Vlog: 5 quick tips for your first week of college

Hi guys! 

I know many of you are headed back to school this week - I wanted to share with you some quick tips to help you start your college experience (or get back into the groove if you are a returning student). 

Feel free to pass this along to any of your friends or family that are nervous about starting their college journey - and please invite them to join our community of awesome community college students and alumni!

I hope your year gets off to a great start! :) 

-Isa

PS - If you are sad about your summer vacation ending, feel free to cheer yourself up by enjoying a laugh at the expense of my YouTube screenshot for this video...;) 

Videos: how to write winning scholarship essays and how to use your college library

Since it's the summer I've been adding more content to my YouTube channel. I don't post all of them on the blog, so if you enjoy video advice you can subscribe to the channel. Below are the two latest tips: the first on how to write winning scholarship essays and the second on how to use your college library.  

Study Tipping Tuesday - Note Cards, Location, Time Management

Here are this week's study tips for Tuesday :) 

Will Your Choices in College Define the Rest of Your Life?

Will your choices in college define the rest of your life?

Yes. 


And no.


I've been out of college a little over 2 years now and am coming upon the last 10 months of my M.Ed, and am wondering what the future holds. There are a billion things I want to do and try; and sometimes I feel scared that I'm going to take a wrong step, that somehow I may already have and don't even know it yet. Constant questioning. Fear. Wondering. How will this define me?


I find I have a lot in common with students I see every day who express similar anxieties. Specifically those surrounding The Dreaded College Major Choice. The choice that we're told defines our career options, our salary options, our future. 


And in many ways, yes, it does. If you get a degree in nursing it will be hard to get a job as an engineer if your interests suddenly change. But does that mean if you get a degree in nursing and realize you want to be an engineer that it's impossible?


No. 


We're so concerned with finding the quickest path, the easiest journey, that it's so easy forget the importance of today - of the journey itself. The trials are what make people interesting. And it seems almost every person I've ever met or read about who has been successful had to go through a lot of pain, confusion, failure, and anxiety along the way. In hindsight it sometimes seems others' paths were laid out for them all along. But in reality, it takes a lot of work, risk, and faith. 


And sometimes you're jumping blindly. Sometimes you may not be 100% sure that this is the major for you. And yes, if you change your mind that may mean going back to school or taking a big risk. But is that the worst thing in the world?


If you figure it out later in life isn't that better than never figuring it out at all? 


Does it mean that all that time before was just a "waste?"


My favorite bakery is run by a former electrical engineer. She loves her bakery but doesn't see her years in electrical engineering as a waste of time. She embraces everything she's done in her life and appreciates the experiences.


It's easy to feel like we are an English major or we are a pre-med student. I used always say "I am [insert current job here]" and have now tried to catch myself and say instead "I work as [insert current job here]." When you start to feel like the major you choose or the job you're in is who you are it can subtly start to make you feel like you're stuck and that what you've chosen is now who you are and there is no way out. 


Never were these doubts more present in my life than when I tried to find a job after college. I felt like that first job I chose would define me for the rest of my life. And I felt like if I didn't get a job that I wanted to define my life I would be perceived as a failure. 


And then one day I stumbled across a quote from Walt Disney - "Live the adventure."


And all of a sudden, my paradigm shifted. All of a sudden, the destination, the "career path," didn't seem that important. I realized that careers are ever-changing, ever-growing, a product of a rapidly transforming society and economy, and thus how I fit into that says nothing about who I am. I may major in this, try that, explore this, fail at that, succeed at this, and as long as I'm enjoying the adventure and constantly moving forward, even if I can't see where I'm going next, I'm going to be okay.


I think if we put too much stock in particular majors and career ladders we lose the child-like curiosity of exploring the world like a great adventure. Sometimes there's sinking sand and wild beasts lurking in a corner, but when we've defeated them we typically learn something, and grow closer. 


So don't get me wrong, career centers are one of the best resources on your college campus so run there on your first week and try to figure what the best major for you is and what kinds of jobs you think you'll like. But do it like an explorer, like an adventurer, excitedly moving forward while enjoying the day, the class, the friends, the experiences. 


Because I think the most important choice you will make in college is your attitude. Anxiety, frustration, apathy, cynicism, resentment, or that desire just to "get through it" won't get you where you want to go. Choose to be fully present in your college experience. Enjoy each class. Enjoy the people you meet. Remember in the grand scheme of our inequitable world that education is privilege. And while of course it won't always be fun and certainly won't always be easy, it is the struggles that often teach us the most.


And remember that you can always change your mind. Because you will change. And that is not only okay, it's kind of wonderful.

