graduate of Millikin University and a proud member of Delta Delta Delta. A certifiable musical theatre and show choir geek, she is watching these movies while preparing to live inside a Glee episode for a week while counseling at Showchoir Camps of America.

Preparing for the Job Search Now: Tips for the Savvy Co-Ed

It’s no secret that the economy isn’t great.  (As a recent graduate, I have first-hand knowledge of this!)  As the summer reaches the point where we’re about to get bored, there are things you can do to fill your time now, no matter what stage in your college career to adequately prepare you for getting a “big girl job.”

Here are some ideas from someone currently in the middle of her job search:

• Update your resume. Make sure your resume is up-to-date with all your academic accomplishments, campus involvement and leadership activities, and work-related and volunteer experience.  If you don’t have a lot of work-related experience, include a list of relevant skills and courses related to your intended career.  When you have a completed, updated resume, take it to your campus career center or send it to a professor or mentor to look over.  The more qualified eyes you have look it over and give you suggestions, the better!

• Read, read, read. Read everything and anything you can get your hands on about your chosen career field, current events and professionals in the field, and the job search in general so you are prepared and knowledgeable.  When you can walk into an interview prepared, you look exceptionally qualified to your future employer, and you can learn about what you will need to be successful in your future career.

• …But don’t let yourself get boring. Read for fun, too!  Asking what your favorite book is or the book you’re currently reading is an excellent interview question, and you should have something brilliant and interesting as your answer.  Check out Samantha’s Summer Reading List for some great ideas.  Additionally, stay up-to-date on current events in case it is brought up in an interview as well.  Learn everything you can about the world around you!  It makes you a more well rounded person and essentially, a more well rounded employee.

• Set up informational interviews. Informational interviews can be a great way to network and learn a lot about a career field.  Find a professional in your area and either call or email them to see if you can set up an informational interview for about a half hour.  People love to talk about themselves, so don’t be timid!  When you go in, make sure you have questions prepared for them about their job and how they got there.  This can inspire you for how to go about your future job search!  Make sure to dress professionally to make a good impression, and make sure to follow up with a thank you note.  Who knows where a simple informational interview could end up!  Informational interviews could open up many new possibilities.

• Volunteer. If you don’t have a summer job or internship, spend your time volunteering!  Find an organization in your community that you feel passionate about and find a way to contribute.  This looks great on a resume and can give you some great experience.  It’s a great way to network.  You never know who you will meet volunteering!  Additionally, if you eventually want to work for a non-profit or philanthropic organization, volunteering can give you an in that could lead to a paid position.

Taking the time now to know what you want out of your career and to solidify your goals now is so beneficial for your future!  While the job search can definitely be difficult and scary, it can also be exciting.  Getting started now and making specific goals will make entering the real world a lot less scary, believe me.  : )

Karen Woods is a recent graduate of Millikin University with a degree in Theatre and Communication and a proud member of Delta Delta Delta.  She is currently on the job hunt and wishing she had taken some of her own advice!

A Savvy Co-Ed’s Guide to Truly Relax This Summer

As savvy co-eds, we are often incredibly busy people with things going on all the time. In fact, as I was talking to my little sis yesterday, she made the comment that telling the two of us to relax and do nothing is like telling us not to put on mascara or drink caffeinated beverages…completely impossible.

So, one of my goals this summer is to figure out how to truly relax and stop feeling the need to run around all the time.

• Read a book for fun. When was the last time you read something completely for fun? Not for class, not because you felt obligated to read it, or because it would benefit your life in some other way, but just for fun. Take the time to head to the bookstore or the library and read something completely for the joy of it. Sometimes even a mindless beach read is just what you need to get your brain to shut off from whatever is stressing you or to inspire you to take a moment to breathe. And in the summer there are so many beautiful places to read! Enjoy the sunshine in your backyard, by the pool, at the beach, at the park, or take advantage of a local coffee shop for an hour. Check out Kaitlyn’s latest post for a great book suggestion!

• Enjoy the outside. Okay, everyone who knows me is going to think that I had my brain switched out, but even though I may not be nature’s biggest fan, I can still appreciate what a good hour outside can do to relax me. Spend some time just sitting outside and really take it in. No phone, no computer, no book, just you and the outside. It’s also a great thing to do with a friend. Spend time relaxing, talking, and just enjoying each other’s company. It’s amazing what an hour spent in a comfortable environment with someone you enjoy can do to slow you down.

• Pamper yourself. Taking time to take care of yourself is essentially what relaxing is all about. Christine’s College Lifestyles Spa post is a great way to start this!  One of my favorite things to do to take a moment is painting my nails. So grab a new nail polish, facial scrub, or shampoo, and take a little time to remind yourself how great you are. When you feel put together and taken care, of it’s amazing how much more relaxed you feel all the time!

