Tag 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.
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!
The advantages of joining a college sports team
Going to college is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life and it can provide the platform for what an individual goes on to achieve in the rest of their life. College life is primarily for the acquisition of knowledge and the development of personal skills to help with a future career, however, there are other ways in which college life enriches people.
College is a time to make new friends and develop relationships that last a lifetime, and yes, further education is about developing skills but it should also be a fun time, and students should get a lot out of the experience. There are many ways in which you can enjoy college life to the full but joining a college sports team should be near the top of the list because it is a great way to make the most of this time of life.
There are many reasons to join a college sports team:
- Being on a sports team encourages health and fitness.
- You develop a strong bond and friendship with teammates.
- Working as a team or acting as a leader can develop you for your future career and life.
- Sports players are respected within the college.
- Being on the sports team should be fun.
A great reason to join a sports team or be physically active is to stay fit and healthy; being on a sports team will definitely benefit you with regard to your health and appearance. Students can grow in confidence and boost their self-esteem by being part of a sports team.
College sport friendships can last a lifetime
You’ll regularly see former students talking about the friendships they developed in a college sports team and how they still stay in touch with their teammates. College can be a daunting challenge for many people and a lot of new students wonder how they’ll make friends. Joining a sports team and having a common goal with people is a fantastic way to create a bond with your peers. There is also the fact that college team players are well respected on campus, which is always something that can help people feel happy in their surroundings.
Lessons learned through sport can shape your life
While playing sports is good for your health, you can develop aspects like teamwork and self-discipline, and learn some leadership skills. Many business experts and people who are happy in their personal life have achieved these goals through the lessons learned when playing sports at college.
It is always important to remember that sport should be fun. If you’re looking to enjoy yourself during your college years, joining a sports team, training and playing games will give you a lot of enjoyment.
There is a wide range of sports you can enjoy at college, including:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Fencing
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
The diversity of sports to be enjoyed at college should ensure there is something for everyone. No matter what sport is played, it is important that people buy and wear the correct equipment when taking part. Take Tommie Copper as an example; clothing and fitness gear from the Tommie Copper compression lines assists players and athletes to enjoy their sport and minimize the risk of injuries. Before playing any sport, always warm up properly, focus tightly on your goals and wear the proper clothing.
Colleges want their sports teams to do well
You’ll also find that colleges are keen to encourage sports teams. Anything that fosters a sense of school spirit and helps people to feel as though they belong at the college has to be seen as a positive thing for the educational institution. A good sense of school spirit can help people to feel happier, it can reduce negative emotions in students, and it can make people want to achieve more with their academic results.
There is also the fact that college sports teams can often bring in money for successful colleges. Whether this is through alumni donations, partly due to the great time they shared on the sports field, or because local businesses and suppliers want to be seen as backing a good local team, colleges can benefit financially from sports teams. Most colleges create a platform that encourages people to enjoy sports, something that should be considered a key component of student life.
5 Ways Smartphones Are Changing the College Experience
It’s hard to miss the ubiquity of smart devices when walking through modern cities. And if you walk across the campus of any university in America, you are sure to see hordes of students interacting with their phones as they hurry from building to building. They are likely doing more than just looking at funny cat videos on YouTube, however: Smartphones are transforming education. Here is a list of some of the most important ways that is happening.
Education Apps
Many students now use apps on their phones to prepare for class and enhance their learning. Specialized apps like Coursera offer free or low-cost online classes and course materials, though wise students use these apps to supplement, not replace, their efforts in the classroom. Other apps let students take notes and record sound and video in their classes. Of course, the teacher might have something to say about that; most instructors don’t want students distributing recorded lectures, whether to their peers or to the wider Internet. Be sure to ask before you record, then respect your teacher’s wishes.
Storage Apps
One variety of app deserves closer examination: cloud storage solutions. Rather than worrying about keeping track of memory sticks and other physical hardware to transfer and manage data, users of apps like Dropbox move files between devices with minimal worry about compatibility and other issues. Modern students often access their work across many platforms, including school-owned desktops and their own laptops, tablets, and smartphones. With information stored in the cloud, students can always rest easy knowing that their notes, projects, papers, and other vital information are safe and available to them on any computing device.
Books and e-Books
College education means textbooks, and textbooks mean a big pain in the bank account. Many professors think little of asking students to buy hundreds of dollars’ worth of pricey books, which is rough on a student budget. Online shopping services like Amazon are a great way to track down discounted versions of the course materials, but smart devices can let you go a step farther. Rather than buying a physical book, you can get an electronic version and just read it from your devices. E-readers work best with this kind of content, of course, but any table or smartphone such as the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, will work. Indeed, the Galaxy’s large HD display lets users read large blocks of text without sideways scrolling. Since many professors are now posting articles and other supplemental materials online as well, a good e-reading solution is convenient and can save you a lot of money.
Course Communications
New technologies bring new ways to communicate, and those channels of communication are useful for imparting class-related information. Social media outlets such as Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter make it easy to stay in touch with members of group project teams and others among their classmates, coordinating work and meetings and getting notes for missed sessions. Some classes even have their own pages or forums on social platforms or proprietary school software, giving students a space to discuss and plan. Smartphone technology gives students access to this information without having to set up a laptop and find a Wi-Fi signal.