The #1 Energy Drink to Get You Through College

I kind of think I’ve found a secret energy drink to help you complete your college degree – pass those rough classes, stop procrastinating, prioritize, and make the time to study.

It will help you choose the right classes, find the right major, and create a memorable and enjoyable college experience. Side effects may include graduating with a high GPA and a huge dose of confidence and contentment.

I think I can make millions with this new energy drink. If only I could bottle it.

But alas, the recipe is much more complicated, and each drink is unique to the individual. I’ve tasted it here and there, and for the most part it is what got me through college. But I’m finding you need these energy drinks throughout your whole life.

Because sometimes life can be draining.

This energy drink has been a huge part of my life. But I didn’t really understand it’s definition, have never been able to pinpoint its source, its properties, or its recipe until this week.

This week I spoke at the Hope CommUnity Center – a center that supports immigrant farm workers and their children, especially through English classes and a college access program -- and I felt like my heart was on fire.

My eyes watered when the organizers were talking about the upcoming adventures and college visits they were going to take the teens on in the next few months.

I got chills when I saw the group of high school students sitting patiently, there to learn, there to grow, there to succeed. There to care.

And when I spoke and I saw their eyes, some of their tears, and saw a few taking notes, I realized why my heart was set on fire when I walked in that building. I realized what drove so much of my life. 

I finally understood the energy drink that fueled my collegiate accomplishments. It was this feeling. It was being amidst something I cared about, something I believed in, and getting the opportunity to do something I loved doing.

I felt like I was contributing. And nothing can compare to that kind of energy.

I cannot fully express the inspiration I gleamed from my experience. But what I do know is that on the drive back I felt a new sense of renewed energy, life, motivation, thrill, and excitement that I hadn’t felt in a while.

It was so strong that I actually cried. It was a happy cry I’ve never really known before. It was this deep sense of finding something that truly lit me on fire. 

And from there an entire storm of creativity, emotion, and joy erupted. And what did I do with that energy? Change the world? Start a non-profit? Hug strangers?

Nope. I cleaned my apartment. I took out the trash. I unloaded the dishwasher. I finished reading a book. I made some tea.

I did the things that often get lost when I’m feeling drained of energy. And it felt fantastic.

And unlike the typical energy drinks this high did not go away after a few hours. I have drawn energy from this experience to help me through a myriad of tasks that I often cannot find the motivation for.

Because this is the kind of energy drink that moves you. The kind that really fuels you. The kind that makes that hard math class not seem so bad – because you know you want an A in math so you can move forward and get the degree that will help you do something that sets your heart on fire.

You will want to chase that feeling, and it will give you energy to get through the hard stuff.

I figured all this out when the teenage boy taking the most furious notes asked me “how do you stay motivated?” I had never been asked this before and it really made me think.

But oddly enough the answer came as surely as water comes when you turn on the faucet.

“This is what keeps me motivated. Seeing people like you who care. Seeing people like you who take notes and ask questions and want to move forward and make something of your lives. Moments like this are what set my heart ablaze and keep me going.”

Keep searching for your energy drink. Feel free to play with the recipe. Feel free to switch brands and flavors. Explore. Notice how it fuels or drains you. And when you find it, don’t apologize for it. It can be anything. The only criteria is that it energizes you.

And never - ever - settle for anything artificial.

I have a vlog/blog on USA Today College!

Today I had a special vlog/blog posted on the front page of USA Today College! Thanks to Patrick Foster for working with me to make this happen and to everyone who has shared the link. It means so much to me! :)

http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/blog/did-you-pick-the-right-major

Time Flies

Time flies. I’ll be 24 this week and yesterday I was thinking about how fast we grow up, how when we do we tend to realize, as Taylor Swift sings in Never Grow Up: “everything I have is someday gonna be gone.” I can still smell the grass in my favorite hiding spot in our backyard. I can still feel the excitement of getting up at 5am to sneak a look at our stockings before my parents woke up on Christmas morning.

I can still remember writing notes with gel pens in middle school and then folding them in some cool heart shape (though I can’t remember how to do it anymore).

I can still remember parking my white Pontiac sun fire in my high school parking lot and walking with anticipation on the first day of senior year. 

I also sharply remember my grandparents who passed away this year.  I can see my grandpa sitting in the passenger seat teaching me how to drive. I can taste the bisquits and gravy my mamaw would make for us early in the morning.
Time flies.

I know I’m not old by any means. I’m still young and have so much ahead of me. For the most part when we are young we don’t really think about time. We have more time ahead of us than behind us, so we just keep on going, and in some deep place, no matter how self-aware and rational we are, we assume things will always be as they are.

