Category Archives: College Life
Don’t Drink and Drive: Understanding the Consequences of an Underage DUI
After the torturous two-hour long exams and endless lectures, a late-night party with friends awaits you. However, even though you’re ready to have a great time laughing and drinking, make sure to prioritize your safety and the well-being of others around you well-after the fun has been had. Don’t let a couple of beers or shots prevent you from going home. More than 29% of the US population has died from DUI car accidents, and you and your friends deserve better than to become another statistic.
Did you also know an underage DUI is one of the worst traffic violations to receive? Take care to remember these consequences so that you fully understand the impact of an underage DUI.
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The first-time offense will not be lenient towards you
It’s common to have one speeding ticket or a minor traffic violation, but a DUI on your record will illustrate bad and questionable morale to a police officer who pulls you over, or a judge sentencing your punishment in court. Your driver’s license can be suspended for however long the court sees fit. Additionally, you will have to pay large fines, participate in mandatory community service, attend DUI education school, and typically serve jail time for a few days.
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If you are convicted of additional offenses prior to a current DUI, expect harsher consequences than the first
Expect longer jail time and higher fees. Priorly convicted individuals can spend up to 10 years in jail for a DUI alone. Furthermore, you will be required to install an interlock ignition device in your vehicle. It functions as a breathalyzer to measure your BAC but will ask for a breath sample at random times during your driving. It will not stop your vehicle from operating necessarily, but it will immediately send information to your probation officer if you have violated the law by driving intoxicated in any way.
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If you hurt anyone – including yourself – you will have to live with the aftermath the rest of your life
You are not the only person that can suffer the consequence of a DUI. Sometimes, others – such as your passenger or people in cars on the road next to you – may get caught up in your irresponsible driving. This results in serious injury – or even death – to all parties involved. The possible weight on your conscience should be enough to prevent you from ever driving under the influence in the first place.
The next time you plan on partying and drinking on the same night, make a plan of action that uses alternative measures in getting you and friends home safely to prevent any risk of harm. The reason that DUI laws for underage individuals are so strict is that the law wants to enforce safety for the community and its citizens above all else. Not to say that you can never party or have fun again – it ’s taking the lesson of DUI’s very seriously and always to choose to drive sober. You can have all the fun in the world and still get home safely so you can have an even better time tomorrow night.
The 15 Best Things About Being in College
“Your college years will be the best times of your life”. This well-worn cliché has been trotted out so many times, it triggers eye rolls in some people.
However, it is undeniable that there is a lot of truth in that statement. Below, we’ll run down just a few of the reasons why you should be excited to start your freshmen year.
1) Starting again with a clean slate
In high school, just about everybody knows your business. In college, nobody will know your back story, meaning that people you meet will judge you on the content of your character rather than on your reputation.
2) You meet people from a variety of backgrounds
Unless you are attending a super-tiny private college, you will be in an environment where there are many thousands of people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
This makes it easy to find friends that get you, challenge your prejudices, and broaden your horizons.
3) Belonging to a Greek organization
Looking to develop deeper friendships during your time at college? Seriously consider rushing and pledging a fraternity/sorority.
With anywhere from a few to dozens of houses to choose from, there’s a group of guys/girls out there that’s right for you.
Once you get initiated, you’ll be able to wear super cool greek clothing that will make you feel like the king/queen of campus.
4) Freedom from your parents
From the moment you were born, your parents lorded over your every move. In your later teens, though, this amount of control becomes tiresome.
College will be your first taste of freedom, and it will feel … good. For the first time in your life, you get to call the shots.
It isn’t always perfect and you’ll make plenty of mistakes, but there are few moments in your life more exciting than the moment your parents pull away from your dorm for the first time.
5) You can explore countless interests
Astronomy. Photography. Cricket. Anime. These are just a few interests which have clubs dedicated to them on campus.
Join one. Join a lot. Explore your curiosities – there’s no telling where they’ll lead you.
6) The social events
From Halloween parties to sorority formals to last class throwdowns, the calendar of campus social events is diverse and action packed.
Have fun, meet new people, but don’t go overboard – that essay won’t write itself, after all.
7) You have the opportunity to study overseas
There is more to the world than just America. Fortunately, most colleges offer study abroad programs that allow you to complete your courses on the other side of the globe.
From Brisbane to Brussels, the possibilities for cultural immersion are endless.
8) You actually get to learn
The sorry state of secondary education in America means that if a subject isn’t on a standardized test, it isn’t taught, and most lessons are taught by rote.