Social Life
But coursework isn’t the part of college most students are looking forward to. Prospective students are often more interested in social life on campus. Here smartphones are also useful, letting you tap in to social calendars of organizations on campus and make sure you can attend any event of interest. Using social apps like Facebook, you can follow your favorite clubs and get notifications of anything they have going on during the week. This applies to nonacademic activities as well as official school clubs. Organizations like fraternities, sororities, and the school athletics department put out invitations and information through their social feeds, so if you are following, you’ll always be in the know.
Smart devices are changing every segment of American life, and higher education is no exception. Find the best smart device for you and tap in to the power of pervasive mobile computing to make your school and social life the best they can be.
10 Simple Hacks To Land Better Grades Possible in College
College can very well be a time of great stress brought about by sleepless nights to meet deadlines, countless bottles of energy drinks downed to the bottom, and equally burnt out college buddies whose only thought at two in the morning is “Who wants more coffee?”
Sure, the university is a tough and competitive place where you feel that everyone else is way ahead of you in many aspects. You may find that some people are getting the Algebra class easier than you do, or that your roommate is still better at you in Physics despite keeping a day job.
Worry no more, buddy. We have compiled a list which hopefully helps you to breeze through college and get better grades.
1. Keep a positive outlook – It is only human to feel inadequate in the face of failure. We sometimes do not perform the way we expect it, especially during surprise quizzes or an essay-writing test about how the First World War changed the economics of the world. Keeping a positive attitude helps you overcome the feeling of failure. Instead of reminding you of the shortcoming, it makes you focus that tomorrow is another day and we can get better at we do.
2. Attend all your classes – In short, never miss any class. It is but normal to skip, but if you want to land better grades in college, you would have to attend all your classes. Not only that, it is important that you pay close attention, absorb the lessons, and make your presence known. Raise your hand if you do not understand something or if you know the answer. If you know that your professor knows you, the real learning starts from there. Should you encounter him/her outside the university, you can initiate a conversation by saying his/her Creative Writing class taught you many things.
3. Get a planner today – Having a planner solves many problems you already have and you will have in the future. More or less, getting a better grade is about time management. Schedule your classes, night-outs, and study groups properly and adhere to them. This makes sure you have an allotted time for all your subjects. Learn to say no to frat parties no matter how much fun they can get. Getting drunk during a study week is going to cripple your entire schedule and system as you will lose time for the subjects you have to review for or the essay you have to submit in the morning. Hangovers are so 2000. Stay in and study.
4. Keep your test papers, homework, and class papers – A lot of students throw their test papers straight to the bin after they are handed. Do not make the same mistake. These papers are your reminders and are really good review materials. You can reassess how you did on those papers and improve your answer.
5. Don’t forget to use the textbook – Professors at the beginning of the class would require some readings, and more often than not, ask the class to refer to just one book in particular. Use the required textbook and always go back to it when the subject becomes confusing.
6. Be better in taking tests – Take your time understanding a question but do not take too long that you forget that there are other questions. Read it carefully and read it twice. Think about your answers in your head, edit them mentally, and map it out on the paper. No professor in history appreciates a really dirty paper. Also, if a question is confusing, you may always ask your professor for a clarification. It never hurts to ask.
7. Form study groups – Sometimes studying alone can be boring. Partner up with a seatmate, or form study groups with classmates that are really serious in getting better grades. Do your homework in coffee shops if it makes you study better. You can also get homework tutoring for college when your friends are unavailable. This ensures that the tutor you’re getting is someone really good at it.
8. Read in your spare time – Do advance readings. Visit the public library and get a book related to a subject you want to improve on. Take notes and make sure you understand what you’re reading.
9. Bye, procrastination! – Going back to tip # 3, you may want to quit the habit of procrastinating. Alright, laying in bed with your phone or playing your favorite online game sure as hell sounds fun but it keeps you from doing some real work. Focus is what you need and the right attitude to motivate you to get better at something. Those failing marks do not look really good to employers. How can you work at Google or Microsoft or any other of your dream employers if you keep on saying “I will do them later” only to say the same thing after two hours? No one likes someone who slacks around in the real, corporate world. So get up and do some real work.
10. Study and study and study – In the end of it all, it all boils down to, well, you got it right—study. But study smart and serious. Avoid your phone at all cost during study time. Put it on silent, or better yet, turn it off. Avoid all possible things to distract you from getting those important information into your golden brain and in turn getting those better grades you wanted.
College does not have to feel hell. With the right kind of attitude and proper time management—and, of course, ample amount of coffee and energy drinks—you can survive, no, graduate with flying colors and no bruises. You may feel stressed sometimes but that is what the weekend is for—to rest. If you plan out your study week right and stick to it, you may no longer have to study in the weekend. You can use this time to get in touch with your Twitter followers, take a short trip to the wine country, and some other activities that will help you balance college and fun.