But of course they won’t. Time flies, things change, people come and go, and we change. I’m not the same person I was a few years ago. I don’t have the same time I had a few years ago. And recently I have been realizing how easy it is to take that time for granted, and that often the things I want to fill my time with most are the first to go when I’m too busy.

And as time flies it seems busyness follows. There is nothing more annoying than someone telling you you are not busy when you are feeling overwhelmed. I felt very busy in high school, and in college, and if anyone ever told me I wasn’t busy compared to how busy I would be as I grew older I felt so annoyed because they obviously didn’t work as hard as I did in high school and college. But of course they were right and I was wrong.

There is a lot going on in high school and college compared to what you were responsible for prior to those life stages. Just as when you graduate and begin a career you will be much busier than you were in college. It just happens, and often you don’t even realize it while it’s happening. And then all of a sudden you are sleeping all the time, going to work, going home, watching TV because you are too tired to do anything else, and then going back to sleep.

Often when we have these big transitions of time the first things to go are our favorite things.  For me, the first to go are exercise, reading, and waking up early.

I love waking up a few hours before I have to leave for work. In fact that is when I write this blog. I love to clean, exercise, read, and just spend time doing things I like to do. In college I had a really good amount of time to do these things. I’d devour a book in a week, go to exercise classes three times a week, and wake up early even on the weekends.

Lately, I’ve been so busy that I just stopped doing all these things because I “didn’t have time.” But I realized when we say we don’t have time it just means we’re not willing to make time, that it’s really not that important. Because we will make time for what is important. It’s just a matter of what really matters.

So this Saturday, I woke up at 6am. I know, you’re probably thinking I’m crazy and are ready to exit my blog right now because you don’t need anyone telling you to wake up at 6am. I understand the college culture of staying up until 3:30am and waking up at 10am. We all have our own patters and times when we are most energetic and alert. You may be a night person and that’s cool.

However, waking up at 6am on a Saturday was kind of awesome. Saturdays are pretty special when you work, and it is my day to do all of the things I love, especially spending time with my husband, Jeremy. This Saturday felt like the longest day of my life and it was simply incredible. We did so much that day and had a blast.

Time flies.

So I want to create as much time as possible. And I want to use that time doing the things that I enjoy. There are so many cheesy sayings about “living in the present” and “making every second count” and “live each day like it’s your last.” And since I’m cheesy I like all that stuff. But I like to think about it in reality, not just a quick inspirational blurb. I like to think about what it really means to spend my time wisely, to create more time by waking up early, to appreciate the time behind me and invest in the time right in front of me.

College is a really cool time in your life. And it will be gone before you know it. Hanging out amongst your peers so often, exploring a variety of topics, being in charge of a club, going on trips, discussing things with groups of strangers, the feeling of seeing an A on a paper, choosing your schedule and having days when all you have to do is go to 2 classes. Can I tell you a secret? I miss it a lot.

SCC PTK International Fair :)

But I’ve realized lately how important it is that I make and take the time to really invest in the present and enjoy where I’m at in life right now.

So for you, right now is college. Right now is exploring and figuring out what you want to do. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by it, to long for the days where you no longer have to study or write papers about topics you may not care about. But it’s kind of a great time in life. And before you know it…

It will fly away.

So consider waking up early. Consider how to make the most of your next class. Consider how to enjoy the friends in your life right now because most of them won’t be around forever. Consider how to make studying and writing enjoyable. Consider that this is your life, right now. College isn’t a limbo waiting ground where you sit until your real life begins. Once you begin to think that way you will always feel like you are waiting for your life to begin.

But your life is now. And it is flying. Don’t let it get away.

What Pit Bulls and Community College Students Have in Common

So Jeremy and I decided it is finally the right time for us to get a puppy. In addition to writing a book, this has been another one of my life-long dreams. So this weekend we set out to the local shelters to see if there were any puppies that were right for us. And while we didn’t find our puppy this weekend, I found something very profound.

After spending some time with the jovial adult dogs in the outside corridor we turned to leave the humane society when we passed a concrete puppy room with one very small black pit bull puppy curled up as tight as it could, shaking in a corner – not your typical puppy behavior. It looked very scared and lonely, and possibly sick. As we walked past and read the description, we already knew we couldn’t adopt her because our apartment does not allow pit bulls due to their bad reputation.

But I’ve never personally encountered that stereotype.

Every pit bull I’ve ever met has been so sweet. And so when I saw this puppy, scared and alone, even though I knew I couldn’t adopt it, I stopped and walked into that puppy room to give it some love before we left. I sat down, scooted towards it, and offered my hand. The puppy didn’t budge and still stayed firmly wrapped in the corner. I scooted even closer to let it sniff my hand, but she wasn’t interested. I was about to give up when I figured I might as well just give her one small stroke on the head before I left.

