Self-Improvement

College is supposed to be a time of growing up (whatever that actually means) and changing into our adult selves so we can go forth and be productive members of society after we leave Penn State. But sometimes growing up may have some casualties, namely your stuffed animals.

There isn’t enough paper in the world to write down all of the things men don’t understand about women. There just isn’t. Since the beginning of time, men have been searching for the answer to the world’s greatest mystery – what do women want?

The birth order of siblings is very important. It contributes to who they are and how they act towards each other. In most families, the oldest child is the boss, the middle children complain about being in the middle, and the youngest observe everyone else because the rest of their siblings influence them.

Admit it, Penn Staters. You’ve been there. You know what I’m talking about, don’t pretend you don’t. It’s plagued every single lady since the beginning of time. It’s the flirting fail.

When people think of risotto, they usually think of a heavy, difficult meal that’s filled with cream and calories. But, risotto is much easier to make than you think, without all of the calories. Try this hearty vegetarian dinner to mix up your weekly meals or to impress a guest.

We’ve all been there… don’t pretend like you haven’t. You’re shopping in the mall and you suddenly see a gorgeous pair of Steve Madden pumps that you instantly fall in love with. Then you look at the price– $130. Uh-oh.

Redefine what you think of as traditional Italian food with this winter pasta staple! Spicy, salty, and unique, this pasta dish will leave you warm and happy, even if it’s negative degrees outside with the wind chill. Plus, with a prep time of only about 40 minutes and enough pasta per batch to have leftovers, this dish is the perfect dinner for any time-starved college student.

Some might say business casual is a casual version of professional attire—duh. But what exactly does that mean? When students hear they need to dress business casual for an interview, they start to panic because they don’t want to look too dressed up and they don’t want to look too informal.

Our smart phones are our best friends. If we feel awkward, they are there to comfort us. When we lose them, a part of us goes missing as well. And if they die, our only priority is to bring them back to life. Kind of sad, isn’t it?

Ever hear of the term ‘networking’? It’s one of those “adult” words most of us choose to ignore along with “mortgage” and “student loan” for the current time being. However, the sad truth is that we are growing up, and unfortunately we’re not just here at Penn State to walk around in heels at 3 a.m. in the snow and spend way too much money on Lion Menus.

By the time I turned 16, my relatives had pretty much given up trying to figure out what to buy me for Christmas—and I can’t blame them. It’s hard to guess at what a teenager truly wants. For many years, their guessing resulted in an infinite supply of Bath & Body Works shower gels.

We often forget that as we are growing older, so are our parents. Living away at school means less time you get to spend with them, but is a chance to better your relationship. Even if you don’t talk to your mom or dad on a daily basis, it’s important to acknowledge all that they have done for you and remember why they genuinely rock.

Reality will be knocking a tad too early for those getting ready to graduate in a few short months (cue the dramatic music). Even though some of us have already found a job (lucky) or have other plans after walking across the stage, the rest of us are facing our computer screens looking for that first real person job.

Since we were young, our elders constantly painted a picture of what college would be like: the daunting exam weeks, the role of Greek life, the temptations of the party scene – we’ve heard it all. But one specific go-to idea about university life has brought on the pressure big time.

Reuniting with your sweetheart after a long semester apart, but bored of the typical couch potato movie night? Try these new ideas to mix up your love life this holiday season!

Chances are your mind is on something else as you read this sentence. All too often, we dwell on memories in the past or fret about what may or may not happen in the future. Instead, why not live in the moment.

In the spirit of giving, many of us have no idea what to give to other people (seriously, people can be super picky). But this holiday season, maybe the best thing to give to someone is support if they come out to their family and friends over winter break.

Now that the semester is over and we can breathe a sigh of relief that we didn’t completely fail that final (or maybe you did but who cares because it’s over and you can go sleep), parties are in full swing to celebrate holidays, graduation and not having to wake up for 8 a.m. classes for a few weeks.