In college, your professors will encourage you to think critically, allowing you to grasp concepts that can’t be appreciated simply by being memorized.
9) Meal hall (sometimes)
Crispy chicken burgers for lunch. The ability to go back for seconds (or thirds!). Soft-serve ice cream machines. Theme nights.
While there are low lights in the rotation of any meal hall, when they get it right – it’s magic.
10) College sports
Think you experienced school spirit when you cheered on your high school football team? Wait until you tailgate outside a stadium for hours and sing school fight songs before filing into a stadium with tens of thousands of fellow students/alumni/local sports fans just as hyped as you are.
Fasten your seat belt.
11) Sleeping in
Hate being dragged out of bed by mom after hitting the snooze button for the third time? Yeah, you won’t have to worry about that anymore.
Unless you have a mandatory class that’s scheduled for 8:00 am, you can build your class schedule so that you won’t have to wake up before 10 am if you don’t wish to do so.
12) Midday naps
Sometimes, you can’t avoid waking up early (stupid mandatory classes). Unlike high school, though, you can go back home and nap between classes. Ahh, blissful slumber!
13) A deeper dating pool than at home
Dating can be a bit of a drag during high school. Limited partners, psychotic Dads – it’s a minefield out there.
At college, you have thousands of potential mates to pick from, and you won’t have to worry about keeping up appearances with near-homicidal fathers.
14) The feeling of accomplishment
There will be times in college when your back is up against the wall. You have 12 hours to finish a term paper that’s worth 30% of your grade. If you don’t ace the final, you’ll get an F.
When you pull off these miracles, though, the feeling of accomplishment will make you feel like a champ. And when you walk across the stage to pick up your degree when you graduate? Damn.
15) You’ll have a new appreciation for home and your folks
When you leave home, it might not be soon enough for you. Given the constraints your parents place on you while growing up, it’s understandable if you hold some resentment toward them.
After trying to make your way in the world without their help during your freshmen year, though, you’ll see them in a whole new light.
Appreciative for what they have done for you over the years, your time away will do much to strengthen the relationship between you and your parents.
Advice for College Freshmen
You’ve just completed four stellar years of rigorous study and have been accepted to an amazing college or university. Congratulations to you. Graduating from high school is exciting and the prospect of living on campus in the fall is no doubt filled will anticipation coupled with a bit of anxiety. Follow these recommendations from college admissions counselors to ensure your freshman year is a huge success on many levels.
Study after study shows that the academic performance during the freshman year is an indicator of the outlet for the ensuing three years. While there are many adjustments and changes involved in heading off to college and being on your own for the first time, commit to making your academic performance your number one priority. That is after all, why you’re there. The freshman year is also a time of exploration and an opportunity to get to know yourself better as well as reach out to fellow collegians with similar interests. The freshman is appropriately named as it is certainly a fresh start for many carry baggage from their high school social experience.
Start packing and making lists by mid-summer for your August departure. Take advantage of the awesome savings offered by Groupon coupons and stock up on campus active wear from Hudson’s Bay. Check with the university housing website on which items are permitted in the dorm rooms. Connect with your roommate to make sure you’re not bringing duplicates. Space is at a premium.
Upon arrival, reach out to each of your professors during their office hours the first week of class. Introduce yourself and establish an initial relationship. This will prove invaluable if you run into difficulties in the class and are in need of additional help. You’ll have more of a comfort level reaching out.
Finally, stay connected with your support systems. Your parents, mentors and friends all are anxious and excited to hear about your adventures, concerns and new experiences. Lastly, know that you are a reflection of the students with which you elect to befriend. The freshman year is a great time to spread your wings and remember your roots. Best of luck to you!
Essays for Sale: Exploring the Best Online Options
Writing numerous college essays can become a real nightmare for freshmen who cannot write at a college level, for the growing number of international students who speak English as a second language and have no grasp of academic writing style, and students with part-time jobs and full-time jobs that are likely to have serious problems with their time management. There are also a growing number of adult students who have families and need extra time for other important commitments. As higher institutions do not provide students with sufficient support and do not instruct them properly on how to create research papers or term papers that meet the standard, students have to rely on online essay writing services to get help with their written assignments and improve their grades.
As custom papers for sale are in great demand, there are a lot of agencies on the web that offer professional assistance to students and provide them with sample essays that can be used as practical guides for learning to write on the proper level. You can choose among a number of really good companies that offer the best solutions to your problems. For example, a great option is to purchase essays for sale on WritingCities.net, a reputable service that can be the number one choice for students of any higher institution and any academic level.