And that was all it took.

Once I touched her she immediately took 3 steps forward and curled up right in my lap and fell asleep. She was just waiting for someone to let her know they cared.

And that is how I felt as a community college “puppy.” And what many of my students explain they felt. We felt alone in a corner, burdened by the stereotype of ending up at a college where “anyone” could get in. We felt scared, that the world didn’t want us, didn’t believe in us.

But for me, and for many of them, it didn’t take long for someone to come along and let us know we were wanted. For me, it was a professor and a few friends. They reminded me that I was wanted, that the stereotype – like almost all stereotypes – was a myth that was only realized when we let how people view us and treat us define who we are.

We are all victims of some sort of societal pit bull-stereotype. And community college students are often defined by some of the starkest stereotypes when it comes to academic expectation. It is assumed we didn’t get good SAT scores, we aren’t independent, we aren’t smart enough to go to a university, we are 2^nd class educational citizens.

But just like the pit bull puppy I fell in love with, and the many other lovely adult pit bulls I met this weekend, most of us defy the stereotypes.  

Most of us go to community college because we couldn't afford anything else, because no one taught us about financial aid and scholarships, because no one told us about SAT classes, because we were the first in our family to go to college and no one could guide us down the university path. 

Or because tragedy struck and we needed to be close to home, because we had a family and a job to maintain and needed college to fit into our daily life, because we wanted to save money, or because we came from another country and didn't know what Harvard was and turned down admission in 11th grade. And some of us saw past the stereotypes early and realized that community college was a  small-classroom-private-school type education for a public school cost and jumped at the deal. These are just a few of the reasons I've heard from my students in these past few months. 

Now as we walked throughout the humane society there were a few angry-seeming pit bulls barking in their cages, obviously raised by people who relished and fed the stereotype. But there were a lot of different breeds with that same sort of anger and fear. It seems to depend more on the owner than anything else.

Just as your college success really only depends on you.

Whether you’re at community college or Harvard, you can be exceptional. And in fact I believe some of the most exceptional talent and future leaders and problem solvers of our country are going to come from community colleges. Because community college is a place where everyone can get in. Community college is a place where stereotypes are defied daily.

Community college is a place where brilliance thrives.

How do I know? Because I see it every day.

And sure, there are those slackers who skip class and could care less about their future. But those people are everywhere. Not just at community colleges. 

One of my goals for this blog has always been to change that stereotype (e.g. see the tagline in the headline banner). To remind community college students and the world that community colleges are not dumping grounds for students who couldn’t get into college anywhere else. They are thriving communities of students who are choosing a better life for themselves. Students who needed that open-access open door for a variety of reasons – students who will change our world for the better because they have such rich experience and empathy for some of the greatest problems in our world.

Yet sadly there are always those people that let the stereotypes define them. It can sometimes be too hard to fight against societal expectation, and they surrender their will to be more than expected.

What about you? Are you like the pit bull puppy shaking in a corner, afraid of the world because you feel like it doesn’t want you, doesn’t understand you? Let me pet your head my friend and remind you that you are wanted, you are brilliant, and the only one who can stand in your way is you.

We are all victims of some societal stereotype or another, and it is vital that we ask ourselves if we are succumbing to these narrow-minded assumptions. You can let them scare you, defy you, anger you.

Or, you can triumphantly, graciously, and proudly prove them wrong.

The choice, as always, is yours.

Bonus Post - Exciting News

I'm so sorry for the lack of vlog this week. It seems I've come down with the flu and I promise you don't want to see me like this. It is pitiful.

However, after being in bed for 3 days I've finally gotten enough energy to think, and today I wanted to share some exciting news with you all - my community college success book proposal has launched!

First of all, you should know that 3 months ago I didn't even know what a query letter was, how to write a book proposal, or what a literary agent did. And today, my literary agent just sent out query letters to publishers which means my book is being "shopped" around to various publishers, and now we wait to see if anyone wants to make an offer!

It is super scary and exciting, but what strikes me most of all is that it is happening. And it just wasn't as difficult as I always made it out to be in my head. Writing a book has been a long time dream of mine. And yet it always seemed so insurmountable. It always seemed like something "other people" did...people who were more talented, more intelligent, more together. 

How many things in your life do you think are meant for other people? What excuses go through your head that tell you you're not good enough to do something like that? What have you always wanted to do but it just seemed too hard?

I'm here to tell you today that all it takes is a very simple (yet for some reason so hard for so many) change. A change of your mind. A moment where you decide that you CAN do something, and then you ACT on it. I saw many motivational speakers at the APCA conference I attended last week, and I think the reason motivational speakers are so sought after, even when the messages are often so simple, is because we so easily forget this stuff. And even when we hear it, we so often don't have the courage to act on it. 