• Do something you know you love. When we are so busy with work, summer classes, and catching up with friends and family this summer, it can seem like everything is an obligation to someone else. Get back to a hobby you love! Whether it’s scrapbook, crafting (check out new ideas in Kendall’s crafting post!) , cooking, or dancing, take the time to get back to what you love. For example, I love to dance, and when I run myself too crazy and can’t get to a studio, I can tell that I’m much more stressed. However, if I just take sometime to move around my room or the basement, I can instantly tell that I am much more at ease with myself and my life.

We have this time in the summer off for a reason, so use it to take care of YOU! Before you know it, you’ll be running to classes and meetings and wondering what you did with your months to relax. Take just an hour 2 or 3 days a week to really relax and see how it makes you feel. I know I’ll be doing the same. : )

Karen Woods is a recent graduate from Millikin University and a proud member of Delta Delta Delta. She is still learning how to stop running around all the time and relax.

How to Creeper-Proof Your Facebook

Have you heard about the latest privacy changes to Facebook?  Sure, everyone you know has a profile, but as the website keeps evolving, it can become increasingly more difficult to manage your profile.  Classmates, employers, women who go through recruitment, and even administrators can potentially view your profile, and sometimes it can be difficult to decide what exactly is okay to post while still using Facebook to have fun.

As an avid Facebook user and notorious creeper, here are some of my tips on how to keep it classy on Facebook.

• Check your privacy settings! While privacy settings are certainly not foolproof, they can do a lot of good when you’re trying to manage the information you put on Facebook.  Since Facebook’s last big change, privacy settings can be a little more complicated to figure out, but can still control who sees what on your page, whether the settings are ones that Facebook designed or ones that you customize yourself.  One of my favorite things about the privacy settings page is the “Preview Your Profile” button.  Click on it to see exactly what the average Facebooker will see when they click on your name.

• Stalk yourself! This may sound slightly narcissistic, but taking stock of what actually is on your profile is a great thing.  Privacy settings aren’t foolproof, and your information can still get into the hands of people you may not want it to.  (Hello, creepers like me).  Go through your pictures and see exactly how you’re presenting yourself in what you’re doing and what you’re wearing.  Is this a classy version of yourself that you want people to see?  Are your activities and fan pages really things you want everyone to know?  And always remember, the de-tag button is a beautiful thing.  Or, the easy way is to just make all your pictures private!

• Choose your words and album choices carefully! Every word you post on Facebook is important from your status updates to your wall posts to the captions on your pictures.  They reflect on you as an individual, and if you’re part of a Greek or other large organization, on all members of both your chapter and the Greek community.  Putting pictures of drinking or inappropriate activities in an album with pictures from Big Sis Reveal or other sorority activities tends to give off the impression that that kind of behavior is what is expected of sorority women.

• Use messages.  While your favorite Texts from Last Night or anecdotes from certain escapades with your friends are probably hilarious and great things to share with your friends, they might not be exactly what you want to present to the whole world. Private message or text message these things to your friends.  It’s still a great way to enjoy a laugh, but without the threat of offending those adults or authority figures who may be viewing your page.

• Think about the kind of women you want to recruit. (College freshmen are creepy, as they should be.  They are already stalking you).  While this wording is specific to sorority women, I can apply in general to the kind of people you want to attract.  What kind of members would they be drawn to?  Are you presenting that on your Facebook profile?  Stephanie’s excellent post on summer and Greek life is another great resource to help with this.

The biggest piece of advice I have about Facebook is to be mindful of what you are posting and how it can come across.  As more people have access to our information, each of us has to be more mindful about exactly what the world is seeing about us.  Is the information you’re putting out on Facebook a good representation of you?  Does it showcase the brilliantly classy and fabulous woman you really are?

Karen Woods is a recent graduate of Millikin University and a proud member of Delta Delta Delta.  She is notorious for her Facebook creeping skills.

How the Classy Co-Ed Can Charm New Acquaintances This Summer

Summer is the time for a lot of familiar things, like coming back home to old friends, but also the time for a lot of new things.  If you’re like any other fabulous co-ed that I know, this probably includes meeting a lot of new people!  From new jobs to summer parties to meeting your home friends’ school friends to family reunions with people you didn’t even know you were related to, summer is the prime time to make new acquaintances.