Buy Papers for Sales Online from Professional Writers and Succeed in Studies
While searching the internet you might come across a lot of websites where you can order a very cheap essay from a freelance writer. But how could you know that this writer is qualified enough to craft a good college level paper? Most of these platforms never test their writers’ skills. Chances are that you will receive a custom paper that can be a complete disaster and you will have to ask for endless revisions and do not get what you want. The main point of buying an essay is getting a perfect model that you can follow to gain new skills and become a better writer yourself. But what can you learn from a poorly written paper? So think twice before to make a decision to deal with these websites. You do not want to have more problems, do you?
You should rely on responsible agencies such as WritingCities.net that have developed a very strict testing system for applicants who want to be hired as writers. Besides, the most reputed companies have a staff of experienced editors who monitor the quality and proofread the papers before they are delivered to the customers. Of course, the prices in these agencies are higher, but they care about their customers’ loyalty and usually have bonus programs and flexible discounts for returning and new customers. And don’t forget that there are regular seasonal and holiday sales.
And it’s not only about the paper itself, it’s about a knowledge you can get and skills you can gain when buying it. Use a chance to learn from the best writers and make an investment into your future career.
7 Ways that Acting can Change your Life
Being a college student can be overwhelming at times. You need to have a strong sense of independence, be prepared to meet lots of new people, and be ready to present in front of large crowds. Not every person feels totally natural in this type of environment, and maybe even feels like they lack the confidence to put themselves out there. If you are a little bit shy, or introverted, you can always try to learn new ways to open yourself up. A great way to test your social boundaries is to try acting classes! One of the reasons why college is so amazing, is because you have so many opportunities there to grow and learn more about yourself. Don’t stop yourself from reaching your true potential because of fear. Acting classes can be an amazing way to grow your self-confidence and enjoy every college moment to its fullest. Still a skeptic? We asked the performance arts specialists at Polish your Passion for their expert opinion. Here are 7 reasons why they think acting classes can change your life:
Safe environment: Worried about someone judging you? You can feel safe and assured in an acting class to be as wild, or as tame as you want. Everyone there is looking to explore their boundaries, you can feel free to get as weird as you want – you might learn that you aren’t so different from everyone else
Raise your voice: Getting loud and vocal might seem like a strange benefit, but for people who are shy and introverted the thought to scream out can be pretty daunting. Acting requires you to take on different roles and characters, and in order to bring those characters to life you need to embody their emotions. If a character is in a rage, you need to scream out to match. For those who are soft spoken, this exercise can build awareness about using volume efficiently. You need to command attention from people when you speak, you can’t be afraid to use your voice.
Stress Relief: Big exam coming up? Fight with a friend? There are countless reasons why you might need to blow off a little steam. In an acting class, you can jump into a character and explore your emotions. Maybe you’ll gravitate to a character that grieves, allowing you to really cry. You can use this opportunity to really get in touch with how you’re feeling and express it.
Meet new people: Joining an acting class can expose you to totally new people! You’re already interested in trying the same activity – it’s the perfect ice breaker to start talking with someone. Acting classes put a heavy emphasis on breaking down awkwardness between people. You will be pushed to socialize and interact with strangers – but in a fun and open way.
Body Language: Acting can help you brush up on your body language skills. No more walking with your head down, or avoiding eye contact. You will be encouraged to stand tall and engage people with your body. You might do an activity where you sit in a circle and can only communicate with your eyes. It might feel weird at first, but it will teach you to feel comfortable looking at someone’s face – accepting a stare and sending one back.
Public Speaking: You might take on Hamlets soliloquy and be on the stage all by yourself. This will be the ultimate test for a shy person who doesn’t like to speak in front of a crowd. You can use acting classes to perform in front of an audience of friends who won’t judge you for your mistakes. Practice ultimately does make perfect! Use acting classes as an opportunity to build your confidence and nail your future presentations.
Have fun: One of the best reasons to try acting lessons is to have fun. Who knows, acting lessons might end up being something you are really passionate about! You can learn a new skill, and boost your self-esteem, simply because you know you challenged yourself.
College is the perfect place to open yourself up and take chances. With a few acting classes, you can gain the confidence and self-esteem to take on new challenges. If you are still a little too shy to go into an acting class, you can start with some acting lessons online. Once you feel more comfortable, work your way over to an acting studio. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