It does take courage. It does take risk. And it takes a certain embracing of failure (see the last section of The Art of Conversation post that starts with "Failure is the only path to success"). I don't know what will happen with my book from here on out, but regardless I feel such tremendous joy knowing that I'm trying. 

I want that for you too. What have you been putting off trying to do? Or what in your life are you trying to do right now? Do you feel pride in the process? At the very least most of you are trying to get a degree. Are you enjoying yourself? Are you proud of what you've accomplished thus far? Do you believe so strongly in what you are doing that you will do whatever it takes? 

Take some time to answer these questions. Don't be afraid of the answers. And don't be afraid to change.

What Comedians and a Guy in a Balloon Made Me Think About

I just spent the past 6 days at the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA) national conference previewing dozens of entertainers. From comedians to musicians to the spoken word to a guy who put himself in a giant balloon, it was quite a dynamic experience.

I was thinking of you guys a lot of the time and wrote pages of things that I wanted to write about this morning. So much happened this week that I just cannot choose one topic, so below are the three topics I really wanted to share with you this week:

1) APCA was started by these 2 amazing people – Eric and Jessica – and because of them colleges that do not have big budgets have the opportunity to afford to bring up and coming talent to their students. Typically college entertainment conferences like this one feature the kinds of artists that only big universities can afford (e.g. $45,000-$150,000). APCA allows for Colleges with more modest budgets to preview incredible talent and partner with other local Colleges to save money and be able to bring amazing artists that would be hard to afford otherwise. 

So this is just a thank you to Eric and Jessica, and to all my readers, realize that these 2 people started an entire movement that allowed for colleges across the country to bring amazing things to their campuses. Just 2 people can have a huge impact. Always hold fast to stories like that.

2) Another thing I kept thinking about was how much I learned from watching all types of performers. It is so engaging to watch people completely put themselves out there, and it’s simply fun to experience new things with new friends. As I sat there getting into a really great song and laughing with the people around me I thought about how hard it is for us to get community college students involved in events. Most of the educational sessions at the conference were about marketing.

Why is it so hard to engage community college students in fun? Often because you guys don’t live on campus, you have jobs, and once class is done you just get into the routine of going home. But trust me, at no other time in your life will people be trying to get you to come have fun for free.

Enjoy this while you can and go to your College entertainment events. And invite lots of people to join you. It’s about connecting with your peers and making College a full experience. Your challenge this week is to go to your College’s next entertainment event.   

3) The final thing I thought a lot about this week is what makes some entertainers stand out and others fall flat, even if they have similar talent. If you’ve ever watched American Idol you know what I’m talking about.

I came to a conclusion of 3 things that make entertainers stand out, and once I wrote it out I realized they are 3 things that make everyone stand out: 1) Humility 2) Focusing more on others than yourself 3) Enjoying the moment. The entertainers that really stood out to me and many of the other College’s seemed to be the ones that were just genuinely happy to be there, weren’t afraid to show us their true selves, were focused more on the audience having a good time than having a “good show,” and they seemed to genuinely enjoy whatever they were doing in that very moment. Not everyone came across this way, and for me these things make all the difference.

And not only for entertainers.  I guarantee you the best way for you to stand out in your life, in your school, in your club, in your future job, is to be humble, to worry more about serving others than making yourself look good, and truly enjoy whatever you are doing in that moment.

Have a fun week. Enjoy your moments. 

"I Believe I Can Fly..."

I just got back from a conference in San Francisco and it was an incredible experience. You can find all of the inspiration I gathered from this conference when it comes to community college students figuring out what they want to do with their lives in the extra post-conference vlog below. I didn’t think I was going to have time to post a full blog/vlog with the back to back traveling I’m doing this weekend, but I had to give you something.   

So in addition to all of the inspiration I also gained  newfound confidence from traveling by myself. For those of you who have traveled by yourself since you were young this may not apply. But for me I had never even been on an airplane until I was 19. And all my trips since then have been with groups of people.

I am from Florida and have a terrible sense of spatial understanding, so public transportation has always alluded me. In past travels (e.g. England) I relied on my friends to navigate while I followed.

It was my turn to navigate by myself this weekend and it was empowering. To understand, I am someone who used to look at people who traveled alone as amazing independent individuals. I used to think wow, how do they figure all of that out? It seemed so foreign to me.

And now I know. And I feel like I could do anything and go anywhere.

Have you had that “I can do anything” moment in your life? Have you felt that unique sense of independence that reminds you that you and only you are in control of the direction you are going? We often greatly overestimate the power of others to pull us in various directions. When in reality, it is only that we choose to follow.