Sometimes all of the small talk and awkward pauses can get to you, so here are my top five suggestions about charming the new people in your life right from the beginning:

• Smile! While it may seem like simple thing that everyone should know, it is far and away the easiest way to seem both likeable and confident in any situation.  People are naturally drawn to positive people, and smiling shows them that you are just that!  When people start talking to you, keep the conversation positive, too, even if you really have had the worst day imaginable.  If you put yourself in a positive mindset, you will start to feel better too, and there’s a very good chance that you will brighten the day of whoever gets the chance to talk to you.

• Ask people questions about themselves. Let’s face it; we all love to talk about ourselves.  If you’re talking to your friend from school’s roommate, ask questions about the things you’ve heard about them doing together at school.  Ask your co-workers about their lives outside of work.  Not only will this get people to open up, you might find that you are surrounded with some truly fascinating people.  When someone sees that you genuinely care about his or her life, it makes talking to him or her easier, and you just might have made a new friend.

• Put your best face forward. Okay, this is not about being superficial, but as most people who know me can attest, I am a firm believer in putting your best self out there at all times.  This does not mean spending a ridiculous time on your make-up and hair or pulling out your nicest clothes at all times, but it is so important to put yourself a little bit together at all times.  When you know you look good, you feel more confident and can put yourself out there for the new people you meet.  Others can tell that you cared enough to put yourself together and will be more apt to talk to you.

• Collect fun facts! This may sound kind of weird, but one of my dearest friends is one of the most delightful people to talk to simply because she knows strange facts about so many things.  She likes to drop them into conversation with a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world, which is so endearing.  Marveling over something like a fun fact creates an interesting connection with someone and can make your conversation last.

Overall, charming the new people you meet over the summer is all about balance: balancing showing the world how fabulous you are while letting others shine and feel their best.  Sincerity, positivity, and being considerate are the biggest things to keep in mind.  Who knows what will come of a great first meeting!

If you’re still looking for that summer job to meet new people, check out Megan K’s latest post!

Karen Woods is a recent graduate of Millikin University and a proud member of Delta Delta Delta.  She loves all the new people she has met through interning with College Lifestyles!

How a Savvy Co-Ed Can Maintain a Positive Body Image During the Summer

As the weather is getting warmer, clothes are getting smaller, and it can be so tempting for us as college women to feel bad about the way we look.  It’s easy to see people running around in bikinis and tiny clothing and just compare ourselves to them and pick out the small things we dislike about our bodies.  However, there are ways to ensure that we feel good about ourselves and have the best summer possible!

Here are a few ways I try to combat negative body image in the summer months:

• Take the time to make yourself look your best.  The extra ten minutes to do your hair or make-up in the morning is completely worth it…just a little mascara and some lip gloss can turn your whole day around!  When you feel put together, it makes your whole day better!

• Find which summer styles make you look your most fabulous.  For example, I know that I look and feel better in summer dresses than I ever have in short shorts.  Liz Bey’s recent post about a curve-a-licious summer wardrobe provides a great start for this!

• Drink lots of water!  As the weather gets hotter, you need to stay hydrated, and when you do so drinking water, you feel much more refreshed and better about yourself throughout the day.  One of my favorite ways to drink water in the summer is to put fresh fruit or vegetables in it to add a fun flavor!  There is nothing better than a cold glass of water with a lemon, orange, melon, or even cucumber to make you feel good!

• Do something to make yourself feel good.  Whether it is taking a great bubble bath, going on a great bike ride, giving yourself a pedicure, or playing with your dog, take a moment to enjoy all the relaxing fun that summer has to offer.

• Stay away from fashion or celebrity magazines filled with unrealistic models or celebrities.  While they may be fantastic trashy beach/pool reads, they can make you extra critical of yourself.  Instead, try reading about some truly beautiful, classy women in some equally as enjoyable summer reads.  Discover (or rediscover) Pride and Prejudice, learn all you can about being fabulous from one of my favorite books: What Would Audrey Hepburn Do by Pamela Keogh, or take a look at the newest fashion trends in Lucky magazine!

• Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself and remind you how fabulous you are!  We all have those days when we need someone to remind us what makes us so special, so spend extra time with those people you know will tell you.

Summer is a time to relax and take good care of yourself, and this starts from the inside.  Take an honest, positive look at yourself and get ready to show the world all the incredible things you have to offer!  I stay positive by taking time to pamper myself (because I finally have the time!) and spending lots of time with my dog.  He always things I’m beautiful

One of my favorite quotes to remember this is: “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart” (Kahlil Gibran).

Start shining your light and enjoy summer!

Karen Woods is an intern at College Lifestyles.  She is a recent graduate of Millikin University and is a proud member of Delta Delta Delta.  This summer, you can probably find her enjoying ice cold water with a slice of orange and playing with Wesley, the best dog ever.