In community college it can be hard sometimes to gain that sense of independence as many students live with their parents in order to save money. I encourage you to consider transferring to a college where you live in a dorm after you graduate. Start saving up money and applying for scholarships so you can afford to live on campus – it is more possible than you think.

And for now, try going on trips or doing things on your own. I’ll never forget my very first day in community college my western civilization professor gave us all a 5 minute speech on why we all needed to take a weekend and go to England as college students. He said we should just buy a ticket, stay in cheap hostels, and travel around in the inexpensive trains.

I know it all sounds painfully cliché, and in some ways it is, but in other ways, I think those independent excursions of travel and exploration breed new confidence and inspiration. Sometimes things become cliché because they are just good.

So start thinking about ways you can carve out some independence for yourself, such as planning a road trip with friends this summer, or booking a ticket and staying in English hostels this weekend. 

Always remember you are  in charge of your direction. The question is - do you know where you are going? 

Screens and Faces: The Lost Art of Conversation

So I finally got my first smart phone this week. I know I know, I’m behind. WAY behind. I always have been when it comes to technology, and not out of ignorance, but by choice. Why? Because I love face-to-face conversations and technology always seemed to be this sharp ax that just slowly but surely chipped away at human interaction.

I once had e-mail on my phone in college and I found myself looking down at my phone while walking from class to class. And I’d reply back to e-mails while sitting and waiting for class to start. Everyone else was doing this too, so I figured it wasn’t a big deal.

But then I kind of realized that instead I could have been talking to people. I started to get lonely and realized I wasn’t making much effort to socialize (effort that must be made especially if you are a commuter college student) and got the internet taken off my phone.

And it did help. I was focused on my surroundings more. I had time to think, to ponder, to marinate ideas. And I talked more. To people. Face to face.

Speaking of face, I just watched The Social Network (which is fantastic) this week so I’ve been thinking a lot about Facebook and all the ways technology does connect us. For example I’ve reunited with old best friends from 2^nd grade and have found through the ebb and flow of Facebook identity sharing that we’d probably still be best friends if we hadn’t moved away.

Through the internet I’ve learned and researched thousands of new concepts and ideas, have been led to meet with inspiring people, and have had the opportunity to share my own thoughts through this blog.

I could go on and on about all of the ways technology serves our human connections. But when that technology is attached to our bodies via our phones, it has great potential to hinder the focus we have during a conversation with another person.

I’m sure like me you probably talk to people every single day and your eyes are not literally glued to your phone. However, how many times have you been talking with someone and that little ding of a text makes your eyes shift from their face to your screen? How many times do you think you could have gotten into an incredible conversation but it was diverted due to that technological pull? 

I know it has happened to me.

And while I’m sure like me you talk to people every day, how often do you have an actual conversation? An uninterrupted time where you sit face-to-face with someone and simply talk, share your ideas, share your lives, laugh, and uncover some new treasure of knowledge from that person’s experience?

During my spring break I had the opportunity (and the time) to rediscover the power and the magic of these kinds of conversations. They renewed my spirit and unleashed fresh motivation, desire, and a hunger for more human connection.

So this morning’s blog is dedicated to those people who turned off their phones and had a conversation with me. Those people who made this week one of the best of my life. Those people who shared themselves.

My challenge to you this week is to turn off your phone once in a while and make time to just talk with people. And be sure to listen too. Nothing will ever replace the art of face-to-face human connection, and the more and more our world advances technologically (and it happens fast…I was at the mall this week and saw for the first time the huge production that is lining up at the Mac store for the latest and greatest) the more of an effort we will have to make to not lose this vital aspect of who we are.

Conversation elevates, inspires, motivates, develops, and changes us. And college is one of the most important times to have these conversations. But don’t ever stop.

Because every conversation will often lead to an important lesson, idea, or a connection that will inspire. Below are some of the lessons and epiphanies I had during some of my favorite conversations this week:

*Sometimes the nicest people really do get the success they deserve; a positive, friendly, and humble attitude really does go far (Convo with Ashley McCormick, the most amazing photographer in the world).

*There are people out there who have passion to create community in places where there is none. Who want to bring art and music and gardening and sustainability to people who don’t seem to care. People who instinctively know that middle school students who are “bad” should not be locked in a room all day. People who give the guy at Panera her cup so he won’t have to waste another one. It’s all about passion, belief, and simple, small, daily change. That is where greatness comes from (Convo with Valerie, my middle school and high school best friend).

*It’s never too late to start a new adventure, and why not create a business from what you love? (Convos with Rose and my Mom).

*Jump even if you are afraid (Convo with the 13-year-old Canadian boy we met zip lining).

*Meeting successful young women is truly inspiring. Especially when they are incredibly gracious and despite their busy and demanding schedule make you feel like you are the most important person in the world. It’s almost impossible to find good role models in today’s celebrity-obsessed culture. I found one this week. (Convo with Kristin Harmel, incredible author and reporter – find and read her amazing books here!)

*Failure is the only path to success. If you aren’t failing then you must not be trying hard enough. And the only way to reach your ideal is to give your all wherever you are. And remember that when you are young and fresh out of college you probably will be an intern or an assistant or some “low” job on the totem poll. Embrace it and make the most of it because those who do will be those for whom doors of opportunity will open (Convo with Creative Manager who has worked with Paul McCartney and Ringo Star).

These nuggets of wisdom and inspiration have fueled me this week. And they all started with two people sitting down (sometimes with a cup of coffee, a cake pop, or a delicious dirty chai tea - thanks for that discovery Val) and talking – without interruptions.

Try it this week. Invite someone to hang out via Facebook or text right now. You’ll be amazed at what you learn about him/her, about yourself, and about the world. 

Exchange ideas. Exchange kindness. Exchange words. And above all, listen deeply.  

Spring Break – How to Fix it

I saw Wicked for the first time this weekend and it was one of the single best experiences of my life. 

Ones that compare would have to be my trips to England and Kauai. It’s that magical feeling and inspiration that comes from a new experiences of sight, sound, color, and feeling. And I appreciated that inspiration much more during this time in my life as so much of it is consumed with work. It is so easy to fall into routine and put the fun, new, and sometimes expensive experiences in your back pocket for some far off mysterious later time in your life when you will have the time and money. 

And yet I find that people who wait until they have the time or money wait forever.

Now I’m not saying you should drop out of school and go into debt to travel the world. But I am saying that you should take advantage of the free time you are offered in college – such as spring break – and invest in yourself by engaging in new experiences. 

At this time in life, especially if you grew up in a small little area of the world for most of your life like me, there are still so many things you don’t know about or haven’t experienced.  And there is nothing more exhilarating than discovering new aspects of this world – especially those aspects that interest you in particular.

For me, it is theater, beaches, small pubs that sell tea, jacket potatoes, and scones in England, bookstores, roller coasters, and nature adventures like rappelling and zip lining.

What about you? If you are like me when I was in community college, you probably aren’t really sure. You probably think you don’t have the money for that kind of stuff and that during spring, summer, and winter break you’ll need to pick up extra shifts at work just to help make ends meet, let alone have some fun.

Or maybe you’re like the people who think spring break is about the age-old tradition of college debauchery. I’m all about fun, but don’t waste your life or your brain cells trying to fit into this idea of college wastefulness. There is so much more to experience.

Or maybe you’re that community college student who lives at home and just hangs around the house or at the same places with the same friends for those 5 days off.

Don’t be those people. Be spontaneous. Be adventurous. Do something you never thought you would do. This is the time to do it. This is the time to invest in new experiences. Because guess what, from what I’ve learned so far, when you finally “have the money” to do the things you’ve always wanted to do, you probably won’t have the time.

I’m lucky enough that I work at a college so I’m still afforded some of the benefits of time. And so for my spring break I am taking my own advice. While I cannot travel out of the country this week, I am taking this time to explore new things in my very own backyard. I’ve always wanted to go zip lining and found most courses were up north or in Costa Rica. And then I found one just an hour and a half away. So I grabbed a friend and we are going to go flying through the trees this week.

What trees have you always wanted to fly through? What places or things have you always wanted to explore. Just like I ask you when it comes to your dreams and your goals, I ask again…

What are you waiting for?

Traditional university students are typically encouraged to travel and often do so since they live on campus and are able to build these groups of friends who put together road trips or adventures together. Many also have the luxury of not having to work during college.

Most community college students do not have that luxury.

However.

Do not let that be your excuse. Do not let your lack of money keep you from growing and experiencing new adventures. You are worth it. During this formative time in your life it is absolutely necessary that you begin to explore new things and stretch yourself.

So I challenge you to do something exciting this spring break. Plan a road trip with friends. Consider traveling abroad or volunteering abroad.

Just go.

Traveling is not that expensive for students and it is completely worth it. A 10-day trip on the traveling abroad website above for one person is well under $2,000. Take out extra loans if you have to and just invest in yourself. The inspiration you draw from such experiences is vital to growing and developing and finding the motivation to achieve your academic and career goals. If you think your time in college is only about classes and a degree you are sorely mistaken.

In community college, however, it seems most just go to class and get a degree. Choose to be different. Choose to grasp onto the entire college experience early. And make the most of your time off of class to grow and learn in other ways.

I know you probably still have a billion excuses running through your head right now about why you cannot travel or explore new things.  About how you have to work. About how you don’t have the money. That is the song of the lower middle class. It is the song that you will be singing for the rest of your life unless you change your tune now. Trust me, I know that when you grow up poor it is really hard to understand the nature of investment. That often you need to spend first to receive. 

And I have learned that an initial investment in the right stock – YOU – will yield priceless riches of growth, experience, and inspiration.

“I’m through accepting limits

Cause someone says there so

Some things I cannot change

But till I try I’ll never know…

It’s time to try

Defying gravity

I think I’ll try

Defying gravity

And you can’t pull me down”

- Defying Gravity, from Wicked The Musical

The Transfer Transformation

I transferred from community college to a university I dyed my hair blonde.

This wasn't the best look for me, but I was compelled to try. Why? Because I was going through an identity crisis/transformation when I transferred. 

Have you ever noticed that celebrities, or maybe even your friends, tend to alter their physical appearance after a breakup or after they get married? Ashley Simpson just got a divorce and chopped off all her hair and dyed it blonde. Vanessa Ann Hudgens and Zack Efron recently split and she just got a tattoo. Simple and shallow, maybe,but it is also deeply psychological. 

When I transferred from community college to a private school I had a hard time getting adjusted. Everyone at this new school had been living together for 2 years by the time I arrived. They also still lived together while I commuted 30 minutes there and back every day. And most of all, most of them were rich.

I'll never forget sitting down in my first class and trying to strike up a conversation with this sweet blonde girl in my class. We started talking about our majors and what we wanted to do, and her dream was to work for Chanel Makeup. At the time I didn't even know Chanel had makeup, and it seemed absurd that such a fancy purse brand would be able to hike the price of makeup just to slap two opposite C's on it (okay so last week I bought Chanel nail polish but it was the only nail polish in the department store and it was an emergency).

But I'll never forget how simply out of touch and out of place I felt in that moment. Once she mentioned Chanel I had nowhere else to go with the conversation. Me, who started up countless conversations in every community college class I had. Now all of a sudden here I was with these kids whose parents were doctors and pilots, who had designer purses and internships already lined up. And I couldn't relate. 

So unconsciously I dyed my hair blonde in order to fit in. This was all I did. I didn't join a sorority or stay out late or do things I shouldn't. I just dyed my hair. And then dyed it back a semester later because it just wasn't me. But as I've hoped you've figured out now this isn't about hair color. It's about adjusting to new life situations and managing and maintaining your identity so that you grow and not wither. 

I almost withered when I transferred but I soon found my place, re-established my identity, and made the most of my experience. 

When I graduated and moved on to my first real job, however, I actually did wither. Like Ashley Simpson I chopped off all my long hair that I loved so much and started wearing suits. The over-achiever that I was I read books about how to be and dress professional and I followed the rules exactly. The rules said you needed to not be so girly and be more masculine. So I put away my flowered blouses and started wearing loafers and pants and cut off all my hair. And I was bored and I missed myself. 

I can't remember exactly when or how it happened, but one day I realized that pants suits just weren't me. I realized I could still express myself and reach my professional goals. I didn't have to compromise that much; and if I wasn't feeling happy or confident, how could I be expected to bring my best ideas and creativity to my work?

So while I couldn't go back to the bright sun dresses and eclectic gladiator sandals that I wore in college, I started growing my hair out. And wearing flowered blouses. And dresses. Skirts. And heels. And I felt like myself again. 

The inspiration came for this post after browsing Facebook (I call it browsing...not stalking) and seeing a few of my favorite transfer students from both my tutoring days and my community college work who had altered their looks. One of my favorite old smartie-pants tutoring students started wearing these big glasses. Another started dressing a bit more urban. And the other chopped off all her hair. 

I think it's fun to explore new looks and reconsider your identity now and again. In fact, it is crucial for growth and development. However, especially as you transfer to different colleges, move, change jobs, or start or end new relationships, you want to make sure that the identities you create are yours and yours alone. Deep down you will know when the change is for someone or something else. And you will know when you look in the mirror when you really feel like yourself. 

So my challenge for you today is simple: wear something nice that makes you feel like you to school or work today. Though it may seem shallow, how you look can often reflect how you feel, and how you feel can reflect how you interact and perform. Try dressing nice to school every day - especially during test days - and notice how you feel and act. And also, don't do anything too drastic when you transfer. 

And finally for my greatest pearl of wisdom that you will ever receive in this blog --> Wait at least a semester before dying your hair blonde :)